Smart Home Technology - Whole Home Automation
Original Content by Carl Johnson
The World of technology is always growing and changing! You can find new devices hitting the market every day, some of which may not be worth your money, while others are made to save you money. From security to green efficiency, smart home technology is the way of the future! In this blog we dive into top new technology home devices and trends. We also list some of the major companies that people trust and turn to for their Smart Home. It is important to first look at how Smart Home Technology works and its industry leaders who influence it.
Voice Control Devices
Almost all of today’s smart home devices are controlled with voice control and use the power of the internet to function. Strong home internet and importantly wi-fi are necessary to get the most out of your devices. The bulk of smart home technology is run by Google with their Nest system along with Amazon and their Echo smart system. These two are so dominant in this market that even other companies' smart home devices are made to be compatible with Google and Amazon to make everything tie together into one giant platform. The main control for these devices commonly come in the form of speakers or tablets. These main control devices are known as Whole Home Automation Systems. A great benefit of whole home automation is that they come in a variety of forms and pricing options making it available to just about everyone.
Smart Home Displays and Smart Speakers
A Smart Home Display is a tablet that is often the main connector to your other smart home devices. With basic smartphone functions your home display is able to give weather, calendar notes, recipes, show you your security cameras, set reminders, and much more. The Smart Speakers are able to do much of the same, just without a visual screen. If your home is outfitted with smart home technologies throughout you can control just with your voice or fingertips! Anything from your lights and blinds to your outlets and even essential oil diffusers have smart technologies available.
Google launched their Nest Hub and Nest Speaker as their leading smart home devices, pictured below, in 2016 and they have come a long way since then!
Voice Control Devices
Almost all of today’s smart home devices are controlled with voice control and use the power of the internet to function. Strong home internet and importantly wi-fi are necessary to get the most out of your devices. The bulk of smart home technology is run by Google with their Nest system along with Amazon and their Echo smart system. These two are so dominant in this market that even other companies' smart home devices are made to be compatible with Google and Amazon to make everything tie together into one giant platform. The main control for these devices commonly come in the form of speakers or tablets. These main control devices are known as Whole Home Automation Systems. A great benefit of whole home automation is that they come in a variety of forms and pricing options making it available to just about everyone.
Smart Home Displays and Smart Speakers
A Smart Home Display is a tablet that is often the main connector to your other smart home devices. With basic smartphone functions your home display is able to give weather, calendar notes, recipes, show you your security cameras, set reminders, and much more. The Smart Speakers are able to do much of the same, just without a visual screen. If your home is outfitted with smart home technologies throughout you can control just with your voice or fingertips! Anything from your lights and blinds to your outlets and even essential oil diffusers have smart technologies available.
Google launched their Nest Hub and Nest Speaker as their leading smart home devices, pictured below, in 2016 and they have come a long way since then!
Guide to Google & Google Nest Products | anicehome.com.au
Amazon’s smart home devices are called Echo with the Echo Speakers and Echo Show Displays, shown below, launched in 2014.
A Buyer's Guide for Amazon Products | techhive.com
So what can you do once you have a smart home hub in your house? Well that depends on what other technology you have and what is important to you.
Digital Smart Thermostats
Digital Thermostats are now a common smart home technology, which a few years ago would have seemed like a futuristic dream! These thermostats have become popular because they are easy to install, control, and help you to save money! Both Google and Amazon have their own version of smart thermostats but you will see other common thermostat companies, such as Honeywell, in this market as well. Common characteristics of Smart Digital Thermostats are automatic sensors to tell temperature, humidity, and motion, they even optimize heating and cooling modes by sensing when you are not home and controlling the temp accordingly. If you aren’t home you can adjust the thermostat right from your phone, or simply when close to your smart digital display say “(echo) turn the thermostat down to 70 degrees”. The abilities for these thermostats to learn your temperature trends and even connect to outside weather patterns allows them to save money by running efficiently instead of constantly.
Smart Light Bulbs
While the move to LED light bulbs was a big step towards energy efficiency in the home, Smart Light Bulbs are the next step forward. Wyze is a company that offers affordable smart light bulbs which you simply screw in like normal then connect wirelessly through their app to control or through Amazon or Google devices. Major light companies such as Philips and Lifex also offer some more expensive options. Common characteristics of smart light bulbs are that they are controlled by your phone or home hub devices, dimmable, you can put them on a scheduled timer to turn off/on, and they can even adjust from warm to cool light. Wyze offers a color changing bulb too where you can set your lights to any color of the rainbow for a fun change!
