Smart home system: highly intelligent housing. Latest technologies: how smart home helps people

The desire for comfort has always been one of the most important human desires. Over the past decades, many innovations have appeared on the market that can provide comfort and convenience in a home. optimal conditions. At the same time, the sheer number of such devices created the problem of managing them. If you equip the house modern heating, air conditioning, lighting and other equipment, it will take too much time to adjust them. "Smart Home" is a technology of the future that allows you to create your own infrastructure for interaction and control of all systems in the house and in the surrounding area.

What can "smart home"

Almost everything that is connected to the control complex. Functions « smart home» are based on the coordination of different equipment.

AT standard set includes management and control functions:

  • lighting;
  • microclimate;
  • executive systems;
  • fire and burglar alarm;
  • anti-flooding and gas leakage prevention system;
  • access to the house and territory;
  • multiroom, media center;
  • video surveillance and notification.

Device and principle of operation

The system has a modular configuration, so it can be designed for any house, apartment, budget and vary in functionality. The heart of the whole complex is a server connected to WI-FI. Receiver and transmitter modules are connected to the server, which will interact with sensors and power units via wireless communication.

Smart home control is carried out in three ways: push-button or touch switches, remote control remote control or smartphone from anywhere in the world where there is access to the World Wide Web. As a rule, the creators of smart devices have a resource of a set of applications, access to which is provided free of charge to users via the Internet. Thanks to the proposed applications, you can customize various modes, equipment operation algorithms are programmed and scenarios are created. In addition, all personal settings are copied to the cloud storage and, in case of an accidental failure, they can always be returned.

The simplest "smart home" is controlled sockets. They can connect equipment, set the operating mode and control via the network.

Lighting

Provided for light control power blocks, which can perform the function simple switch or dimmer. Lighting can be controlled via a motion sensor. The user gets the opportunity to turn on and off all at once or individual points of illumination at the touch of a button. Select different brightness modes and program them according to time or situation. For example, turn on the TV, and the light is automatically dimmed. You can also choose to fade out in sleep mode or keep the room bright with sunlight.

When lighting is connected via a motion sensor, the light will turn on automatically when a person appears in the room, and go out if there is no movement after a set period of time. It is possible to choose your own lighting scenario for a party, a romantic date or create the effect of presence at the time of departure. Settings allow you to notify the user if he forgot to turn off the light or turn it off automatically. Manufacturers claim that it is not only convenient and comfortable, but also economical. With well-designed lighting control algorithms, up to 30% of electricity is saved.

Microclimate

This function is provided by temperature and humidity sensors. In this case, the devices are installed in those rooms where adjustment is necessary. The user can set different modes: choose a constant temperature and humidity for the entire dwelling, for each room individually, as well as set variable modes by hours and days of the week. In accordance with the given algorithm, the system will regulate climate devices (heating, air conditioning, humidification, dehumidification, ventilation). There are many additional features in the apps. For example, " opened window or "guests". In the first case, the heating will be turned off so as not to consume excess electricity or gas, and in the second case, when people gather, the intensity of the ventilation will increase. Average automatic control microclimate allows you to save up to 40% of energy costs and create favorable conditions for the health of the household.

Executive systems

These include power devices that open / close doors, gates, barriers, curtains, blinds, roller shutters. It can also be automatic valves on the water supply, heating or gas pipeline, watering and fire pumps, video camera turns. With these devices, you can close the curtain or open the door to the guest without getting up from the sofa. The possibility of settings allows you to program automatic closing and opening curtains/blinds according to the time of day or depending on natural light. You can adjust the watering of flower beds and lawns using external weather sensors. Gates, doors and shutters can work in tandem with the burglar alarm and close in case of unauthorized entry.

Multiroom and media center

This is the ability to distribute sound and video around the house and even adjoining area. Moving around the room, the user, using the remote control or smartphone, switches the sound and / or image to other devices. The function is also performed using motion sensors.

From the latest developments, leading manufacturers offer Acustic systems voice controlled. At the same time, the device is able to adapt to the voice and pronunciation of the owner. In addition to music and video, it answers questions using and filtering information from Wikipedia.

