TYPES OF HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
Home automation : “I don’t know about your home, but the majority of things in mine are automated; our lights come on when we get close by, our doors open when we simply unlock our phones, and our security system turns off when we get close to home or whenever we want it to. These features save us money on utility bills and NEPA wahala in addition to making life more convenient.” However, because it’s a relatively new technology, some homeowners could find home automation to be too complicated. Here, we’ll explain what home automation is in detail, how you may incorporate it into your life, and the various types of home automation equipment. Believe us when we say that the procedure is considerably simpler than it might seem.
Home automation: What Is It?
The autonomous management of your house’s technological gadgets is known as home automation. These gadgets can be remotely controlled via an app or not since they are Internet-connected. With home automation, gadgets may be controlled automatically without the need for an app or voice assistant. For instance, you may programme your lights to turn off when you regularly go to bed, or you can set your thermostat to turn on the air conditioning an hour or so before you return from work to avoid coming home to a stuffy house. Home automation improves convenience and can reduce energy costs for heating, cooling, and electricity. With the Internet of Things gadgets like security cameras and systems, home automation may also increase security. But wait a minute, what exactly is the Internet of Things?
Internet of Things vs. Home Automation
Home automation and Internet of Things are two terms that are frequently used interchangeably because they are both technologies created to make life easier for the user by automating particular processes, enabling remote control, streamlining plant management, and generally improving environmental management.
Even though the goals are the same, the means and techniques by which they are accomplished differ greatly from one another, so it would be erroneous to associate home automation with the Internet of Things.
Home automation is designed as a closed network of interconnected systems that is well-organized and hierarchically structured. This vertical approach enables the management of the entire domestic environment, including the external environment, to be centralised under a single control and to coordinate the various functions in scenarios, which are pre-planned sequences of actions that can be activated with a single command.
On the other hand, the phrase “Internet of Things” (IoT) refers to a broad category of technologies that may gather data from their environment or from the internet and process it to improve their functionality, do their tasks more efficiently, and make life easier for all users.
How Does It Work?
Home automation utilises a network of gadgets linked to the Internet via various protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and others. The gadgets can be controlled remotely via electronic interfaces using either voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant or apps as controllers. Many of these Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets feature sensors that keep track of changes in motion, temperature, and light so the user may learn more about the environment around the device.
Devices & Systems
IoT gadgets are becoming more and more prevalent every year; good example include everything from smart microwaves to smart medical alert systems. Today, we’ll look at smart home gadgets and discuss their importance and usefulness.
A smart lock is a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled smart home device that enables users to lock and open doors with a simple voice command or finger tap, allowing them to leave their house keys at home. Even if you’re at work, you may unlock a door to let a visitor in thanks to smart locks’ remote access feature using mobile apps and smartphones. An example is the NGTeco DL30z.
A smart camera records everything that happens in your house and sends the video over your Wi-Fi network to your smartphone or cloud storage as an archive. You link it to a smartphone app that you download. Here, you can adjust the settings and watch the footage again.
It’s also very easy to install compared to regular CCTV cameras. These gadgets are often plug-and-play, so you can start using them as soon as you download the app. Just adhere to your provider’s directions. Naturally, it’s essential to position your smart cameras in your home in key locations. By doing this, you can ensure that there aren’t any blind spots that burglars might exploit, or you can contact us for a free survey. An example of this is the NGTeco C100, C400, and C520.
A smart alarm system integrates security with daily life by utilising wireless technologies, home networks, and the popularity of mobile phones.
With a smart security system, you can customise, monitor, and manage your security systems from anywhere, at any time, using your smartphone—from door sensors to wireless CCTV footage.
In essence, it restores your ownership of your security and makes it handy and reachable whenever you want to check-in. An example of this also, is the Ngteco A-100 kit.
You can set up any smart lighting gadget to function just like a traditional lighting timer and control it from your smartphone, but they are much more capable than that. Lights can be controlled in bulk, programmed to turn on and off at local sunset times, and configured to react to other smart devices like motion detectors or security cameras. But every kind of technology has a superpower (and also a weakness, just like Superman). Let’s examine which gadgets are most effective in three different situations.
- Smart plugs
The simplest way to turn a table lamp, floor lamp, or nightlight into a smart light is with a smart plug, which is a little gadget that fits into any outlet. Unlike smart in-wall switches, they don’t require any electrical knowledge or wiring experience from you. As soon as you put one in, you simply sync it with your smartphone, and you’re good to go. Smart plugs are exceptionally simple to set up, remove, and transfer from room to room. You can do all these easily with the NGTeco smart plug.
- Smart bulbs
When you want to regulate individual bulbs or change the colour of the light in your house, smart bulbs are the ideal option. There is a smart bulb available for practically any light or fixture, both indoors and outdoors, due to their variety of shapes and sizes (so long as your fixture is weather-tight). They sync with a smartphone app that enables you to design unique scenes or unique planned on/off times. Get the Ngteco smart bulb to get a taste of what ease feels like.
- Smart Switches
When you wish to regulate lights that are operated by a light switch, smart in-wall dimmers and switches are optimal. They’re especially helpful for switches that control multiple lights at once. Since a smart switch or dimmer is a more substantial addition to your property, they are not suitable for rentals. They not only let you control your lights with a single switch, a smartphone app, or your voice (if you have a smart speaker set up for that), but they also let you schedule when your lights come on and off.
Conclusion
Home automation cannot be completed in a day, just as Rome was not constructed in a day. Instead, you can begin simple and gradually expand your home automation system. There is virtually no limit to what you can automate thanks to the abundance of new Internet of Things devices being released on the market every day, making your life safer and more convenient than ever before.
Are you looking to start living the smart way? Contact us today and let our team of professionals help you achieve your goal.
