If you're not ready to commit having your entire house being connected to the internet, but would still like to be part of the future, then you might want to consider these entry-level smart devices for your home.
If you've already got the basic bits and are looking to get even more appliances and parts of your home connected, check out the intermediate level smart devices.
But, if you're a true believer that full control of your home should always be at the tip of your fingers, then this is the article for you! With these devices, we'll take your home to a whole other level of connectivity.
1. Sensors / Security Sets
If you think having voice-activated devices are cool, imagine having mind-controlled devices. Ok, maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but having your devices function automatically without any command from you is just as magical! Sensors provide an input to your devices without you having to lift a finger, making your home know exactly what you need before you need it.
Here are just some examples of automations you can do with sensors. Having motion sensors to turn on the stair lights so you don't have to look for the switch if you need a snack in the middle of the night. Using temperature sensors to increase fan speed or turn on the AC when it gets too hot, or turning off the AC and turning on the fan when a window sensor detects you opening the window. The possibilities are endless!
It's also not just for a simpler life, it's for security. Door and window sensors can detect if any of your doors and windows are open and notify you on your smartphone, giving you the ease of mind when travelling.
2. Smart Switch
Speaking of lights that turn on by themselves, what happens when you have 10 or 20 bulbs you want to automate or make "smart"? Is it possible to just buy 20 smart bulbs and changing all of them? Yes. Is it a smart move? Probably not. What if you want to automate that beautiful chandelier in your living room? They probably don't sell smart bulbs in those sizes.
The right thing to do here is to switch (no pun intended!) your light switches to smart switches. That's right, instead of changing the lights, you change the on and off buttons, so every single fan and light in your current home can be controlled from your smartphone.
Although most smart switches boast about being simple to install, do remember that electricity is dangerous and can be fatal. You also would not want your entire house to go dark just because you wanted to ask Siri to turn on the fan for you. So, it is recommended to get a professional electrician to install the smart switches for you.
3. Smart Home Hub
You can get a few smart bulbs here and there and control them from one app. You can get a smart lock and control them with another app. But, as the devices start stacking up and you start getting confused about which app controls what, then a smart home becomes yet another problem rather than making your life easier.
In comes the smart home hub, a device that connects and collects all your smart home devices into one app. Not only that, it provides you with the ability to do awesome automations. For example, the hub can detect you arriving home through your smartphone and automatically unlock the smart door lock, turn on the smart lights and smart air-conditioner, and start playing your favorite songs through your smart speaker.
Not only that, think about the security and safety measures too. If a smoke detector gets activated, your smart home hub can turn on all the lights in your house, turn off all other devices and electrical appliances, sound an alarm from your smart speakers, and temporarily unlocks all smart locks just in case help needs to come in.
However, do take note of the smart devices you have in your house and not all smart home hubs support all devices. As the technology is still considered quite new, there are many different standards in smart home technology. While some utilizes the widely-used ZigBee standard, others might use Z-Wave, and then there's Samsung's Smart Things, there's Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, and plain old Wi-Fi. Therefore, depending on how deep into the smart home hole you already are, it might be a good idea to get a smart home hub first, then get the compatible products.
Like the intermediate level devices, the devices mentioned above might not be available at just any electronics retail store, so purchasing them online would be your best bet. The sensors require some proper planning as you have to know where to attached them to get the most out of it, the smart switches would need proper electrical and wiring knowledge and skills to install, while the smart home hub takes time and some technical skills to set up and automate. Hence, these devices are more suitable for the smart home enthusiasts.
If these seem a little too advanced and you're still not willing to commit that much, why not start with these entry-level smart devices or intermediate-level smart devices first?
