Smart Home Technology: Getting Smarter All the Time

Last Updated on January 19, 2012

Just a few years ago, a smart home was any home that had the ability to remotely access your security system or the lighting system for your home.

As limited as that technology was, for its time it was very advanced.

In today’s smart home you will find all the appliances communicating with each other with most of the functions accessible by an app on your smart phone.  The systems are all contained in a central CPU which is located in the home and communicated with via remote control, touch pad, touch screen, voice command or, as mentioned earlier, smart phone technology.

This is a simple example of how smart home technology works but there are many variations as to what the capabilities of a system are depending on how much you want to invest into home automation.  The more you have to invest, the “smarter” your home will be…it’s all relative.

How Does The Smart Home Know What to Do?

The smart home works by the means of sensors that sense light, heat, motion, doors, rain and many other factors.  This means that many of the functions that you would ordinarily have to perform manually are done automatically by the system reacting to the information that the sensors provide.

This combined data is used to make decisions about how to manage security, lighting, climate control and many other daily routines.

What About Using Smart Technology for Other Functions?

Smart home technology isn’t limited to just the boring, everyday tasks of keeping your home going.  There are lots of fun things that can be done with smart home systems.

How about automatic drawing of the drapes when your home theater system is activated or having your favorite music playing when you enter your home?  You can control multi-room entertainment systems as well, using smart home technology systems.

There are even “smart beds” available, for your smart home, which have built in music systems, alarms that feature a refreshing wakeup massage and some that even allow you to fall asleep while watching TV and be lowered back to your sleeping position gradually, over the period of an hour, so as not to waken you with any sudden movement.

Check for Interoperability of Your System Before You Buy

You will want to insure that the system you are considering has the capability to communicate with a large assortment of appliances from a large assortment of manufacturers.

You don’t want to be locked in to buying all your appliances from a single manufacturer because the smart home unit you chose isn’t compatible with the home theater system you want.

Most smart home systems also have a security feature but these vary widely, depending on the system you choose, so make it a point to ask about how secure the system is from unauthorized access.

You should also inquire as to the ready availability of parts and upgrades because you can be sure that your smart home will continue to become smarter as time goes by and you don’t want to have to replace the whole system each time there is a major update.

Doing a bit of research, before buying, will help make your smart home experience a happy one.

About the Author: Chuck Harmon lives in Lake Tahoe and enjoys a wide variety of interests and activities that are available only in a resort community. He is active in his church, loves playing with his grandkids and enjoys quiet dinners with his wife of 48 years. Discover the many advantages and benefits of Smart Beds.