What is a smart home? That seemingly simple question has many different answers, depending on whom you ask. In short, a “smart home” is a residence equipped with a number of devices that automate tasks normally handled by humans. Some are built into the structure itself and some added later, and homeowners operate them with applications, voice commands, automation, or using artificial intelligence. When you hear the word smart home your mind may go in several different directions ranging from a house alarm system to Alexa or Google or automated lighting. A smart home offers convenience and safety and also customizes personal preferences, needs, and budget.
What Are Your Needs and Desires For Home?
Your needs and desires are where you will start. Do you prefer to start with conveniences such as lighting, or maybe you are more concerned with security and want an alarm system? There is no right or wrong way to start your smart home journey. The process can be very affordable when you start small and build in phases based on your budget. First, you will need a smart home controller. As time goes on you can add smart home items such as door locks, lighting controls, thermostats, and security cameras. Many new products are being created that will work with existing products so you do not need to continuously buy new products when you make an addition.
Infrastructure and Controller Decision
When you have a choice, a hardwired connection is always the preferred option as it provides a more stable connection and a direct link to your network. Hand-wired connections do not use Wi-Fi which eliminated the issue of products using a ton of your wireless bandwidth which can cause other devices like your smartphones or tablets to slow down. If you live in an older home Wi-Fi may be your only option however if you are building a new home or live in a newer home you usually have free range. Be sure and wire your home or office as it is being constructed, which is less expensive. If you are building a new home be sure and run more wire than needed for the support of future technologies. In today's world, most products are enabled with built-in Wi-Fi capability. The controller integrates into your wireless network, and your devices talk through the controller.
Security and Audio Trends
Folks want to make sure their home and office are safe. With a smart home, they are able to monitor your personal space when they are away and see the coming and going of the area. Another trend is audio. Consumers want to use voice control to activate their devices. People love to say " Alexa, let's party" and have the lights go on to a preset scene, the door unlock for guests, music to start to play and the landscape lighting illuminated.
A Professional Smart Home Integrator Is Key
There are limitations on how much can be achieved through going it alone. For a potential DIYer, there are plenty of choices out there, technology-wise – yet a lot of systems won’t work well with others without significant hassle on the part of the user. Furthermore, once you get past intelligent control of a couple of rooms, complications tend to set in. There is a significant amount of know-how needed to effectively implement a whole-house smart home project. When you are building your dream smart home, it is vital to work with an integrator who is a trained professional and will make sure all of the smart devices work together, eliminating any frustrations and headaches. Building a smart home may sound intimidating and costly, but it does not have to be.
SimpTech Solutions offers a full-range of services from audiovisual system design to installation and support. We have industry-certified AV system integrators on staff who are well versed in all the latest technologies and functional design.
Contact us (513-257-2432) for a Free Consultation!
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SimpTech Solutions operates as a residential and commercial electronics systems design and integration firm to deliver simple, flexible, and feature-rich technology solutions for customers across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. Why Choose SimpTech Solutions? Because we listen to you! Once we fully understand what you want, we can put together a solution to fulfill all your needs and your greatest desires.
- Guidance – The knowledge to educate you on the latest technologies available and discuss how they might benefit your lifestyle.
- Personalization – The skill to create or upgrade an electronic system that is uniquely yours.
- Convenience – All work from design to installation to user training is done for you. We handle all the details to bring you a great end result.
- Integration – The expertise to unite several separate electronic components together so they function as an easy-to-use cohesive system.
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