Photo Credit: Opal Mirror
I recently compiled 10 Commandments for ‘Smartifying’ your home – to teach people how to simplify their lives through the use of various smart home systems.
Since the Commandments went over so well with a number of people, I figured I’d share them here.
Thou Shalt Be Aware Of the Hype Surrounding Smart Home Devices Be careful
Most people do not have the hundreds of hours required to properly research the plethora of smart home systems that starting to pop up in retail stores and online. As such there is a danger that you may get confused, believe the hype, and spend money on a smart home device that may not work to your expectations 10 Smart Home Commandments.
Thou Shalt Not Look At Smart Home Systems through the Lens of Technical Specifications
It happens all the time in the technology industry where people buy a product based on technical specifications and not on the functionality they require. I ask people to identify their needs first before going out and looking for a smart home solution.
Thou Shalt Choose Wisely When Purchasing a Smart Home Platform
As with any emerging industry, a number of standards are competing to become the de-facto HA 2.0 technology platform. There is a lot at stake and it is important you have a very general understanding of the different platforms as it has an impact on the types of products available for future expansion of your system.
Thou Shalt Use Smart Home Technologies to Enhance My Family Home Security
Ensuring that your home is safe, especially when crime rates are rising during these recessionary times is extremely important to most of us. The repercussions of a break-in can be enormous. In addition to the damage and loss of personal items, people can often experience emotional trauma for months or indeed years after a house burglary. A fully installed smart home alarm system is a great way of providing you with some peace of mind when away from home.
Thou Shalt Use Smart Home Technologies to Improve My Family Safety Levels
Smart Homes are synonymous with entertainment and increasing your security levels, but can they make life safer at home? In fact, they can not only reduce risks to you or your family’s welfare through smart smoke alarms but can also prevent costly damage to your house caused by extreme temperatures and leaking water.
Thou Shalt Add Smart-Heat & Cooling Control to My Home
Integrating your heating or indeed cooling system with a HA 2.0 controller can bring out about significant financial savings. With a smart thermostat, you can use a smartphone app to turn the heating system ON or OFF from any part of the world!
Thou Shalt Embrace the Internet of Things
The internet of things (also abbreviated as IoT) is available for your home, a web of sensor-equipped devices and objects all linked together on a network. Learn about the impact it will have on your family’s lives over the coming years.
Thou Shalt Use Smart Lights to Increase Ambience & Security Levels At Home
Lighting control enhances the enjoyment and value of your home, adds security for peace of mind, and contributes to savings on your electricity bill. Smart bulbs, changing out your light switches, adding smart plugs all offer an easy and affordable method for ‘smartifying’ your boring lights!
Thou Shalt Aim to Use a Unified App for My Smart Home
Since most smart devices nowadays come with their own App, people are starting to suffer from ‘App fatigue’! To avoid the situation of having an app for every home device you install, some systems provide a single app to control and unify connected devices from multiple suppliers.
Thou Shalt ‘Smartify’ My Garden & Kitchen
A new generation of smart kitchen and garden devices are already finding pride of place in the homes of modern families. Keep an eye out for developments in both of these spaces in your local store!