Access control

In a "smart home" even the locks on the doors are connected to a system that "recognizes" only one owner, indicating the status of the rest of the residents. In addition to the key, special locks are opened using a smartphone, but only the owner has unlimited access. For others, access can be allowed or denied, as well as configured by time or for a specific period.

Fire and burglar alarm

For security, it is important to equip a "smart home" fire alarm. It includes smoke and fire detectors, which are located in fire hazardous areas. When a fire and / or smoke is detected, the device by default notifies the owner, and optionally the concierge on duty, security or sends a message to the fire department, including sound alarm. In the presence of a fire extinguishing system, the "smart home" itself suppresses the source of ignition.

Security alarm system is based on motion sensors, door and window opening sensors, video surveillance. In case of unauthorized entry by an outsider, the system blocks entrances and exits, turns on an audible alarm and, as in case of fire, notifies the owner and the relevant security services. how additional functions a remote control can be installed to enter an access code after opening the doors or an alarm code to call the guard.

Prevention of floods and gas leaks

For determining emergency at the installation sites gas equipment gas analyzers are attached, which, when any hydrocarbon is detected in the air, send a signal to the server. As a result, a command is given to the automatic valve to shut off the gas and at the same time notifies the owner. The rest of the household will learn about the leak by a loud alarm. Optionally, the notification of the emergency gas service is configured.

To detect water leakage, a special sensor is used, which is installed at the lowest point of the room with sanitary equipment. The algorithm of the anti-flooding function is similar - the water is automatically shut off, and the owner is notified.

Video surveillance and notification

Video surveillance indoors and outdoors is carried out for two purposes. The first is the intercom function, which provides video communication with the visitor. The owner can see who rang the doorbell and record the communication session. The second goal is video recording when an alarm is triggered. Video monitoring can also be carried out with the services of a nanny, housekeeper or technicians. Video cameras are installed openly or hidden and have IR illumination for night video shooting. The user can turn on the camera at any time and see what is happening in his home. In the settings, you can select the baby monitor mode, while the camera will react to the noise and cry of the baby.

The notification function is made on the owner's smartphone or several users. You can set up an alert for any number, email. The reason for the notification is also configurable, since by default a message will be sent to each action of the "smart home" and "clog" the memory mobile device or mail. The owner at any time from any point can control the operation of all equipment, find out the temperature in the premises.

outdoor systems

The smart home is not limited to the control and management of indoor equipment. After all, on adjoining territory you also need lighting, often watering or street heating. Particularly relevant today are anti-icing systems on paths, steps and snowmelt on roofs. All these functions can also be controlled by the "smart home" complex. As a result, a person can forget about household trifles. While the "house" itself will solve all the problems, the owner can enjoy life with comfort and confidence.

Problems of "smart home"

The main problem of all intelligent systems is the lack of general standardization. Because of this, the equipment of one manufacturer is not compatible with the devices of another. Although there are exceptions in some cases. Choosing a "smart home", the consumer is forced to take advantage of the offer of one specific manufacturer. If the selected company does not have some “interesting” function, then it cannot be supplemented with third-party devices. The same applies to applications that are rarely universal. Even the means of wireless connection of the modules is different.

For many main problem may be the cost of a "smart home", but some of its elements are quite affordable.

prospects

The developers believe that the possibilities of intelligent control systems are far from being exhausted and are at initial stage development. Despite the wide functionality, the potential of such equipment is huge. In the future, it is planned to expand technologies and capabilities, including monitoring not only technical and engineering devices, but also the physical condition of residents. Systems of the future will be able to hear the heart and breathing of a person, analyze his behavior, and, if necessary, independently call an ambulance medical care or warn of a critical state of the body.

You probably already guessed that in the near future houses and apartments will become “smart”. But perhaps you did not imagine the scale of the invasion of devices into living spaces. presented a rating of the best smart home gadgets, and we figured out how to organize your apartment using newfangled devices.

