If you feel perfectly comfortable talking to Siri or Cortana, and you have developed a rapport with the disembodied voice on your vehicle’s navigation system, then it may be time to smarten up your home environment. On the other hand, if you still don’t quite trust the wireless door lock to get you into your home quickly, or you’re intimidated by the idea of letting your refrigerator assess its own stocks to create a shopping list, you might want to take baby steps toward complete home automation.
Either way, you can invest in a home hub that will bring your connectedness to a new level; allowing you to add automated features, smart options and new wireless capability according to your own timetable.
Automation and the Smart Home
While stand-alone home helpers have existed for some time now, today’s best equipped homes have moved beyond the singular experience of voice-controlled entertainment, motion-activated lighting and programmable thermostats — and even popular devices like Amazon Echo — to the realm of devices that “talk” to one another, compile data, and communicate with you effortlessly and wirelessly.
But you don’t have to jump feet-first into tomorrow’s technology. Install a basic Hub today to manage and monitor your home’s lighting and security, and then expand as your comfort level and your finances allow. This means that you don’t have to rewire your entire house in order to turn on the garage light as your turn onto your street, turn off the kitchen light from the comfort of your bedroom, or check to be certain the front door is locked and the security system is armed after you’ve arrived at the office.
Evolving technology points to a future that was only a dream just a few short years ago. And technology will continue to evolve.
By definition, a home automation hub is “the brain” that will integrate all your devices and systems “behind a singular software system” that helps them all speak the same language.
Plan Ahead
At Aterra, we are “sold” on the advantages of home automation. Planning for ease, comfort and security requires a little advance thought, but it doesn’t mean that you have to spend your children’s inheritance. Instead, we’ll help you design a system and select a hub that will get you started. Then you can add features and expand capabilities as your needs change.
We believe this type of “modular automation” is a natural step in the evolution of technology. Three premiere companies that we regularly work with have developed home automation features that are well-suited to new construction constraints. Benefits accrue to homebuilder, contractor and buyer in equal proportion. The builder is able to offer an advanced technology option at a reasonable cost; the electrical contractor appreciated the ease of installation; and the buyer can budget for as few or as many options, initially, as they wish, with built-in hub capacity to expand the degree of automation at a later date.
Our three recommended options are:
These trusted companies are well-known names in electrical service and lighting inspiration. They are committed to products and services that inspire and improve the look and function of the American home. And, just as we do, they believe in keeping it all as simple and as affordable as possible. Whether you’re an architect or designer, an electrical contractor, a new home builder or a prospective buyer, let’s talk about specific ways to install futuristic features in your new home today.