What is a Home Automation System?

A home automation system combines hardware and software via a wireless network to control your home electronics and appliances through one device which could be a smartphone, tablet, or a specific central automation control hub system. These devices can be controlled remotely even when you're not at home. Some of these work via apps, others with a voice assistant like Alexa, or Siri, and others through the main automation hub itself. There are many things that can be controlled by a home automation system and we look at a few of these below.

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Automate these first

• Appliances: Vacuum cleaner, fan, and air conditioning units—to name a few—via your phone.
• Doors: See who is at the door, talk to them through an intercom, or open the door without getting up from the couch.
• Blinds: Operate the blinds remotely, even when you're not at home.
• Watering systems: Make sure your lawn stays freshly watered no matter if you're home or away.
• House alarm: See and record any activity in and around your house, all through your home automation system.
• Lights: Switch your lights on or off, or dim them at a whim via your smart device.
• Energy savers: Monitor the electricity used by each device throughout the house, locate and eliminate the energy drainers, and save money in the process.

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Voice Controlled Devices

Today the voice feature of alexa is not only being used for placing amazon orders or making calls, but is also being used as a source of information or as a control center for other devices. Today, one of the most common and top requested commands for the device is “what’s the weather” or “game scores”. Other capabilities are being used by less than 50 % of the owners. But with the integration of technology, this is all going to change. As users know that their smart speaker has a better use as a controller device for their home.

‍Smart Kitchens Appliances

The most amount of work that happens in any home is in the kitchen. And as technology progresses, we are going to see more and more smart kitchen appliances. Till now kitchens have seen the least progress in smart tech. But this is all changing as new Wi-Fi connected smart appliances are being introduced everyday.

Whirlpool is introducing its Yummy-powered smart cooking technology. It is being offered on a wide range of Wi-Fi-enabled kitchen devices. With a few simple voice commands, homeowners can find recipes by simple saying what ingredients they have on hand. Additionally, it will download video tutorials and display them on its monitor.

Samsung is offering the Family Hub refrigerator in its latest line refrigerators, using an AI-enhanced LCD screen, to display information making the refrigerator notepad a thing of the past. Samsung incorporated a digital assistant into the fridge which can be used for several purposes. And many other companies have now started looking in the same direction with more intent.

‍Better Sleep With Smart Lighting

For a very long time lighting has been the fastest growing segment when it comes to home automation. Earlier manufacturers were producing lights with just an automated on/off function or even changing the color of the light. But now as technology is progressing, things have become more advanced.
As overexposure to light will lead to adverse effects on your circadian rhythm, resulting in sleep loss or poor sleep. Keeping this in mind now the automation industry has started producing lights in which  adjustments are made throughout the night progressively resulting in  a much sound sleep.

Conclusion

Smart home technology and home automation is definitely going to see some growth and development in the coming years. A large number of new products will be introduced in the market every year  and will make the market even more competitive. In order for these products to get cheaper, the competition in the market has to stay strong. It will definitely be interesting to see what new products will be incorporated in our lives in the future.

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