Your alarm wakes you up at 6:30 in the morning. One minute later the lights in your room automatically turn on. You get out of bed and walk down to the kitchen to get a fresh brewed cup of coffee and catch up on the morning news, which, conveniently, is already playing on the TV. You check the time and head back to your bathroom where the shower is on and heated up. When you finish, the bathroom lights turn off as you leave the room. Dressed and ready for work, you head out to the garage. Last year you had to deal with a garage door opener. This year, the door opens automatically just like your programmed it to. At work you get a text from your thermostat alerting you that the temperature is going to drop. You open up your home automation app and schedule your thermostat to increase the temperature 30 minutes before you usually get home.
And while such a scenario might seem far-fetched -- or, at least, expensive – it’s possible due to the increasingly connected world we live in. It’s the Internet of Things: the virtual representations of real objects in a connected structure. It’s your weather app “talking” to your thermostat to ensure your home is as comfortable and efficient as possible. It’s motion sensors detecting movement and turning on hallway lights so you don’t trip in the middle of the night. It’s pulling up your home automation app and shutting the garage door that you accidentally left open. In short, it’s what makes home automation a reality.
And while such a scenario might seem far-fetched -- or, at least, expensive – it’s possible due to the increasingly connected world we live in. It’s the Internet of Things: the virtual representations of real objects in a connected structure. It’s your weather app “talking” to your thermostat to ensure your home is as comfortable and efficient as possible. It’s motion sensors detecting movement and turning on hallway lights so you don’t trip in the middle of the night. It’s pulling up your home automation app and shutting the garage door that you accidentally left open. In short, it’s what makes home automation a reality.
When it comes to home automation, your options will be primarily dictated by your budget. Interested in home automation but not sure if it’s something you want to fully commit to? For about $249 you can pick up a Nest Learning Thermostat® that features Wi-Fi connectivity and software that programs itself based on your usage and schedule. If you’re looking to add a little more automation, Belkin’s WeMo® system allows you to quickly and affordably automate individual lights and devices with easy-to-install motion sensors.
Of course, once you discover the convenience of home automation, we wouldn’t be surprised if you decided to step it up a bit. For some, this means going the whole nine yards and installing a whole-house system that links all your home’s major components (lighting, HVAC, media, security). If this is the case, you’ll want to talk to a licensed home automation pro. They’ll be able to design and install a secure system that delivers the features you want at a budget you can afford.
If you’re less concerned about having a smart home and more so about having a safe home, home automation is a great way to improve your home’s security. From motion sensors to video surveillance to fire and water monitoring, companies like Xfinity, ADT, and AT&T offer customizable security solutions that keep you safe when you’re in your home, while letting you keep tabs on it when you’re not.
Of course, once you discover the convenience of home automation, we wouldn’t be surprised if you decided to step it up a bit. For some, this means going the whole nine yards and installing a whole-house system that links all your home’s major components (lighting, HVAC, media, security). If this is the case, you’ll want to talk to a licensed home automation pro. They’ll be able to design and install a secure system that delivers the features you want at a budget you can afford.
If you’re less concerned about having a smart home and more so about having a safe home, home automation is a great way to improve your home’s security. From motion sensors to video surveillance to fire and water monitoring, companies like Xfinity, ADT, and AT&T offer customizable security solutions that keep you safe when you’re in your home, while letting you keep tabs on it when you’re not.
The convenience of home automation is not without its drawbacks. Privacy and security will remain an issue so long as your devices are connected to wireless networks. However, given the pace at which technology has, and will continue to evolve, it’s safe to assume that these issues will be resolved sooner than later, making home automation a standard feature in every home.
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