You have a place to call home. However, it turns into a smart one when your residence is equipped with Internet-connected devices, which allow you to control your home’s systems and amenities. The Internet of Things has been a futuristic vision, like a child’s fantasy, for decades, but it is here now to augment and optimize our lives in myriad ways. From connected homes to smart, sentient cities, IoT is set to revolutionize the way we live and go about our routine activities. Very soon, we won’t just co-exist with our machines, but we will be working in partnership with them.
What Is IoT?
Homeowners are constantly looking for options to enhance convenience, energy savings, and security, which has led innovators to develop technologies that cater to these needs. An era of changing devices can be seen through the shift in the role of the many devices we use today. Devices that had a passive role in our lives are now becoming interactive systems, which are embedded with smarter features to be able to perform key functions without human intervention.
Through sensors and data collected by technologies, IoT infuses intelligence into everyday devices. Imagine an IoT-empowered home wherein you wake up to the alarm. As soon as you snooze it, your coffee maker (connected to your alarm) starts to brew coffee automatically. As you brush and freshen up, your smart bathroom can turn on your water heating appliance to your desired temperature and can even put on your favorite song! This is no Sci-Fi movie, but a scenario of IoT at work.
Smart devices not only improve comfort but also bring efficiency in the form of energy savings, contributing to the ‘green’ revolution. All in all, home automation is past its infancy with the next generation of technologies encompassing the entire home. By automating a large gamut of functions, including security and temperature control to re-ordering groceries when required, IoT is offering novel and exciting opportunities for addressing common household problems.
Potential Applications Of IoT In Homes
Solutions for automation and connected living are constantly evolving, meaning the scope of IoT applications in our homes is virtually limitless. With reducing costs, improved Wifi or internet facilities, and simplistic designs, both the growth of IoT based solutions and their demand has been rising in the IoT market. Some popular IoT devices today available are:
Security Systems
The Internet of Things has taken the hassle out of surveillance for homeowners. Advanced security options include motion sensors, cameras that work both day and night, and video doorbells that allow two-way communication. Automating your home’s security functions allows you to monitor your home from any remote location and make crucial decisions. From identifying visitors and receiving deliveries to controlling access of people around your property, you can do it all! In fact, smart locks can detect your smartphone’s GPS to monitor your movements and lock/unlock doors for you automatically.
Lighting
A great advantage of living in a seamless IoT environment is that all its components are connected and communicate to work in harmony. A modern lighting system or bulb gives you limited control, such as regulating brightness or turning it on/off through your smartphone. However, an IoT-enabled light is equipped with more features, like built-in speakers, camera, and presence-sensing technology, that do more than your expectations.
Sensors For Safety
Sensor technologies have become smarter than ever before, with their applications invading almost every industry. Their commendable performance can be noticed in alarm systems that can detect potential safety threats such as an increased carbon monoxide level, a gas leak, fires, and water leakage. They can even deliver regular weather updates and warnings. In the event of unfavorable climate or temperature, your sensors can communicate with other smart home IoT devices to make necessary adjustments. It can direct the window blinds to shut close, for instance.
Bathroom & Kitchen Appliances
The bathroom and kitchen can be two main areas where water conservation can be a challenge. Your smart taps and showers can alert you towards water usage (some do so by changing color). You can monitor your daily/weekly/monthly water consumption and even check quality parameters on an integrated app.
You can equip your bathroom with a television mirror where you can utilize your shower time catching up on the latest news or even preparing for your meeting/test!
An automated kitchen can be a true blessing for many. You can turn the busiest place of your home into a simple and enjoyable area with automated appliances that work collaboratively in an interactive environment. Your coffee maker will brew a cup of coffee right on time without you having to lift a finger, the dishwasher will start automatically when it is loaded, the stove will turn off upon sensing a gas leak, and so much more!
The Future Of IoT
It can be said that IoT gives your home a mind of its own but with customization abilities so that the control is always in your hands. When all the components of an automated home work together, they create a smooth-functioning, streamlined environment where you stay connected through mobile devices from any corner of the world.
When the future of IoT is seen in combination with Artificial Intelligence (AI), this looks even better! As IoT-embedded systems receive the intelligence of AI, they are able to ‘learn’ from your routine, lifestyle, and preference-based behavior. This piece of information can be analyzed by an integrated app, giving you meaningful suggestions or knowledge. These systems can further regulate settings related to various devices to better fulfill your needs.