People are shifting more and more toward smart home solutions by every passing day. These indispensable gadgets simplify tasks for users, providing them convenience and peace of mind.
From smart security systems to smart home assistants, all of these devices contribute to helping reshape the meaning of a smart home. One way or the other, all these gadgets are contributing to the smart home revolution.
To help you figure out how these devices, which have become an essential part of our everyday life, work we have prepared a detailed guide below.
How Smart Home Devices Communicate
Smart home devices communicate using the mechanisms below:
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is the most commonly used way for devices to communicate. With long-range, Wi-Fi makes it easier for devices that have a lot of data to communicate. Wi-Fi also makes it easier to control devices from a distance.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth comes in handy when connecting smart home gadgets with smartphones or tablets. It is an ideal pick for situations that demand low power consumption and low latency.
Zigbee
A reliable mesh network protocol, Zigbee proves invaluable in smart homes by enabling the extension of a range of smart home devices through the relaying of signals from one gadget to another.
Z-Wave
Just like Zigbee, Z-Wave is a mesh protocol used for smart home applications. Although it offers almost the same features as Zigbee, Z-Wave is believed to be more reliable.
Smart Home Hubs
Smart home hubs or central controllers of the smart home devices connect these devices using wireless protocols. Once done, users can use the hub to control the gadgets through the app.
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How to Control Smart Home Devices
Below are some of the ways you can control smart home devices
Smartphone Apps
The majority of smart home devices have their own smartphone apps which helps you control them using your smartphone. These apps are the easiest and most convenient way to control the smart home gadget. This is because no matter where you are, with just one touch, you can control the smart home divide installed at your place.
Voice Assistants
Voice assistants or smart home assistants are another convenient way to control smart home gadgets. In fact, voice assistants almost provide a completely hands-free controlling experience. This is why according to a study, 93% of smart home assistant users were satisfied with their purchase.
To control the smart home device using smart home assistants, you need to enable voice assistant skills for the device and then try controlling it by giving commands.
Smart Home Hubs
As discussed previously, smart home hubs act as central controllers for all smart home devices that are connected using one or more wireless protocols.
Once connected, users can use the hub to control all of their smart home devices using a single app which makes it incredibly convenient. Moreover, smart home hubs also ensure that communication doesn’t stop in large homes due to range.
Scheduled Tasks
A super handy feature of smart home apps is that you can schedule them to do their tasks using their app. For example, I scheduled my central heating system to turn off at 6pm every day. It would do as commanded without me having to remind it or without any other human input. Scheduling not only provides convenience but also helps save energy.
Automation Rules
Automation rules allow you to automate the tasks a smart home device can do. Suppose you want your blinds to open automatically when sunlight hits them. To do this, you can create an automation rule that opens your smart blinds every day at 6am.
Types of Smart Home Devices
Below are some of the main types of smart home devices.
Smart Vacuum Cleaners
Robot vacuums have revolutionized home cleaning, blending convenience with smart technology. They easily connect to your home’s Wi-Fi and can be controlled through an app or voice commands, working seamlessly with assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa. Setting up a cleaning schedule is simple, and once programmed, these vacuums autonomously clean your floors at the specified times. Most smart vacuums boast advanced navigation and mapping systems to efficiently map out your home.
Smart Security Systems
A smart security system will trigger and send you an alert if it detects something wrong such as a fire or intruder, and in turn, provides a user with peace of mind.
Smart Door Locks
Smart door locks are just keyless locks you can control with an app, pin code, or fingerprint scanner. Due to app integration, it allows you to lock and unlock the door no matter where you are, providing added security and convenience.
Smart Lights
Just as the name suggests, one can control smart lights using an app or voice control. You can turn it on or off, or adjust its setting so that it keeps changing color. These lights can also be scheduled to turn on or off at specific times of the day which helps save energy.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are used to control the temperature of the surroundings. It learns your temperature preferences and keeps changing the home’s temperature such that it aligns with your preferences. Just like all other devices, you can integrate it with an app or voice control.
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