Last updated March 2023
Smart homes have gone from being filled with clever gadgets to entire ecosystems of connected IoT technology.
The IoT has enabled all sorts of products and devices in the home to be connected to the internet. These devices can be controlled remotely using a smartphone or other devices connected to the internet.
These devices are designed to automate and simplify various aspects of daily life, such as managing home security, temperature control, lighting, entertainment, and more. A smart oven can be set remotely to preheat before you arrive so you can get dinner on straight away and a pet feeder can feed your cat at a certain time while you are at work - all with the touch of a button.
However, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi may soon be doing much more than connecting one or two devices in a household – indeed, most objects in your house might soon be part of a network of interconnected devices enabling homeowners to run their homes more efficiently and safely, as well as helping them to save money and promote sustainability.
Here are some ways that smart homes are changing the way we live:
Energy management: Smart meters and thermostats are now replacing traditional meters in the home in many countries. These devices can automatically adjust the temperature of your home based on your preferences and can be controlled remotely through a smartphone app.
Lighting control: Technology can help to deal with bad habits of forgetting to turn lights off. Smart lighting can be controlled through a smartphone app to turn on/off, change color or brightness, and even set schedules – helping cut electricity bills and reducing the carbon footprint.
Smart locks: These devices can be used to remotely lock or unlock doors, track who enters your home and set access permissions for different users. Smart doorbells are an important safety component of, livestreaming video from smart homeowner’s doorstep.
Smart speakers: These devices can play music, answer questions, control other smart home devices, and even make calls or send messages through voice commands.
Security and monitoring systems: smart security cameras can be used to monitor your home and provide alerts in real-time, and can be controlled remotely via a smartphone app. Devices across the range can offer infrared filming for nighttime capabilities and even facial recognition.
Smart kitchen appliances: These devices can be controlled remotely to perform tasks like starting the coffee machine or preheating the oven.
With several smart devices, smart homes become an intelligent living space that is personalized to homeowner’s tastes. The beating heart if any smart home, the hub, helps them to manage compatible devices connected to the ecosystem and control these in one place.
Below we have highlighted some key smart homes’ features. Scroll through the infographic to see how this works in practice. You can also view this infographic as a PDF here.
