All About Smart Home Technology: Benefits and Insights

Posted on: May 16, 2022 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

All About Smart Home Technology: Benefits and Insights

This year, you can observe it with an advanced approach towards making your home technologically advanced with the innovative Smart Home Technology. To keep pace with the global trend, India is also adopting these changes and experiencing a boom in this industry and home insurance India now offers the provision for such technologically paced smart homes.

How does a smart home actually work?

We have not been able to quite grasp the concept of a smart home, and sometimes it even feels like to be a setting for some sci-fi movie, set far into an imaginary future. However, smart home automation technology is a reality now. Over time, several experiments and researches on automation technology become streamlined, which in turn formed the basis of Smart Home Technology. Independent connections, both wireless and wired, developed, thus negating the possibility of signal congestion. A simple Wi-Fi network is enough to set several of these gadgets.

Most manufacturers depend on the latest Z-Wave technology for setting up all types of wireless connections. It connects the sensors in the smoke detectors, security systems, locks, and power meters responsible for monitoring the heating system, the air conditioning system, and the natural ventilation system. However, all of these need to be set up physically, and are not really “smart”. The actual game of smartness lies in remote programming and monitoring. Once all the relevant systems get connected to the network circuit, you can communicate with them from your location through wireless connectivity. With the help of your tab or smartphone, you can now easily control all these devices like television, phones, ACs, hot tubs, etc. from the next room, floor, or even from your friend’s house.

How does wireless home automation work?

Wireless home automation works through the deployment of low-power equipment, capable of sending and receiving information like light sensors detecting the rising sun and sending the necessary signals to open the bedroom shutters or curtains automatically.

With time, several wireless protocols and systems have evolved and emerged, getting the technology more advanced. Some of these systems include:

1. ANT network:

This ensures optimal performance in the 2.4 GHz band and is regarded as an ultra-low-power system for wireless connectivity. It was originally developed to suit the sports and fitness data, but now it is more frequently used in smart home automation technologies. TI runs on low power and keeps a check on the power consumption levels.

2. Bluetooth:

A familiar term for every mobile user, technological advancement has taken us a step further to utilize Bluetooth differently in smart home settings. It has become a prime choice for the developers, and they tend to use and improve it further, with an increase in the data rate from 1 Mbit/s to 2 Mbit/s between version 4 Bluetooth and the latest version 5.

3. Wi-Fi (wireless):

Most homeowners are currently experienced with the Wi-Fi technology and its functionality and working strategies. You can connect your smartphone, laptop, and tab with an uninterrupted and unlimited internet connection. However, Wi-Fi is more power-consuming, as it normally utilizes high bandwidth connections. Your smart-home automation system might require Wi-Fi connectivity for high data applications, which you can discuss with your developer during installation. Home insurance India will work to offer you the necessary coverage.

4. ZigBee:

ZigBee is another low-power application protocol based on IEEE 802.15.4, the standard frequency for personal area networks, providing proper media access controls.

Z-Wave is advantageous over ZigBee, as it uses less power for achieving enhanced coverage in the smart home settings. However, ZigBee is considered to be far more versatile for enhanced connections in short-range connections.

5. Automated luxuries:

With the advancement of automation technology, you can communicate with many small devices in your home setting from a remote location. Starting from your locking system to your coffee pot, numerous small appliances can be worked with your smartphone, while the home assistant products make the procedure far easier. You can install the relevant application and control it with your voice command. Starting from switching on/off the lights to your thermostat, AC, or TV. Even though these devices may not be “smart” themselves, there are provisions that can turn them smart.

However, as all these products don’t belong to the same make, they don't always synchronize well while remotely working. Some devices may work well on one application, while some others on a different one. However, you can still connect everything on the same phone, keeping the inconvenience to minimal.

Top smart home devices for home automation:

1. Smart home security system:

This enables you to keep an eye on your house, even when you are out of the station. This allows you to monitor your special home security system 24/7, with a few simple clicks on your smartphone, through the exclusive smart home application. When you are away from the house, the system will notify you using a call or message whenever any unusual motion gets caught. Sometimes it might even send a video to get a view of the area.

2. Video doorbell camera:

With the designated application, you can answer your doorbell knocker through video. The video doorbell generally operates on Wi-Fi and sends you necessary images and videos while you are away.

3. Smart outlets and smart plugs:

There are special automated power outlets that allow you to control the lights even while you are away from the house. For proper functioning, you need an active Wi-Fi connection and control of the circuit using a smartphone. The system will also reveal the total power consumption and which devices are using the maximum power.

4. Smart thermostat:

Failing thermostat adjustment before leaving the house causes a sheer waste of money and resources. However, with smart homes, these are matters of the past. You can control them easily using your smartphone and the solution is always at your fingertips. Depending on your habits, it knows when to cool or pre-heat the house and functions accordingly to offer you optimum comfort.

5. Smart irrigation controller:

If you maintain a gorgeous garden, it becomes difficult to leave them while you go out on vacation. With smart homes, you can monitor the irrigation controller that will regularly water your plants and protect them from drying. Be it complete Wi-Fi-based watering systems, smart gardening apps, moisture sensors, gardening DIY or cloud platforms, technology offers it all.

6. Smart locks:

This is one of the most essential items on the list. It allows you to control your locks and even if you fail or forget to lock it, you can do so with a few simple clicks from your current location.

7. Smart home:

Technology allows you to control several devices with a single app. Some apps maintain partnerships with several companies, offering you better control over all the related devices with just one app.

With time, smartphones are gradually becoming the indispensable all-inclusive device, turning your home into a smart home. These ground-breaking systems fully protect your house, whether you live in it or away from it. However, to enjoy optimum benefits and secure peace of mind, you must purchase befitting HOME INSURANCEINDIA which is currently on offer.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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