How the internet of things (IoT) is set to infiltrate your home
20 Aug 2018
how does the internet of things work?
The Internet of Things is a network of “things” such as devices, vehicles and home appliances that are designed in such a way that enables them to connect, capture and exchange data with your everyday life. These devices are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and connectivity that allows them to share all this data through standard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or even LTE and satellite connections on a daily basis to help you complete tasks.
One of the key areas that's set to be transformed by the rapid growth of IoT are our homes, with ‘smart homes’ soon to become as common as smartphones.
how does all this tech translate into your home?
‘Smart Home’ has no doubt been a huge buzzword over the past 12-18 months, landing the most searched IoT-associated feature on Google. But what actually is a smart home and how does it fall into the realm of IoT?
To put things simply, a smart home is where household equipment including everything from heating, security and lights to appliances such as fridges, TVs and washing machines, can be controlled remotely by a computer or smartphone. These enabled household pieces equipment are referred to as ‘smart devices’ and together they make up a smart home, which is just one segment of the Internet of Things.
smart home devices of the future
Imagine having your home heating or cooling automatically turn on once you leave the office or a security system that locks your house up when you go to bed. You can even have garden irrigation systems that detect when your garden needs water or set an alarm clock that syncs with traffic apps so you're never late for work again.
A smart home is about connectivity, but a truly smart home is also able to think on its own.
While this may seem a little futuristic, some smart tech has already made its way into our homes. Amazon's Echo range is one of the most recognisable names in this space, acting as a central hub for all your other smart home gadgets, providing unparalleled convenience. Smart lights that react as we enter and leave a room are also being implemented in homes. Want to learn more about some of the most innovative smart home devices? Check out our list of the the coolest home tech products to come out of 2017.
One downside though, is that the more devices you have on your Wi-Fi network the more your connection is ‘shared’. This can slow down your internet speed as you’re essentially splitting the speed between all connected devices. In order to get the most out of your smart home devices and maintain a good connection, households need fast and reliable internet
why should I embrace the IoT in my home?
One of the biggest drawcards of smart household devices is convenience. With these smart devices seamlessly handling everything from mundane to challenging or time-consuming tasks, we are free to spend time doing the things we really love (while also removing human error and guesswork).
Smart homes can also help reduce waste and conserve energy. That means no more lights left on when no one is home and no more over-watering of gardens. Thanks to smart fridges such as the Samsung Family Hub, food waste will also be minimised as anything you don't eat in your fridge will be recorded so you can examine trends and patterns.
Smart homes also have the potential to enable older people to remain independent in their own homes for longer by making it easier for family and carers to communicate with and monitor them.
