Home Automation - Welcome to the New Age of Homeownership

Home Automation – Run Your Home Wirelessly

Home Automation – What’s Next?

While it was something once seen in science fiction movies and futuristic films, home automation (also known as SMART homes) are becoming an increasing trend as technology makes a greater push into society. With an increasing prevalence in modern home building, smart homes are becoming more common – with the ability to monitor and control various electronic devices from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.

Generally speaking, a smart home automation would seamlessly integrate most devices; lights, security cameras, refrigerators, door locks, sound system, televisions and thermostats – with more technology bringing new wireless technologies as each year passes. As more technological items begin to embrace the wireless capacity, more features will become available for integrating throughout the home.

The Benefits of Smart Homes

While there is obviously the benefit of convenience when it comes to smart home technologies, the benefit opportunity doesn’t stop there. Having the automation process of simple tasks set up throughout the home offers home owners the ability to save time. Whether it’s time they’d rather spend with friends or family, time they’d rather spend at the office or other hobbies – saving time on everyday items helps increase the selling proposition.

Smart homes typically also offer a more energy efficient capacity than standard home builds too. With an automated process, the ability to customize various home processes like temperature control, lighting systems, and water saving features can work to save home owners money on their utility bills, while lowering the overall impact on the environment.

The further development of automation also works to add additional security for the ailing and elderly generations as well – by eventually providing access to monitoring the movements of a relative suffering from mental health issues.

Current Smart Home Devices

While the current spectrum of smart home devices continues to climb, it seems that certain devices have become more popular in the last few years, as they work to establish main-stream capacity in new home builds. These devices can range from individual to individual, but generally work to connect in the following industries:

1. Automated Heating Systems

As utility costs continue to climb more home owners are interested in applying the automation products in their homes. These systems can help an individual monitor the internal temperatures of their home – setting the temperature from anywhere in the world, without having to enter the residence.

Nest thermostat claims to learn from you as you use it, which basically means it remembers your input and will eventually start making changes for you. It learns from you and your home, programs itself automatically, and helps save energy when you’re away. And you can control it using your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. 

2. Automated Lock Systems

With more carrying smart phones and devices, automated locking systems are steadily gaining in popularity. Unlike traditional dead bolt systems, the housing locks are controlled with an electronic release through approved devices. This means that you’ll never need a key to gain access to your home, using wireless key fobs or smart phone devices to gain entrance. This can prove helpful in the event you have hired helpers like a maid, nanny or other service provider needing regular access into the home. For those concerned about power outages, most locking systems include two traditional dead bolt keys – which can be used in lieu of electric devices.

3. Security Automation

With wireless technology brings advancement in security, connecting individuals to their homes and properties –even when they’re at work. This means an ability to stay in contact with their home and families, when you need to monitor what’s happening throughout the day. This also means parents will be able to monitor when their children return home, with visual images, two-way talk and text alerts when the door is open. Most security systems also include an integrated system that works to monitor carbon monoxide, abnormal entry and other optional features as well – sending instant alarms if there’s something suspicious.

4. Automated Lighting Systems

Often pictured in science fiction films, automated lights are becoming more common throughout new house builds – having a system arranged on a schedule or timer, or using motion sensors to trip the lights on/off function when in the room.The automated lights are useful for individuals not wanting to return home to an unlit house (especially late at night) or if they’re planning on taking a vacation and want to keep light on throughout the day for pets (or to deter intrusions).

The Future of Smart Homes

In order to optimize and harness the full capacity of smart home automation, manufacturers will have to work to develop technologies based on common open standards that can link into a cohesive system. When looking at households within North America, finding one specific brand throughout all electronic devices is rare, meaning a brand would need to be able to cohesively work with other competing technologies.

It’s a lengthy process to find a collaborative effort that requires complete communication; one that should be able to sync and work interactively with each other throughout the home. While we might not currently be in a totally automated world, as technology continues to expand, it’s not an unreasonable expectation to see continued growth and development in this spectrum of home building.

Engineers and builders in the process of advancing SMART homes anticipate changes in virtually every feature of the home. It starts with the construction of the home: 3D-printing technology has already been used to successfully make a working gun.

If used in construction, this technology known as Contour Crafting, could completely revolutionize the construction industry.

Windows are also getting smart. They are already making windows and walls that can allow adjustable amount of sunlight, fresh air, warmth, and heat in the home.

In the bedroom, self making beds, artificial sunrises customized to the time in which someone wants to wake up, a suggestions from a computer in the closet on outfits to wear based on the weather, activities for the day, and someone’s style.

Bathrooms will eliminate waste on their own. Showers will remember the temperature each individual in the household likes. Heated floors, lit mirrors and heated towels already exist. Some also predict hair styling devices and toothbrushes that work by themselves to get the best clean for its user.

Kitchen advances will include: faster cooking that can boil water in seconds and cook a full chicken in 15 minutes. The kitchen will be able to take an inventory of items it has and record items it needs,  as well as create personalized diets for each individual within the household.

Home Automation - Welcome to the New Age of Homeownership