One of the main advantages of technology evolving this quickly is the fact that you now have the ability to automate a lot of tasks that you previously had to do yourself. Whether it’s something that’s home security related or a task that you don’t really like doing, the possibilities are endless.
And with that in mind, home automation has actually evolved quite a bit and makes it a lot easier to protect your home. It goes hand in hand with smart home technology that’s also become available in the past couple of years, and it allows you to live in a much more secure home that’s packed with convenient features.
What Is Home Automation and Security?
First things first, what is home automation? Well, it is basically the use of applications or voice assistants to control any connected devices throughout your home, from anywhere in the world, while using a mobile device that is connected to the internet. So, how do you include security there?
From a security perspective, home automation actually gives you a lot of options to manage your security equipment. Whether it’s your cameras, your smoke detectors, your locks, your alarm system, or any other connected security device, you have the option to control it from just about anywhere.
The Advantages of Home Automation
For the modern homeowner, home automation does come with a lot of benefits. First things first, automating your home is a lot more efficient. You can manage and monitor your devices and how they’re used, which allows you to oftentimes significantly reduce your energy consumption. This improved efficiency allows you to use them only when you need them, even if you’re away from home, which means they won’t be wasting any electricity when that’s not necessary.
To conclude, you not only get improved control over the devices in your home, but you also get to save a few bucks and go green. It’s a combination that makes the investment in home automation well worth it, for just about any homeowner. Yes, it might cost a bit to get all the devices you need at first, but you’re saving in the long run.
What Can You Automate?
This is one of the first questions that pop into the minds of users who are debating whether or not to take the plunge and dive into the world of home automation and smart tech. Fortunately, today you’ve got a vast variety of devices that you can automate. From budget-oriented ones to some truly high-end models, you can pick and choose anything you want.
Smart Plugs
The first thing you’ll need is smart plugs. They fit in your home’s traditional outlets, and all you need to do is plug in your devices through them instead of directly in the outlet. This will give you control over the device, and you’ll basically get remote access.
Surveillance Cameras
A surveillance security camera is something that every homeowner should have. However, if you want to take things up a notch, you’ll want to get one that is connected, and even better, that has a motion sensor. If you do get these things, you’ll have a camera that you can connect to from just about anywhere.
But even more important, you’ll have a camera that will send you an alert or a notification when there’s movement in a room while you aren’t there. If this is a burglar, you’ll get the ability to react quickly, which is key when you’re dealing with such situations.
Smart Locks
One thing that not many homeowners realize is that you can get a lock that doesn’t require a key. They’re rising in popularity, and smart locks are a great way to get control over who and when gets inside your home. They use a PIN or fingerprint to get in, and you get the ability to assign different PINs to different members of your family. Best of all, you can use your smartphone to unlock it remotely from wherever you are. It goes hand in hand with the next thing we would suggest…
Video Doorbells
A video doorbell takes the conventional doorbell and adds a camera and two-way audio. It also adds internet connectivity, which means you’ll be able to connect to your phone and see who’s outside your door when they’re ringing on your doorbell. If you aren’t at home, or you can’t open the door, you can use your phone and the two-way audio to talk to them and see what they want. Combine this with a smart lock, and you could, for example, instruct your package delivery person to leave the package inside your home and then leave, even if you’re halfway across the world.
