Comfort, efficiency and speed have become essentials in today's society. Can you imagine controlling every aspect of your home by just clicking a button? Well, now you can, thanks to smart home solutions. You just need an internet connection and a mobile device.
What is a smart home?
A smart home or domotics is a centralised electrical system that allows you to automate and control your home smartly and remotely.
Moreover, smart-home automation works via Wi-Fi, so you can perform tasks in your home, such as controlling different features from a tablet, computer or smartphone, programming different scenarios with several parameters, performing household tasks remotely or systematising them automatically.
What types of domotics are there?
Installing a home automation system opens up the potential to streamline many everyday tasks in the home. Here are some examples of smart home systems:
- Smart home systems with non-shared network: this technology works solely via dedicated wires (BUS). The system is usually very safe, fast and efficient because no interference occurs when the signal is transmitted. It is especially recommended for more complex automation systems or when a large amount of data is required.
- Smart home systems with shared network: a regular power supply cable sends the control signal. It is the least recommended because the signal can become unstable, and the domotic devices may stop working correctly.
- Wireless smart home systems: the signal is not transmitted via wiring but sent via radio frequency waves. These systems may be powered by batteries, which need to be changed or recharged regularly. In certain circumstances, the signal quality may be weakened due to interference from other nearby signals.
- Mixed smart home systems: wired and wireless home automation installations combined. Mixed systems are ideal for large smart home systems that handle many features and a lot of data.
The best examples of home automation
Here are six examples of the most modern and efficient technology to add to your home:
- Door and window sensors: they detect when intruders enter your home and trigger an alarm. With this system, you can keep track of everything happening via real-time notifications.
- Smart light bulbs: they can be connected to your mobile phone, so you can turn the lights on or off, regulate their brightness or even change their colour from wherever you are.
- IP Wi-Fi video surveillance camera: the camera starts recording as soon as it detects motion.
- Heating and air-conditioning: with domotics, you can come home to the perfect temperature, as you can program your heating and air-conditioning systems for your home time.
- Digital access: when you install an electronic lock you can monitor how often the front door is opened or closed, authorise entry into your house and make sure you locked up when you leave.
- Household appliances: program your appliances turning them on and off at your convenience. Can you imagine programming your coffee maker to have coffee ready every morning when you get up?
Advantages of home automation
The main features and advantages of home automation are:
- Programming and energy savings: by programming predefined scenarios to adopt parameters at any given time, you can manage your home's energy use more efficiently. One of the most useful home automation applications is HVAC management because you can fully control your home's heating, air conditioning, etc., helping you make better use of resources.
- Comfort: managing your entire home even when you are not there is an additional source of comfort. You can perform several tasks from your mobile phone, such as programming the washing machine, changing the lighting, turning on the heating or opening the door, etc.
- Security: you can keep control of all your security networks, i.e. alarms, fire detectors, telecare or cameras that notify you of any type of intrusion, etc. That way, you can rest assured that your home is fine even if you are hundreds of kilometres away.
- Communications and monitoring: you can remotely control telecare systems, maintenance, telephones and video door entry systems, alarm transmission, etc. Moreover, energy monitoring systems let you track how much energy you're using.
- Accessibility: you can install and control accessibility features in your home.
- Property revaluation: smart home systems will increase your property's value since adding tech is always a plus.
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