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September 12, 2017 12/09/2017

What Will the Smart, Connected Home of Tomorrow Look Like?

Imagine if every device you owned could be connected to the Internet. Not just your laptop or your smartphone, but every device, from lights and windows to clocks and thermostats. Now, imagine if you could communicate with those connected devices and tell them what to do. This isn’t an imaginary world. It’s reality when it comes to the Internet of Things (IoT), and it’s being adopted in homes across the world.

Home automation is the ability to control items throughout your home, either with the click of a button or with the sound of your voice. This may include basic functions, such as setting up a lamp to switch off and on at your command, or it could be complex, like arranging advanced surveillance in and around your home – and the list of products and devices is growing by the day. Here’s what the fully connected smart home of tomorrow will look like.

 

Controllers/Hubs                                                                         

This device can connect all or most of your other smart devices and serves as a command center for controlling those devices. For instance, the Amazon Echo can be used to control everything from your lights and door locks to the television station you’re watching. You simply tell it what you want it to do and the device makes it happen. For those who prefer buttons over voice commands, there are also a number of universal remotes on the market that are designed to control all the smart devices in your home.

 

Heating/Cooling

Feeling chilly? No need to get up. Just grab your smartphone and turn up the heat. Or, for even more advanced tech, you can invest in a thermostat system that includes multiple sensors that you place throughout your home. The main system then continuously measures the temperature in each of those sensor areas and automatically adjusts to regulate according to your preferences. There are even portable air conditioning units that connect to Wi-Fi and can be controlled via your smartphone.

 

Lighting

Smart light bulbs provide complete wireless control over not just turning the lights on and off, but also the intensity of the light and with some products, even the color. Most of these products work with almost every smart home system on the market, including Siri and Alexa. If you’re not looking to spend a ton of money, there are basic white bulbs available with the same functionality at a more budget-friendly price (at least in relation to smart bulbs).

 

Locks/Security Systems

Smart locks allow you to enjoy easy access to your home via smartphone connectivity. Delving further, however, there are also a number of full service and DIY smart home security systems as well, including indoor/outdoor surveillance capability, remote monitoring and more. Some offer the option of professional monitoring and customer support for a subscription. Others can be fully installed and managed without the need for a contract.

Of course, this is really just the tip of the iceberg. There are smart devices popping up that allow users to do everything from cook to clean to mow the lawn – all without lifting a finger and completely controllable from a remote location. It’s safe to say that the home of tomorrow will make life much easier than we ever could have imagined.

 

Do you have a smart home? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

 

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