Don't leave the room: "smart" locks

To begin with, you should take care that your technological apartment does not become a tasty morsel for unscrupulous visitors. Agree, it would be foolish to close a house stuffed with devices with a simple and, worse, understandable lock for robbers.

Lockitron Bolt

This lock uses Bluetooth to detect when you and your smartphone leave the premises. Access rights can be granted to friends and family members. Every time someone enters or leaves the apartment, you receive a notification on your phone.

August Smart Lock

A more well-known version of the "smart" lock, which has already gained trust and popularity. It runs on batteries and syncs with your smartphone via Bluetooth. The application converts the list of contacts into a list of those who are allowed access to the apartment. August can also automatically close the door behind you, send notifications when someone enters the room, and much more.

All-Seeing Eye: Surveillance Cameras

To know about everything that happens in the house, you just need modern surveillance cameras. Especially since the new solutions for the home are small, comfortable and very cool.

Butterfly

The square chamber is equipped with everything you might need. She can recognize motion, shoots video in Full HD. Inside - 16 GB of internal memory, a powerful battery, an accelerometer and a magnet for wall mounting. Synchronizes with your smartphone and sends all notifications to it, broadcasts video and reports on the most important.

Nest Cam

Unlike the previous version, Nest Cam has a wider viewing angle and is able to record sound, ignoring extraneous noise. The camera can not only save the video, but also tell you exactly what minute this or that event happened. The camera can be placed on a shelf or mounted on a wall.

Arlo

The waterproof wireless camera syncs with your smartphone. If you place several such devices in the house at once, then you can manage them using a cloud service. On the phone screen, you can view the image from four cameras - there is a special application for this. There is a motion sensor and a night vision mode.

Cocoon

One device is able to control everything that happens in the house. It uses proprietary technology that picks up activity in any room with sound. It does not require additional sensors. Of course, it has both a camera and synchronization with a smartphone. You will be notified if Cocoon detects something strange. There is also a very cool feature: as soon as the device runs out of power or someone disconnects it from the network, you will also know about it. The cloud service will record the absence of the gadget on the Web and send a notification to your phone.

Canary


Intel

This little camera does more than all of the above. In addition to basic functions, it also has a built-in sensor that determines the state of the air. Its humidity, temperature and composition will be recorded and transmitted to your smartphone. In addition, there is a camera, a sound sensor and a siren.

Breathe deeply: thermostats and filters

A "smart" home is also an ideal climate inside. Keeping track of this is much easier with the help of a technological thermostat. In addition, it is possible and necessary to control the condition of the air in the apartment with special filters.

Nest

The third generation of Nest thermostats just got even cooler. This device controls the temperature, remembers your daily routine and sets the climate accordingly. In addition, the gadget can be controlled from a smartphone, and he can switch to energy saving mode when no one is at home. Sharp jumps in temperature and humidity are perceived by Nest as a cause for alarm - and the thermostat will definitely send a notification about this.

AWAIR

A small device monitors several indicators at once. AWAIR continuously monitors temperature, humidity, content carbon dioxide in the air, the presence of toxic components and dust. The data is compiled into a short summary, after which AWAIR offers its own ways to solve problems.

A "smart" ventilation system is built right into the house. It has temperature and pressure sensors, and each of the devices is synchronized with a smartphone and thermostats. In fact, this is the final part of the entire air quality tracking system. It seems impossible to do without smart ventilation.

point

A small device monitors the sounds that are heard in your apartment, records the temperature and composition of the air. Based on this, the device draws a conclusion about the climate in the house and whether everything is in order with it. Understands when the seasons change, when you leave the apartment and what kind of daily routine your family has.

Tado

This thermostat will first ask about everything in the world, because it is important for him to take into account every detail. Enter the details of your home and Tado will understand how to work with it correctly. In addition, the device can predict the weather and create an appropriate microclimate in the apartment.

Cozy

You can leave the small thermostat on the docking station or take it with you, because it is shaped like a small barrel. It will control the temperature around you, focusing on your well-being. The idea is to heat and cool a specific room, not the entire apartment. Then it will be possible to save energy and create comfort at the same time.