Smart Home Security
Large home security systems are still very popular and effective but it is becoming more common to see homeowners installing their own home video security, which is made possible through smart home technology. Doorbell cameras are an easy and affordable option as a basic form of security. Ring doorbell, which launched in 2014, is compatible with Amazon and through wireless internet can let you look-in using your phone if not home or notice you of movement by your front door (or wherever your place the camera). Common characteristics of smart doorbells are live video look-in, options to record video to review later, two-way speakers to talk through, a typical button to ring the doorbell, and motion activated to send you alerts.
There are also many options for freestanding wireless cameras, such as the highly rated Arlo, which you as a homeowner can place on your own! The features of smart home security systems typically include wireless battery operated cameras for easy installation, either their own app or the ability to tie into your whole home automation system, options to record the video for later review, options for the video to be monitored by an outside security company for 24/7 emergency response, notifications of movements/sounds sent directly to your phone.
If you don’t want to shop around yourself for smart home devices there are companies that exist which help you organize and set up whole home automation that would work best for you. The following are a list of some companies people turn to for smart home: Control4, Creston, and Savant.
Smart Home Technology and Whole Home Automation are the way of the future! Due to better and better technology this type of technology is now affordable and available to anyone. You can make your home tech friendly on your own are hire an outside company to help you set it up, but either way you can be saving time and money with this new devices.
Did you know Carl Johnson Real Estate specializes in listing homes for sale on the Crystal Coast? If you are looking as an investor on the Crystal Coast or want to upgrade your beach home CLICK HERE to read more on what we can do to help you!
Digital Smart Thermostats
Digital Thermostats are now a common smart home technology, which a few years ago would have seemed like a futuristic dream! These thermostats have become popular because they are easy to install, control, and help you to save money! Both Google and Amazon have their own version of smart thermostats but you will see other common thermostat companies, such as Honeywell, in this market as well. Common characteristics of Smart Digital Thermostats are automatic sensors to tell temperature, humidity, and motion, they even optimize heating and cooling modes by sensing when you are not home and controlling the temp accordingly. If you aren’t home you can adjust the thermostat right from your phone, or simply when close to your smart digital display say “(echo) turn the thermostat down to 70 degrees”. The abilities for these thermostats to learn your temperature trends and even connect to outside weather patterns allows them to save money by running efficiently instead of constantly.
Smart Light Bulbs
While the move to LED light bulbs was a big step towards energy efficiency in the home, Smart Light Bulbs are the next step forward. Wyze is a company that offers affordable smart light bulbs which you simply screw in like normal then connect wirelessly through their app to control or through Amazon or Google devices. Major light companies such as Philips and Lifex also offer some more expensive options. Common characteristics of smart light bulbs are that they are controlled by your phone or home hub devices, dimmable, you can put them on a scheduled timer to turn off/on, and they can even adjust from warm to cool light. Wyze offers a color changing bulb too where you can set your lights to any color of the rainbow for a fun change!
Smart Home Security
Large home security systems are still very popular and effective but it is becoming more common to see homeowners installing their own home video security, which is made possible through smart home technology. Doorbell cameras are an easy and affordable option as a basic form of security. Ring doorbell, which launched in 2014, is compatible with Amazon and through wireless internet can let you look-in using your phone if not home or notice you of movement by your front door (or wherever your place the camera). Common characteristics of smart doorbells are live video look-in, options to record video to review later, two-way speakers to talk through, a typical button to ring the doorbell, and motion activated to send you alerts.
There are also many options for freestanding wireless cameras, such as the highly rated Arlo, which you as a homeowner can place on your own! The features of smart home security systems typically include wireless battery operated cameras for easy installation, either their own app or the ability to tie into your whole home automation system, options to record the video for later review, options for the video to be monitored by an outside security company for 24/7 emergency response, notifications of movements/sounds sent directly to your phone.
If you don’t want to shop around yourself for smart home devices there are companies that exist which help you organize and set up whole home automation that would work best for you. The following are a list of some companies people turn to for smart home: Control4, Creston, and Savant.
Smart Home Technology and Whole Home Automation are the way of the future! Due to better and better technology this type of technology is now affordable and available to anyone. You can make your home tech friendly on your own are hire an outside company to help you set it up, but either way you can be saving time and money with this new devices.
Did you know Carl Johnson Real Estate specializes in listing homes for sale on the Crystal Coast? If you are looking as an investor on the Crystal Coast or want to upgrade your beach home CLICK HERE to read more on what we can do to help you!
