Home automation — think of washing machines and dishwashers which is not exactly a new phenomenon, yet it is a world that has been relevant as ever. It is a subject that continues to hog our attention as the world of household appliances continues to expand and smart homes become a reality.
So what then is home automation in today’s day and age? And what is a smart home? This blog delves into the world of home automation and aims to explain what it is about and all that it entails. If you are looking for a simple quick read that will break down this rather complex concept, you are at the right place!
What is Home Automation?
Home automation involves making devices that facilitate automation for a home. A home equipped/ fitted with these devices is in turn called a smart home or smart house.
A home automation system today goes way beyond household appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. It typically controls lighting, climate, entertainment systems, in addition to household devices. It could also include home security such as access control and alarm systems.
When connected with the Internet, home devices form an important part of the Internet of Things (IoT). A home automation system links the controlled devices to a central hub, also called a gateway. The system has a user interface that operates either on-wall-mounted terminals, tablet or desktop computers, or even a mobile phone application, or web interface; that can be accessed through the Internet.
Interestingly, there are said to be three generations of home automation:
1. There’s the First Generation, which includes wireless technology with proxy servers.
2. Second Generation, where electrical devices are controlled by AI (Artificial Intelligence). For example, Amazon Echo or Google Home.
3. And the Third Generation, which refers to robot buddies/ assistants who will not only assist humans but do so by actually interacting with them.
Key Concepts in Home Automation
To understand how home automation works, let’s look at some of the key concepts that together form the crux of a home automation system:
1. Automation
Automation refers to the ability to program and schedule events for the appliances looped in on the network. The programming would include timed commands, such as turning lights on and off at specific times in a day. It can also cover non-scheduled events, e.g. switching on all the lights at home when the security system alarm is activated.
Once you start to understand the possibilities of home automation scheduling, you can come up with any number of useful and creative solutions to make your life better.
Is a particular window letting in too much light? You can now connect your motorized blinds to the home automation system by plugging it into a “smart” outlet and program it to close at noon each day.
Do you have someone come by at the same time each day to drop off a delivery? You can now program your home automation system to unlock the front door for the delivery person, and lock it up again when he/ she has left.
2. Remote Control
Another main feature of home automation is remote monitoring and access. While some degree of one-way remote monitoring has been going on for some time, it’s only since the advent and popularity of smartphones and tablets that we are now able to link up to our home networks even when we’re away. With the right home automation system, we can now use any Internet-connected device to track and control the system and its connected devices.
No doubt it’s the remote control that’s been the biggest takeaway of the home automation system.
Apart from arming and disarming the home security system, we can now reprogram the scheduling, lock and unlock doors, reset the thermostat and adjust the lights all just a click away. We could be anywhere in the world and yet be in control of our home thanks to our smartphones. And with manufacturers coming up with more “smart” devices (we already have “smart” TV, washing machine, refrigerator, thermostat, coffee maker), the possibilities for home automation are virtually limitless.
3. Internet-enabled Home Automation Components
What are the parts of a typical home automation system? Now anything that can be connected to a network can be automated and controlled remotely. But more often than not, home automation involves connecting rather simple binary devices. This refers to the on and off devices such as lights, power outlets, electronic locks and even security sensors.
Now such home automation becomes truly smart when these devices are Internet-enabled. Typically, the control unit is the mobile phone or the home computer, for which many of the earlier home automation systems were designed.
This means that merely having Internet-enabled automated devices that can be controlled remotely isn’t enough; what is also needed is for them to be integrated into a common network.
Nowadays, Amazon Echo and Google’s Alexa appliances can also be controlled with voice commands. Even some smart home systems come integrated with sensors that can control lights, blinds thermostat, coffee maker with gestures of your hands, or when you walk into a room!
When we combine smart homes with Artificial Intelligence(AI), we get appliances and devices controlled by our facial expressions. The system reads and monitors your habits to make appliances work more smoothly.
Say you change your Air Conditioner temperature after it gets too cold, the system will note this and automatically reduce the temperature for you!
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This post was written by Darshita for Apptom.
Thanks for reading!
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