Let there be light: smart lamps

Probably the most non-obvious, but also the most popular devices for a technologically advanced home are “smart” lamps. People really like them - and we understand why!

Lucy

This spherical lamp captures sunlight with a movable mirror and redirects it wherever you see fit. Yes, you can work all day natural light, no matter which side of the world your windows face.

Beam

A small lamp turns into a powerful projector with a speaker in no time. To control Beam, you just need to use a special application.

Twist

The LED lamp is equipped with excellent speakers, so it can play music using AirPlay technology. And the shade of the glow will adjust to the time of day.

smart change

A good solution for emergencies: even if the power goes out in your house, Smart Change will work for another 4 hours. The rest of the time, these lamps simply save energy.

Emberlight

Beautiful and stylish lamp controlled from a smartphone with using Wi-Fi. You can turn the light on, off, or set the brightness of the glow, which is ideal for the situation.

Feel at home: gadgets for the room

When planning your house, whatever one may say, we will consider one room as “main”. It usually has everything you need for life and entertainment.

Eero

A modern modem promises to bring a fast Wi-Fi connection to every corner of your apartment. Provides "guest" access by one tap. Enhanced data security protection. In general, a simple and powerful device for a smart home.

Apple TV

We could not do without a new TV set-top box. It provides access to online services, games and entertainment, allows you to shop directly from your TV, and is capable of active engagement with the user.

Luna

One of the recent Kickstarter winners, the Luna smart mattress cover, will track your sleep and health, control the temperature of your bed, and be able to wake you up in the morning. A very simple device will turn your bed into a smart gadget in seconds.

Little Printer

The charming device will print out a picture, a message or a note in no time. Paper for it can be bought for a penny. In addition, Little Printer can "deliver" for you the morning press or fresh photos from family and friends.

A small gadget is a voice assistant that can control the whole house. It is enough to ask him to turn off the light in the kitchen, and the command will be executed. Ivee also streams music using Spotify and hails Uber. If you set an alarm, the virtual assistant will wake you up on time, and in the morning it can tell you the weather forecast for the whole day. You can also talk with Ivee: the device will tell you about everything in the world using Wikipedia.

Cleanliness is the key to health: bathroom gadgets

Everyone should take care of themselves. And with new devices, doing it is much easier and more economical.

Nebia

Nebia's campaign on the crowdfunding platform was backed by Tim Cook himself. He really liked the device that sprays water on a person. As a result, you can save up to 70% of water consumption - and at the same time not lose any cleanliness or comfort.

SmartyBrush

The toothbrush will monitor how carefully and diligently you brush your teeth. Frequency of movements, pressure force and duration of the procedure. All data is transmitted to the smartphone, generated in the form of visual statistics and analyzed by the application. After that, you can get recommendations on how to improve your daily ritual.

Dinner is served: devices for the kitchen

Haute cuisine has never been so accessible. With new devices, you can not only cook culinary masterpieces, but also create a semblance of a restaurant right at home.

June

The electric oven looks like a futurist chef's dream. Inside there are temperature sensors, a camera and automatic scales for your dish. Therefore, during cooking, you can get a video from the inside, detailed information about the state of the dinner and recommendations on how to make it better.

Bruno

Smart-technologies have reached the garbage. Bruno is a "smart" bucket that will tell you when it's time to take out the bag and can pick up small rubbish with the built-in vacuum cleaner. He even has his own application - it reminds you to keep the house clean.

Cove

The water filter differs from all its counterparts in special membranes. They are made using laser technology and not only purify, but also enrich the water with useful substances.

Every person living in a private house or apartment gets used to having to deal with many small household chores every day. Has it become? Turn on the heater to raise the temperature to the desired level. Has it gotten stuffy? Open the window to let in a little fresh air. Is it getting dark in the room? So it's time to turn it on.

It's good that today many household appliances are equipped with remote controls that allow you to easily control them while sitting on your favorite sofa or chair. But imagine that you no longer need to manage household appliances. They will adjust themselves to you. How much more pleasant and simple your life could be.

