Discover the comfort, convenience and cons of Smart Home devices – Let’s visit the fittings for our homes from the future
Have you realised that in today’s date and age, you can control appliances like lights, AC, water heaters, fans, TVs, speakers and other devices through voice commands?
Years ago, this seemed to be a science fiction theory. But, today it is real and is called the Internet of Things (IoT). When we talk about smart homes and home automation – IoT is the critical component.
Smart home devices are rather simple; basically, they are remote controlled electrical appliances. You can use a smartphone or any other network-connected devices to control your electronics. But, yes, for the convenience of remote operation, all the items need to be connected to a shared internet; or a Wi-Fi network. Most smart enabled appliances are energy efficient and also help reduce the electric bill.
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Why do we need smart homes technology, and what are its prime advantages?
Saves time
Smart home technology allows you to save a considerable amount of time in many ways. By using a smartphone, you can operate the vacuum cleaner to clean up the house while being at the office.
Security
Smart home devices ensure that your family, and your home, stay protected in your absence. Smart home gadgets like smart locks, smoke detectors, CCTV, will help you watch your house while you are at the office or travelling.
Money Saver
By installing smart home lights in all the rooms, you can save a significant amount of money. You can remotely switch off these IoT lights when not in use. You can even program your air conditioning system to lower the temperatures at night or schedule it to switch off.
The famous Voltas smart AC offers Alexa voice control features. Say you need to set AC to 25 degrees; say the command like – turn on the AC to 25 degrees. Google has also come with a list of Google smart home devices that include speakers, lights, thermostat, intelligent Wi-Fi plugs.
Convenience
If you have smart home devices, such as Alexa or Google home, then you can even use her to dim the lights or even adjust the AC temperature. You can also use Alexa to listen to the news or enjoy your favourite music. The device is a complete entertainer and can also tell stories to your kids.
Despite offering comfort and security, these smart home devices have some disadvantages. A few of the major drawbacks are as below:
Cost
Many home automation companies market smart home gadgets. The cost of these devices is still on the higher side. The price for installing these devices is high as well.
Compatibility
One of the significant drawbacks of these devices is the technical compatibility. You see, maybe all the appliances you have at home are not compatible with your smartphone’s controls. To overcome this drawback, you need to have a centralised platform, which again leads to increased cost.
Strong Internet
A prime prerequisite for smart home automation is the internet. Hence, a reliable internet connection is a must to control and operate these devices.
Maintenance
Another major disadvantage is the maintenance of these devices. One cannot call a local electrician to fix any bug related to these devices. Every time there is a repair issue, you have to contact a professional, which again involves a high cost.
Now, you may be wondering about how comfort always comes at a cost. Yes, this is true for smart home devices; but only for now. Technology has a way to scaling down its prices while expanding its reach. The cost factor is just a matter of time. I am sure you remember how extravagant the first mobile phones were. So, buckle up, as the coming years are going to be much fun to watch for home decor enthusiasts. Smart home devices are the future, and it’s already here!