Home automation: the future of home technology?
Technology must be an enabler. It should not be there for its own sake, but to make the life of its users easier and more convenient. In the home, continued rapid advances in home automation are expanding the possibilities.
If I want to listen to music, in a few seconds I can choose a used playlist or choose the tracks for a new one. I can access online subscription services or radio stations.
Most mornings I listen to the news while I eat breakfast. A single dedicated button press gets you going without you having to think about it. When I leave for work, pressing another specific button turns off all lights, turns off all media, turns on the alarm, and sounds a confirmation beep when I close the door. I know that if an incident occurs while I am away from home, I will receive a text message alerting me to the event.
I don’t have to worry about regular tasks like the above, the electronic systems do it all for me. And this is not science fiction. All this home automation technology already exists. It only requires your lighting, alarm and media to be connected and configured to your needs.
Home automation can include
- home theater/home theater systems
- While home advanced lighting control
- Energy management systems for heating and cooling.
- Security systems and alarms
- Multi-room audio, video, and AV distribution
However, as these advanced home automation systems increase in power, flexibility, and ease of use, they can actually become more complex to specify, design, and install. This is where a professional home automation installer can help. By working with you and focusing on your needs, your home can be tailored to your lifestyle, not the other way around.
While individual pieces of home technology equipment can be fairly simple to set up and use, getting equipment from multiple vendors to work together can be tricky. On top of that, for any form of home automation to be effective, it needs to be easy to control, whether it’s through traditional remote controls, web-based systems, smartphone apps, or wall-mounted control panels. Careful programming can mean that a single button click can control multiple systems, altering lighting, music, screens, and shades. They can also be configured to act based on activity or time-based rules, for example turning on the hot water heating system only when they detect a presence in the house.
With the ubiquity of web connectivity, you can now monitor and manage your home systems from anywhere – ideal for vacation homes or even remote outbuildings.
If you are considering home automation, be sure to select a system that will enable you to have the home of the future, today!
More on home automation by The Solent Electronic Home