How Have Technological Advancements made Our Homes Smart?
The idea of an advanced or innovative home has been introduced previously. First, understand what technology at home means. It is the incorporation of science into our homes. Technology gives greater control over the home, like Security, comfort, and luxury. It is improving our living standards. A smart home allows you to experience high-tech functionality and luxury that wasn’t possible in the past.
Technology has so many roles and effects in our everyday lives. See around, and you will notice how immensely it impacts us. There are different types of “smart” technologies around us. Let’s take an example for better understanding. Technology is used in every sector, from games like Upside Down Escape Rooms to intelligent home technology like innovative lighting control systems, home locks, smart refrigerators, cleaners, and home management panels. These technologies ensure that your home does everything you want and fits all your needs.
Smart lighting –
If you want a smart home, then intelligent lights are a great introduction. We usually look for features such as color change, dimming, brightening, and mood settings in lighting systems that can be controlled via voice assistants, phones, or TV. You can see their status from anywhere. It gives you more control over the lights. They last much longer and generate less heat. With a single tap, you can automate home lighting with the app and customize the light according to the occasion. You can sync the lights with sunrise and sunset. Not only does it look aesthetic and incredible, but it also saves energy and money.
Saving energy and electricity is essential in this era of the world when everything from resources to natural amenities is depleting. Automatic bright lights save electricity, and you do not have to switch off lights and fans manually. Therefore, electricity is saved from automatic lighting and intelligent lighting.
Smart Lock –
Intelligent locks are convenient and are wi-fi and Bluetooth enabled. These locks can also detect when the resident is near and unlocks the door for them.
Let’s focus on the pros first –
- Easy Access.
- You can go keyless anywhere.
- Can be locked or unlocked from anywhere when needed.
- You can assign different permissions to feel secure.
Now, the cons –
- There is a high risk of hacking and cyberattack.
- Since you control smart locks via phones, you risk losing access if the phone runs out of battery or you lose it.
The Security of the family and your house is essential, and a smart lock is one of the best ways to keep your house safe. The smart lock can save your house and your precious property inside the home.
Thermostats –
The primaryfunction of a thermostat is to regulate the heat, sensing the physical system and temperature around the desired set point. Smart Thermostats are wi-fi enabled, so they can be adjusted using your phone. You can easily optimize your home’s temperature by adjusting heating or cooling. It helps in improving the air quality of your home. You can keep track of energy usage on the app, so it does not impact your energy bill much. If you are considering building a smart home, installing a smart thermostat is an intelligent choice. Other benefits of installing a Smart Thermostat are –
- You can lead a comfortable life, just use the app and change the settings according to your mood.
- You check your home’s temperature from anywhere, even on vacation. You can change the settings from standard to vacation mode for that period.
Audio and Visual Control –
What else can make your home look more appealing and more relaxed? A high-quality visual and audio control is the answer! Home theatre and an excellent audio system go great together. Install speakers everywhere in the home and merge all the rules or remotes into one. You can even set parental controls for speakers, their volume, or TV to keep an eye on your children while they are not at home, and they can control it from anywhere in the world.
This is very good for audio and visually impaired people because they can get a big help from the automated speakers or the graphic controls. If an individual cannot see but hear, they get help from the computerized speakers and instructions in them.
Smart Air Purifier –
An intelligent air purifier is worth having at home because it purifies the inner environment by removing pollutants and allergens from the air. It captures almost 99% of unwanted airborne particles. Air purifiers are better than filters because purifiers sterilize the particles, whereas filters only remove them. It keeps the internal environment contaminant free. Befits of installing Air purifiers at homes –
- It neutralizes the unpleasant smell due to spices or anything. It absorbs or eliminates all odors and makes your space fresh and breathable.
- It improves sleep as clean and fresh air keeps the disturbance away, and the person feels better.
- It helps in reducing the symptoms of asthma. It eliminates almost all triggering factors of asthma and several other health problems.
Smart Refrigerator –
Smart Refrigerators have built-in wi-fi connectivity. It can automatically adjust the temperature when not in use. Smart refrigerator lets us do such things that non-smart refrigerator does not. You can see what’s inside the fridge on your phone, which alerts you if the door is mistakenly left open. Now they come with versatile touch screens where you can access various apps on which you can watch food recipe videos. It conserves energy. But the only disadvantage is that it is more expensive to repair.
Smart TV –
Intelligent TVs are much like smartphones. The picture quality is light years ahead nowadays. You can connect them to the internet, access various application content, and enjoy movies and games. The app function is what makes the TV appealing. Some TVs also include voice and gesture recognition, which makes them more relaxed. You can use your phone to control the smart TV. They are more than just programming. Innovative TV options aren’t just for watching movies and playing games; the overall experience is enjoyable. You can transfer the content from your smartphone or pc to TV through the internet. The options and features are countless. It provides the best smart functionality at a reasonable price.
Now you can have a theatre experience inside your house without going to the theatre! Smart TV is a new famous gadget and a must-have in all homes. You and your family can have fun and have movie nights because these televisions can operate with internet connections.
Benefits of Technology at homes –
- Security is the first concern for all homeowners. Technology has made it easy for us, such as cameras and alarms. This has increased Security and real-time surveillance when you are home or away.
- Everyone wishes to have a smart home, but we become doubtful about its management and expenses. But you can cut down on the wastage of energy. With smart tech devices, you can turn on and off electronic devices even when you are not at home.
- Fire sensors can protect your home from catching fire. You can receive real-time alerts on your phone.
- You can manage and access your home’s devices from one place. You can check if you kept the lights off or the door closed when you left and ensure you turned them off even from a distance.
- You can even monitor how often you watch TV and how much food is in the refrigerator. You can analyze your daily activity and behavior.
- It is flexible for all young, old, and differently-abled people. If a person is dependent on a wheelchair or is deaf, he can give voice commands or use an alarm to call out other members.
Disadvantages –
- The installation cost of these high-tech devices is not a cheat endeavour. This is one of the main disadvantages because not many people can afford it.
- Another crucial drawback is internet connectivity. If the internet is weak, then you may not be able to access devices correctly. It must be solid and reliable and also cost effective.
- Sometimes, poor compatibility between devices also becomes a problem. If you have multiple devices from different brands, then there is a high that they will not be compatible. You will have to use various apps to control those devices, which leads to frustration.
- It may cause security risks as most of the appliances are connected to networks that can be hacked.
These all are designed to encourage domestic bliss. It is like a one-time investment and long-term returns. Technology has grown so much in recent years and is utilized within homes for various reasons. The growth is due to the increased focus of people toward energy-efficient devices and optimized utilization of resources. It has made our lives easier, better, and faster. It has revolutionized the way we live. Get smarter and safer.
Sanju kmr