The Internet of Things is bigger than ever before. More and more of the devices you use every day can now be run on your phone or tablet.
There’s even a smart toaster you can use from your phone. After some trial and error, your ideal cooking settings and toasting preferences are saved directly to the toaster’s application profile on your smartphone. You can then use the pre-saved information to make the perfect toast every time. Needless to say, life is so much easier, and sometimes sillier, when everything is connected to the internet.
In addition to unmatched convenience, using Internet-of-Things technologies can help you increase your home’s security. With automated devices, you can keep a watchful eye over every part of your house, whether you’re at home or away.
Lights
When “ The Clapper ” sound-activated electrical switch came out, people were overjoyed. The ability to turn on and off household items with the clap of your hands was revolutionary. Consumers felt all-powerful having new control over their homes.
Now, technology is even more advanced, as numerous companies offer smart lighting options. These devices can be controlled from an application, which can be downloaded on phones and tablets.
Through the application, you can do a variety of things with your lights. For example, you can dim the brightness of bulbs. Some LED lights even have the option for you to change their colors.
As you might have guessed, this unmatched control has many possibilities. Imagine being able to turn off your bedroom lights by simply tapping your smartphone from your bed. For security purposes, picture being able to leave on a different light in your home every night you’re away on vacation. This way, you’ll really appear to be home, and you can turn the lights off during the day to save energy.
Thermostat
Chances are you’ve probably heard people talking about smart thermostats before. When they hit the market, they quickly rose to popularity because they help people save money and more efficiently heat and cool their homes.
With a normal thermostat, you generally set the temperature in your home and keep it steady all day, if not for longer periods of time. Smart thermostats are different. They use their technology to change the temperature of your home based on the time of day.
One of the main ways they predict your temperature needs is based on your behaviors. If you leave for work on a cold day, the thermostat can lower the temperature of your house when you’re not home and heat it back up right before you return.
From an economic standpoint, many smart thermostats will show your energy consumption in real-time reports. You can view all of this information on a smartphone or web application. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll be able to understand how you can save more money on your electricity bill each month.
Smart thermostats also have safety temperatures that can prevent your home’s temperatures from reaching extremes. By setting a low barrier, you can ensure your pipes don’t freeze when it’s cold outside. With a high-temperature limit, you can avoid home damage that’s caused by excessive heat.
Video Doorbells
In the past, people would generally look out of a window to see who was at their front door. This process is always a bit frightening, as the person on your porch might see you. Today, you can see who is at your door without needing to sneak a look. Even if you’re not home, you can use a smart video doorbell to understand who is visiting your residence.
Another unexpected benefit is the option to keep an eye on your packages. When a delivery person comes to your door and rings the bell, you can speak with them through the video interface. This is useful if you’d like to tell them to hide the package because you can explain where it should go. You could also use this feature to tell them that you’d rather pick it up at their local store or another pick-up location.
Motion Detectors
Movement sensors are vital to home security. If someone is sneaking around your home, the detector is the first thing that will notice the unwanted activity. With a smart sensor, a message can be sent directly to your phone if a sensor is tripped. With some systems, you can even monitor the movement and detect where the threat is located in your home.
The world of smart motion detectors is pretty vast, and there’s an option for nearly everyone out there. One of the most popular options on the market know is a pet-immune sensor. These technologies have sophisticated algorithms that allow them to differentiate animal motions from human motions.
Security Cameras
One of the best investments you can make is a home security camera. Once you have one in place, you’ll be able to know what’s going on in and around your home, even if you’re away. With live and recorded video, you can keep an eye on your home in its current state and review what’s happened in the past when needed.
Although there are numerous options on the market, many of the best ones are the simplest. Cameras should look simple, discrete and be easy to use. If a camera stands out too much or is hard to navigate, chances are you won’t use it to its full potential.
Smoke and CO Monitors
You probably already have smoke detectors in your home now, although you likely rarely think about them. Generally, the only time they seem important is when they’re chirping their low-battery signal sounds.
Luckily, with a smart smoke and CO monitors, you can do away with annoying beeps forever. These devices simply notify you on your smartphone or tablet when they are running out of batteries. Additionally, they won’t call the fire department when you accidentally make something in your kitchen that smokes more than expected. Instead, you can program them to send you an alert first, enabling you to avoid a costly fire truck visit if there’s no emergency.
Door and Window Sensors
Doors and windows are two of the main routes criminals use to enter a home. When a burglar tries to pick your lock or climb through your window, a smart sensor can notify you instantly on your phone.
As soon as you get the message, you can contact your local police force to let them know your security system has been tripped. Then, they can go out to evaluate the situation, keeping you out of harm’s way.
Locking and Unlocking Capabilities
House keys are all too easy to misplace. More than that, though, forgetting to lock a door is something everyone does from time to time.
Incorporating smart locks into your home automation system can help you overcome the two pitfalls mentioned above. With the ability to unlock your door from your smartphone, you can prevent lockouts due to lost keys.
When you’re out, and you can’t remember whether or not you’ve unlocked the door, you can load the application to ensure your home really is secure. Another amazing advantage of the smart door comes when it’s coupled with a smart doorbell. You can open the door for package delivery, allowing the delivery person to set your goods inside. As soon as they do, you can then lock the door again, so your new package and your home are protected.
Voice Control Platforms
Smart assistants really came into the spotlight when Apple released Siri. Since this time, there have been rapid developments and numerous other smart assistants have become available.
These personal helpers are smart, always-listening works of artificial intelligence that can respond to nearly any wish or command. You can use an assistant to make a call, turn off your house’s lights or play your favorite song.
They can also be used to monitor your other smart home security devices. When you’re not next to your smartphone or tablet, you can use a smart assistant to access, control and evaluate the smart security features of your house.
Keeping Smart Components Secure
As with any new technology, smart home gadgets should be used with caution. To enjoy the upsides of a smart home, security risks and threats must be known and avoided.
Since smart home devices rely on the internet to function, securing your network is of the utmost importance. Staying up-to-date on old and new industry suggestions, like changing your router password, is essential if you want to keep your home safe.
It takes time and effort to read about what’s happening in smart security. However, it’s often worth the required input because the benefits of smart home security are vast and ever-expanding.
To learn more about smart homes and how you can improve your residence’s security, reach out to HelpCloud directly. Their award-winning team can help you understand more about what exactly smart homes are, how they work and what they can do for you.
