We’ve come a long way since 1945. That’s when the first fully-programmable electronic general-purpose computer was completed. ENIAC weighed over 27 tons and was a modular machine composed of individual panels that served different functions. I write this article on 17” laptop that weighs probably eight pounds or so. My iPhone and tablet are even smaller and weigh even less. The three devices I own likely do more than that 27 ton monster. “Everything” seems to have some sort of smart technology today. For years now, refrigerators have been able to interface with our phones and allow us to see what’s in the fridge, or allows people at home to add to a shopping list while another family member is at the grocery store. We replaced the lights on our Christmas tree last year, and smart technology allows us to control color, intensity, lighting patterns, turn the lights on and off, and even set them to music – all from our phone. My husband and I had a good time with the last one, watching the lights dance from everything from Metallica’s “Fuel” to “The Chipmunk Christmas” song.
Of course there’s more ways than Christmas lights and refrigerators to add smart tech to your home.
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Voice-Controlled Assistants
“Hey, Siri…” or “Hey, Alexa…” or “Hey, Google…” are often followed with things like “add sugar to the shopping list” or more silly requests like “can cats eat pancakes?” You can request to play a specific radio station, podcast, or song. Your VCA of choice can also perform tasks, like turning on the lights, dimming the lights, changing the thermostat, and more.Security Systems
Security systems have come a long way, just as computers have. I won’t give away the set up of the system we have here at home, but not only does it perform well, it’s another system we can control from our phones. We can check the cameras and even choose the settings, whether we’re home, across town, or across the country. Glass-break sensors, entry senors, panic buttons, and a central security hub that connects it all to the system provider makes for a much more secure – and smart – home than the simple security systems that rang an annoying alarm and nothing more.
While you might not group it with security systems, the rise of smart locks has advanced security as well. Many of the vacation rentals I’ve been in have smart locks, with codes provided by the landlord before arrival and change after you leave on your last day. Certain locks also allow you to grant access remotely.
Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
My parents could benefit from a smart thermostat. They have a second home, and when they spend time there, they adjust the thermostat at their main home to be more energy efficient while they’re away. But that means they may arrive home to a freezing cold or blistering hot home depending on the time of year. If they had a smart thermostat, they could program it to be at their preferred temperature by the time they get home. Perhaps the bigger benefit, however, is that you can lower your utility bill and keep your home comfortable, even when you’re not there.
Other sustainable smart home additions include smart lighting systems that automatically turn off when you leave a room, and smart blinds that adjust to the amount of sunlight. For those looking to substantially reduce their carbon footprint, consider integrating solar panels and energy storage systems.
Smart Audio
You have the perfect lighting and temperature set from your smart lighting and thermostat, what about the perfect audio? Not only can you choose different music in every room – and even outside, but the AI and advanced algorithms enhance sound quality in real-time, adapting to environmental changes like room acoustics, background noise, and audio source. What you get is crystal-clear communication, improved clarity, reduced distractions, and focus on the sound source for an immersive experience.
Outdoor Water & Lighting
At least when I was growing up, a staple of the fall season was Dad climbing a ladder with gardening gloves and a bucket to clear the gutters of leaves and debris. Now, there are products on the market like screens and solid pieces that fit over the gutters to keep leaves and large debris out and water flowing freely. You may have a sprinkler system programmed to engage on certain days and times for set intervals.
In addition to these, consider a smart irrigation system. A smart irrigation system automatically waters your landscaping based on the weather. If it rains on a day you’d typically water, the smart system will stop your sprinklers from engaging and over-watering delicate landscape. You save water and enjoy a beautiful landscape at the same time.
Smart Appliances
We’ve mentioned smart refrigerators, but did you know smart technology has been applied to more than the fridge? Smart appliances today include not just refrigerators, but clothes washers and dryers, speakers, televisions, vacuums, and more.
Implementing Smart Technology in Your Home
You’ve seen some of the ways you can include smart technologies in your home, but how do you implement them? If you live in an existing home, some retrofitting may be in order, but if you’re building your dream home with Acipe Design, you’ll want to start building your smart home the same way you build the rest of the structure: from the ground up!
A Smart Foundation
The key to success when it comes to making your home a smart home is to start with a solid foundation. If you want smart technologies to be a big part of your home, you’ll need to work with a technology expert early on in the home design process. Gather a team of architect or home designer, builder, interior designer, and technology expert who can work together to ensure the infrastructure of the home supports the technology of today, and can handle future upgrades as well.
Your chose your smart devices like phones, computers, and tablets because they fit your needs. You may have considered details like screen size, user interface, battery power, and other specs that fit your needs. The same goes for your home technology. There are dozens of products in every category vying for your attention and consideration, but you need to consider your lifestyle and needs before making a final decision.
More than just the devices need to be chosen. You need to decide where and how you want to implement each technology, so infrastructure like wiring can be run during the construction process.
Your Unified Smart Home Ecosystem
Another key to the successful implementation of smart home technology is to ensure that all of the devices you choose work together seamlessly. When considering devices, make sure they are compatible with one another and able to be controlled from one or only a couple apps or voice assistants. There’s nothing worse than a dozen smart devices each with their own app to control the item. The more you can get that work together under one umbrella, the better.
A good step toward this unification is looking for devices compatible with popular brand platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. Devices compatible with these platforms will be easily automated and controlled through a single interface.
Future Proof Your Smart Home
While nothing can truly be future proof – today’s technology will be obsolete in a matter of months, or only a few years – you can do your best to select products that are easily upgradable or replaceable as new innovations come on the market. Devices that allow over-the-air software updates, as well as devices with modular designs that allow for easy upgrades are the best picks for your smart home.
Final Thoughts
We at Acipe Design want to help you create and build the home of your dreams, and make it as smart as you want. We’ll help guide you through all of your choices, and help you determine what’s right for you and your needs. We’ll design the home that works for you and help you build a team that will build your smart home dreams from the ground up.
Contact us today!