Surely many people will say that this is some kind of fantasy, because the house itself cannot turn on the light, open the windows and start the heater. It turns out it can. At least if the house is "Smart". Of course, many people have heard about such a thing as the Smart Home system today. However, not everyone knows for sure what it is, as well as what advantages it allows you to get.

Any house or apartment can be equipped with a variety of sensors, sensors, as well as a computer, which is the center of the entire system.


Installed system smart House

This system can be connected to a microwave oven, heaters, washing machine and any other Appliances.Also, the computer can control the opening and closing of curtains or blinds, as well as other processes that a person is forced to deal with on a daily basis.

In sum, all this is called "Smart Home".

You just need to program the equipment once, and every day, at the same time, or when certain circumstances occur, the system will perform certain actions that you consider necessary. You can be sure that after this your life will become much simpler and more enjoyable. You will forget about any discomfort that may arise in your accommodation.

Savings and convenience

You sit in your favorite chair after dinner and read a fascinating book. Time flies by imperceptibly, and you do not notice that the sun is getting closer and closer to the horizon. It gets dark in the room, and you realize that it's time to get up and turn on the light. But you don't have to do that: the bulbs light up by themselves! How so?


Smart home control scheme

In fact, everything is very simple. Motion sensors and light sensors are installed in each residential area. As soon as the room in which the person is located becomes too dark, the Smart Home technology decides to turn on the light. At the same time, she draws the curtains so that no one can spy on what is happening in your house.

As soon as you get up and leave the room, the light will immediately go out. So you won't have to worry that you left the lights on, which will make you pay extra for electricity at the end of the month.

Or maybe you had to get up in the middle of the night and walk through the whole house? You no longer have to take a flashlight with you, move in the dark or run from one switch to another to turn on one, turn on the second, go back and turn off the first, and so on. You can just go from room to room, corridor to corridor, and the light will turn on automatically.

At the same time, if your cat or dog decides to take the same walk in the middle of the night, Smart Home will ignore their movement: thanks to special sensors, it turns on the light only for people. This allows you to further reduce your billing costs.

Separately, it is worth mentioning about. In most cases, if the room becomes too cold in winter, the inhabitants turn on heating appliances. And they remember them only when it becomes. As a result, you have to open a window or window to ventilate the room. Of course, excess heat is eliminated through ventilation. But here it is worth understanding that you paid for this heat out of your own pocket. So, ventilation blows your money.

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Circulation pumps for heating

The situation is completely different if your home is equipped with the Smart Home system. If the temperature drops below the comfort level (set by you), the heaters automatically turn on. As soon as the temperature reaches the desired level, the heaters immediately turn off. Thanks to this, the house is never too cold and too hot.

The video is a more detailed story about smart home technology.

Also this system makes great savings. On a weekday, not a single inhabitant remains in an apartment or house? Consequently, the energy carriers used (electricity, diesel fuel, gas) are wasted?

Set the Smart Home so that at this time the temperature drops below acceptable level, for example, up to 12-15 degrees, and by the appointed time, for example, by 18:00 it rose to 20-25 degrees.

This will not harm the house in any way, but fuel consumption will decrease significantly, thanks to which you can save a decent amount every month.

Safety system

However, comfort and the possibility of saving are far from the most important advantages of the Smart Home, thanks to which it is so successful. Many people value its ability to ensure the safety of its inhabitants, as well as property in the house, much more highly.

As mentioned above, the house is literally crammed with various sensors. Therefore, if something unusual happens during your absence, the computer will immediately make the appropriate decision and respond accordingly to the danger. For example, sensors sensed the presence of smoke or a sharp increase in temperature, which is always accompanied by fires.

A message will be sent to your mobile phone immediately. You can immediately contact the fire department. Or maybe the sensors recorded breaking windows or doors and moving around the house at a time when there is not a single tenant there? You will also learn about this, and you can contact the security service or the police to prevent the theft of your belongings.

Even when you are in another country, you can monitor your home. For example, you can see where the lights are on at night when there is no one in the house or everyone should be sleeping. Thanks to this, you get the opportunity to control the house and the whole family, even if you are not at home.

As you can see, "Smart Home" is a very useful thing.

