Home automation: smart homes that can do it all for you

In recent years the field of home automation: smart homes has grown exponentially. More and more people want to turn their home into a smart home; that is, the house can do everything for you while you simply give an order. It is something that we have seen ad nauseam in numerous futuristic films and, now, it seems that it has become a reality.

What is home automation and how do you create smart homes?

Home automation refers to systems that are capable of automating a property (doing everything with minimal human effort). This is carried into the areas of energy management, security, wellness and communications that are integrated into the property through multiple indoor and outdoor communications networks (wired or wireless). The control of the same networks can be done in situ or from the outside.

Broadly speaking, home automation consists of integrating technology into the intelligent design of a closed space. Because yes, home automation is applied: smart homes, but it can also be taken to offices, classrooms, etc. Provided that the enclosure is closed and the pertinent connections can be established. Did you know that home automation means autonomous house? Etymologically, home automation comes from the union of the word domus (house in Latin) and the Greek autonomous (which governs itself).

La domótica hace el hogar más eficiente

Applications of home automation in smart homes

A house can become fully automatic or it can be adapted so that only certain aspects of it are automatic. The applications of smart home automation are very varied and can be of great help to homeowners.

Programming and saving energy consumption

How many times have you not been angry because your electricity bill has become more expensive than you expected? It is not about replacing appliances and other electrical appliances or changing companies. Perhaps all it takes is efficient management of the home’s energy systems. This is where home automation comes into play. Thanks to this automation you can better manage this energy consumption.

To begin with, home automation in smart homes can be applied to air conditioning and boiler systems. How to get it? A very easy option and one that we have already talked about previously, is through smart thermostats. These thermostats have the advantage that they switch devices on and off remotely; You can program them to turn on or off or do it manually and remotely. Thanks to the AI in these devices, the vast majority detect when you are not at home or are about to arrive to activate the heating system in the house.

Regarding the efficient management of the electrical consumption of the home, home automation allows disconnecting equipment that is not used regularly, that is, deactivating it. Home automation can also keep track of energy consumption (meters) that you can automatically receive on your mobile just by asking for it. Home automation, by the way, can also be very useful to establish the light rate that suits you best, depending on the consumption you do in your home.

Put your security in the hands of artificial intelligence

With the AI controlling your house you can be more secure and calm. Home automation in smart homes allows detecting the presence of strangers in the home, closes the blinds, simulates the presence of the family at home so that no one wants to enter. But it not only protects you from strangers, it also protects you from accidents. The home automation has an alarm that allows it to detect heat, smoke, gas leaks, water leaks, carbon monoxide concentration, etc. And of course, it also has a medical alert and you can even schedule remote assistance (if the service is available).

Entertainment and comfort

It has happened to more than one person that when he is very comfortable on the sofa, he forgets something and has to get up to turn off the lights or take the television remote to change the channel. Well, smart home automation is a great help for those times. We tell you that a smart home is capable of turning off or on all the lights in the house when you need it; You can also regulate them to increase or decrease their intensity and thus relax the environment.

Empieza por la domótica casas inteligentes con un asistente por voz

With a home automation system, the door phone or video door phone can also be managed directly on the phone or television screen, using a very simple application. And, of course, you can also play your multimedia content just by asking your smart home system. A movie? A specific song? You only need to ask for it and you will have it at the moment.

Awnings and blinds care

Home automation in homes can also be used to control electric awnings and blinds. This can be done by the user manually with the help of a remote control or by making the home system automated and performing the same operations at a specific time. But, what is home automation for in these cases? Why do you want to control blinds and awnings? It’s very simple, you can protect your awnings from the wind (thanks to a sensor that detects this weather condition); You can also protect your home from the sun automatically (there are systems that also detect the action of the sun).

How to turn my house into a smart home?

You don’t need a large initial investment to turn your house into a smart home. You can start small with a few bulbs and plugs that you can control directly from your mobile. These simple devices can be connected to the network and controlled with a voice assistant or directly from an app.

Something similar happens with blinds, but don’t panic. It is not necessary that you change your blinds all your life (although you can do it and get automatic ones); To automate the blinds you already have, simply install a plug that can be controlled by WiFi and an electric motor. You find them for all the prices on the market! With this, you can control when to raise and lower the blinds, directly from your mobile, and while away from home.

You may already have a smart TV connected to the Internet at home, but are you exploiting it as much as you should? Did you know that many of these devices can be fully managed from your mobile, even with Google Assistant ? Smart TVs have been the pioneers of home automation, but there are other electrical appliances that you can also control directly from your mobile or with voice assistants; yes, here you can find microwaves, ovens and even washing machines and refrigerators.

Of course, for a smart home to function properly, do not forget to purchase a voice assistant such as Amazon’s Alexa, although in the market you can find a wide range of assistants that will fulfill all your requests effectively.

What kit to buy?

Within household appliances you already know that you have Smart TVs, but if you are thinking big, don’t forget smart washing machines like Samsung’s SmartThings or LG’s Smart ThinQ that can be controlled directly from the app. In addition, these washers save water. You can also find smart refrigerators that take pictures of the inside and outside of the appliance when the door is closed. These smart refrigerators are capable of taking inventories and alerting you to your mobile when something is missing in your pantry. They also inform you of breakdowns.

As for voice assistants, the most popular is Amazon’s Alexa, as it is compatible with more than 28,000 devices from 4,500 different brands. If Alexa doesn’t convince you, you can buy Cortana from Microsoft or Google Assistant (you have a test on your phone, if it’s Android). Finally, within the voice assistants we find Siri, which does not have much compatibility with other devices, but it was the first assistant to appear.

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