Technological advancements have made it possible for you to connect virtually anything in your home to the internet, including thermostats, lights, windows, clocks, speakers, and cooking utensils, just to mention a few. What if all the equipment could communicate, send information, and take commands? Well, it’s possible, and it’s a key component of a smart home. There’s a plethora of different smart home products that can help you remotely control items around the house. Here’s a guide to making your house a smart home:
Choose Your Assistant
There are several virtual voice-controlled assistants in the market. These AI assistants allow you to easily control your smart home equipment by responding to simple voice commands. Some of the best AI assistants include Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google’s Assistant. Each of the virtual assistants has its own pros and cons; so, choose the one that most likely satisfies your needs.
Put Your Assistant to Work
After choosing a virtual assistant, you’ll need a compatible device that can become the primary controller. For instance, Amazon’s Alexa works well with an Echo speaker, Apple’s Siri with iPhones or iPads, and Google’s Assistant with the latest Android smartphones. AI assistants are meant to aid the functionality of your smart home; so, put them to use. They can help you do lots of things around the house like controlling the lights, fans, thermostats, and much more.
Buy the Essential Equipment
There’s a lot to consider when creating a smart home; however, the best way to go about it is to invest in a few key devices and services that can control a majority of your smart home equipment. Then later, get into more complex setups depending on your budget, needs, time, and preference. Some of the essential smart home equipment include smart home hubs, smart lights, smart speakers, smart thermostats, smart plugs, security cameras, and much more. Building a smart home doesn’t have to be costly. Plus, according to Habito.com, you can easily remortgage your home to raise funds for home improvements.
Universal Remotes
These are used to control all entertainment devices in your smart home, including the TV, cable box, stereo, etc. Some universal remotes will even let you control smart home devices like thermostats and lights. They can also be linked to the virtual assistant so you can control your devices with your voice. Logitech Harmony Elite is among the best universal remotes in the market. It lets you control up to 15 devices and several other smart home devices.
Security Concerns
There are plenty of smart products to keep you and your smart home secure. Companies even offer full product lines that come with security cameras, door and window sensors, and smart doorbells with motion detectors, all of which can be controlled by a central hub. This system allows you to monitor every aspect of home security from one place. The concept of Internet of Things (IoT) looks promising, but it does come with some security concerns. With every additional smart home device, there’s the risk of being hacked. Luckily, there are several ways to help prevent your smart home from being hacked.