"Smart home" will help to relax

Another amazing feature that will surely interest many potential Smart Home owners is the multimedia component. Almost all people like to listen to music and watch movies. And doing homework, combining it with watching movies or listening to music is quite difficult.

Watch a movie when you need to check the cake in the oven, then water the flowers, then wipe the dust (and all this in different rooms) is not possible at all. With music, the issue is solved a little easier: you can turn on the music center louder, and the music will be heard throughout the house. And all the same: in some rooms it will be barely audible, and in others it will deafen.

But if you install the multimedia component of the "Smart Home", then you do not have to worry. If a TV is installed in each room, then it will turn on exactly at the moment of the movie you need, where you stopped when you watched it in another room.


The TV will turn on automatically

The speakers installed in each room will be activated exactly when you enter that room. Therefore, you do not have to put up with too low or too high sound levels.

Is it possible to control the "Smart Home" from a distance

Many people are simply amazed by the fact that Smart Home control is possible from a distance. But it really is. All you need is a mobile phone with Internet access or a computer.

Smart home is modern system, which allows you to automate the processes occurring in the house - heating, lighting, and so on. The system is aimed at ensuring the comfort and safety of the user and is stuffed with modern electronics, which allows you to do even more than just automate the house - for example, provide the ability to remotely monitor, warn the owner about some event by mobile phone etc.

In this article, we will understand how the smart home system works, what it is made of, and how the latest technologies can help a person.

smart home device

The heart of the system is electronic device, which manages all this economy. It can be a microcontroller (Arduino circuits are popular among amateurs), or a separate computer - for example, Raspberry Pi, in which case the possibilities of the technology are almost limitless.

The controller manages the following subsystems:

  • Heating, air conditioning, ventilation;
  • Lighting system;
  • House power supply system;
  • Monitoring and security system.
  • Communication and control systems.

Heating, air conditioning and ventilation devices are abbreviated as HVAC. A smart home linked to these systems can provide fresh air, temperature and humidity control. In addition, the technology allows you to save energy by rationally using the temperature of the environment. Subsystems can be:

  • Mechanisms for automatically opening windows in right time days, for the intake of warm or cold air;
  • Air conditioner controlled by the controller.

The lighting system (aka LCS) regulates the level of illumination of the room, while the electronics make it possible to save energy by rationally using sunlight. Technology may include:

  • Automation to turn on the light at a certain period of time;
  • Motion sensors to turn on the light only if there is someone in the room;
  • Automation for opening and closing blinds and shutters, adjusting the level of transparency of special glasses.

The power supply system is aimed at uninterrupted power supply, for this timely switching to emergency power sources is used. The technology is based on such subsystems as:

  • Industrial uninterruptible power supplies;
  • Automatic input of a reserve;
  • Diesel generators.

The security system allows you to protect your home from emergencies, intruders, etc. Remote IP-surveillance technology allows you to monitor the object anytime and anywhere, and GSM-monitoring makes it possible to remotely notify about incidents. In addition, it is possible to install:

  • Access control mechanisms;
  • Fire alarm;
  • Telemetry and video surveillance;
  • Protection systems against water leaks, as well as gas leaks.

Control systems allow you to integrate a smart home with video and audio equipment, home theater and other electronics, as well as:

  • Remote control of electrical appliances, automation systems, drives of mechanisms;
  • Unite All electronic devices in common network, including those connected to other networks;
  • Mechanize the building (for example, automatically open barriers and gates, etc.).

The communication system can use local network buildings or telephone lines. Exist various technologies, which allow you to link the subsystems of the "smart home", we list the most common:

  1. LanDrive is by far the most affordable platform. Allows you to build wired distributed control systems for almost any device. It is used in smart homes and other systems - access control, energy saving, and so on.
  2. Smartbus is an open protocol designed to create low cost distributed systems.
  3. X10 - protocol for communication with electrical appliances, uses electric wires or radio band. Characterized by low throughput and noise immunity, as well as possible device conflicts.
  4. Z-Wave is a radio control protocol for home automation, uses small built-in radio modules that are equipped with household appliances and other devices.

