The smart revolution is nothing new. Since the turn of the millennium, the rapid development and iteration of
new consumer technologies have irrevocably transformed our lives and the way we lead them – from the
phones in our hands to the app technologies accessible within them.
Recent statistics suggest that there are
well over 300 million smartphone users in the US alone, making the US the biggest market for such technology
and making that same technology a modern standard.
Still, though, the ‘smart’ ethos feels futuristic. The prospect of folding the functionality of today’s cutting-edge
consumer appliances into the fabric of the homestead is one from science fiction yet is easily a lived reality –
and for much less than you might expect to spend. But how exactly might you turn your home smart?
Security and Safety
When thinking about the possibilities of a smart home, the first considerations often relate to convenience
over anything else. While these are important considerations – not to mention the most practical and even fun
– there is something you might want to bear in mind before you lean into mod cons: security.
Your safety in your home is paramount. Smart technology can greatly improve the level of comfort and safety
you already enjoy from conventional security measures – and is already a standard in many new homes. Radar sensors can be used to detect movement in your perimeter, with the data used to control a suite of preventive
security measures such as automated lighting or alarm systems. You could also make use of a new range of
consumer security products in the form of video doorbells and in-house security cameras, all of which can be
monitored via your smartphone.
Light and Temperature
Of course, when it comes to smart technology in the home, some standout features first come to
homeowners’ minds. Smart technology describes many things, from autonomous monitoring and control of
home systems to complete personal dominion over the same. Both apply well to lighting and temperature in
the home, where your main lights and AC can together be controlled by yourself via smartphone or even by AI.
Installing controllable LED lights means you can gain control over the light temperature and brightness in each
room without having to reach for a dimmer switch; your AC could also be controlled by an app, or even
autonomously, in response to changing temperatures.
Personal Assistance
The most commonly touted benefit of smart living is that of enjoying the help of artificial intelligence. This is
the key selling point for conventional consumer smart appliances like Google’s Nest and Amazon’s Alexa;
voice-activated speaker systems that can access information and control the home on your behalf, enabling
new levels of freedom in your work around the home. Cooking and chores can be supplemented by AI
assistants, especially if they are integrated in each room.