We’ve all heard the buzz: Smart home voice devices are the wave of the future. But what, exactly, does the rising popularity of smart home devices mean for home automation?
In a nutshell, smart home devices allow homeowners to control many home functions and devices through the sound of a voice, or with the touch of a smart phone button. Not only will thermostats, door locks, hot water heaters, window shades, security cameras and appliances respond to the spoken word, they’ll also send info right back, too.
Which Home Automations are On Trend?
Along with smart phone apps, smart home voice devices like Amazon’s smart home voice assistant Alexa/Echo and Google Home Assistant are taking the home automation world by storm — at least at trade shows, according to Digital Trends. However, as Business Insider notes, the devices are not exactly ubiquitous, at least not yet. Plus, many users find that smart home voice assistants still have a few glitches and that learning how to most effectively utilize the devices does come with a bit of learning curve.
That said, a recent report by VoiceLabs estimates that more than 24 million smart home voice assistant units will be sold in 2017, highlighting the growing popularity of home automation systems. Buyers will want to start incorporating home automation more into their homes, making these devices a selling point. Here’s what you need to know about this new technology.
What Home Systems can be Automated?
Lighting: One of the most popular and easy to use home automation options is a home’s lighting. Home owners appreciate the ease of turning lights on and off through voice command, as well as the added security that comes with the ability to schedule lights and turn on and off remotely, from a smart phone. Automated systems such as Caseta Wireless make automated lighting seamless and simple with attractive features like dimmers.
Locks and Home Security: The days of driving away from home only to wonder if you closed the garage door (or locked the front door, for that matter) are over, thanks to smart home locks and security systems. Many systems integrate neatly with subscription security monitoring services, and all make it easy to ensure that your doors and windows are locked and secure.
Surveillance Cameras: Automated security systems offer a new level of peace of mind. Now, no matter where they are, home owners can use automated surveillance cameras to check up on their homes’ interiors and exteriors. Popular features include sound-triggered recording, locally stored video and alarm triggers.
Bathroom Fixtures: Welcome to the bathroom of the future! Home automation features like smart toilets — with motion-activated lids, no-touch flush, self-cleaning capability and odor control — along with in-tub speakers, digital shower controls, and water temperature settings make today’s automated bathrooms both inviting and practical.
Window Coverings: Automation can even control your blinds and window coverings. New products allow you to control your blinds from your smart phone, set a schedule for moving them at certain parts of the day and utilize geofencing so they can close when you leave and open when you return. Some blinds even integrate with the Caseta Wireless products and the Amazon Echo to create a fully automated space.
These are just a few examples of the many home fixtures and systems that can be automated. As the technology improves and decreases in price, expect more home buyers to request and expect a level of home automation. The home of the future is here!