Inside the World of Smart Home Devices
Smart thermostats, appliances, lighting, and digital assistants make home automation easy, letting you control temperature, lights, and more remotely.
MIAMI — These interconnected devices may include household appliances, climate control units, various security features, lighting systems, window coverings, radios and televisions, among other things. But how do they work?
Smart thermostats
Smart thermostats have become a widely embraced upgrade, and they make for a relatively easy transition into the world of home automation. These devices integrate with apps on your smartphone or digital in-home assistants, allowing you to adjust temperatures on command. Smart thermostats can be programmed to turn on and off at certain times and can even learn your habits so they optimize climate control settings based on your lifestyle.
Appliances
Upgrading to smart appliances is the next logical step. Higher-end versions of ranges and refrigerators come equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows for remote monitoring and control. Many of these smart appliances incorporate touch screens to change settings, cameras that enable their owners to check inside or access the ice level in a freezer. There are range hoods these days that function as a central communication hub within the home, incorporating integrated touchscreens for managing other smart devices or inputting things like favorite family recipes. Plus, there’s no more worrying whether you left the stove on when you can turn it off remotely from your phone.
Lighting
Automated lighting can be very useful for those who frequently travel, creating a form of theft prevention since your home will appear to be occupied. These systems can turn on lights remotely before you arrive. Some systems let you control the brightness or color of your lights using voice commands. Other lighting systems connect a range of products beyond the average bulbs.
Integrating everything
For a smart home to operate efficiently, a central system is required to manage connected devices. This may be achieved by adding various digital personal assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home. Some home security or cable systems have their own individual integration capabilities. Once you’ve selected a platform, identify devices in your home that are compatible with the system. If you’ve chosen a digital assistant, appliances can be voice-activated. Once connected, you can give commands like temperature adjustments or turning lights on or off from anywhere in the room.
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