Control

A smart home is a great technology that makes life much more pleasant. However, a small question arises: how to manage all this?

Various technologies are provided for control.

  • The easiest way is a keypad located in the building. Each button corresponds to a specific node, group of devices, etc. For clarity, such panels are equipped with a small screen that displays information about the status of the system.
  • More convenient and prestigious control models are equipped with a touch screen. A small monitor displays buttons, commands, explanatory pictures, etc. on itself. The screen can display a signal from video cameras and be used for other tasks.
  • However, the most convenient option is control over the Internet, through a web interface. To do this, you need a computer or a mobile phone, just go to the page, and the system can be controlled directly from the browser (but do not forget about security, set complex passwords).
  • It is also possible to control by mobile phone: a smart home can be equipped with its own GSM receiver, receive commands in the form of SMS messages or even voice messages, and execute them.

Conclusion

“Smart home” is a great technology that promises to become the standard for human dwellings. Already under development autonomous houses, which do not need human service: all devices are completely autonomous, and a person only occasionally controls them. Even energy is generated automatically. It remains only to wait. Although what are we talking about - smart home technologies are already very good today, and anyone can install a smart home.

Would you like to become the heroes of a fantasy film in which robots control the house, and all appliances do not need a lot of remote controls, but obey your voice? Smart home, the latest technology which will provide you with all these amenities, has already become a reality.

Alarms, lighting control and video and audio systems have not surprised anyone for a long time. Almost every day there are more and more original devices to save money and make life easier.

Let's try to determine in which areas of life you can safely trust the achievements modern science what are their pros and cons.

Smart home benefits

Newest technologies which is striking in its diversity, is gradually becoming more accessible to the inhabitants. Well-known companies are constantly improving devices that allow you to connect existing and new gadgets into a single network.

A large role in this is played by the prevalence of tablets and smartphones with constant access to the Internet, it is convenient to use them as home control panels.

Here are just a few ideas implemented around the world:

  • Video monitoring of the house inside and its environment outside. The image from the cameras can be viewed from anywhere in the world, this feature is useful for travel lovers.
  • Thermostat for heating and water temperature.
  • Light sensors that turn on and off the light depending on the movements of the inhabitants of the house. It is possible to set a personal mode depending on which family member is currently in the room.
  • Door locks that can react to the approach of a device that emits a signal (smartphone).

All these technologies are widely used in Russia. But there are also completely new devices developed for more high level, although their application is narrower.

So a refrigerator that analyzes the set of products in it will send an order to an online store to replenish stocks and calculate which dish can be prepared based on what is already available.

Garbage bins can also control their own contents and order food according to the usual shopping list.

Washing and dishwashers, connected to the Internet, send messages after the end of the cycle.

Such functions of conventional technology sometimes seem redundant, but just think how much they can make life easier for an elderly or disabled person. Adult children can help their parents in this way, even if they live miles away.

Statistics show that houses equipped with tracking sensors are much less prone to robbery. If you are leaving for a long time, in addition to such electronic "observers", you can install a device that moves and pushes the blinds in the usual mode for you, as if the owners were still at home.

The same gadget can be used on a daily basis so as not to be distracted by these activities during the day.

In addition to facilitating everyday duties, smart home technologies serve to ensure the safety of its residents. In the event of a fire, a specialized system will not only detect the outbreak of fire in time, but also call the fire brigade, illuminate the path and unlock the necessary doors.

When there are children in the apartment, keeping track of the amount of time spent on the computer and TV often becomes a necessity. And smart home technologies can successfully cope with this function.

The latest technology provides control over almost all devices in the house

Another important bonus is savings. Money spent on electricity. Switching off lights when no one is in the room, water temperature control and other cost saving programs are very effective.

Disadvantages of a smart home

Creating a smart home, its latest technologies, everyone should be aware of the shortcomings of such a system that combines all home devices.

The main disadvantage is the relative high cost of such gadgets. Relative, because everything is at the mercy of the wishes of the owner. There are no limits to equipping a home; you can spend millions on a smart home. But some elements of this system are also available to people with average earnings.

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