In today’s digital era, there have been a lot of changes and technological transformation which has strategically replaced our traditional lifestyle. One of the most important technology is the Internet of Things (IoT) today which is becoming very popular these days. The daily electronic appliances and physical objects like connected cars, kitchen appliances, thermostats, baby monitors, and other daily objects are all connected to the internet connection through embedded devices. These IoT devices shall allow you to seamlessly communicate between things, people, and processes. There are physical devices that can collect and share data through wireless networks that can turn anything small into a relevant digital anything. These IoT devices can control the room temperature, switch on lights on entering a room, change lights with moods, and do many other things. These digital systems can easily record, monitor, and adjust each interaction between the connected things. When the physical objects are connected to digital technology it delivers the highest.
The Internet Of Things (IoT) is the billions of physical devices that are connected to the internet and are used for collecting and sharing data over the wireless network. When these connecting physical objects and sensors are added to them it adds a level of digital intelligence to devices that would enable communication of real-time data with no human interference. The Internet of Things makes the world around us smarter, responsive that can easily merge the digital and physical devices.
In the following blog, we shall highlight and discuss what technologies have made IoT possible, how IoT works in smart homes and the benefits of the internet of things in smart homes.
What Technologies Have Made IoT Possible?
IoT has been in existence for a very long time and it is a collection of recent advancements in a number of different technologies that have made all this practically possible.
- Access to low cost, low power sensor technology
There are very affordable and reliable sensors that make the IoT technology possible for users to use. - Connectivity
A host of network protocols for the internet has made it easy to connect sensors to the cloud and other things for making data transfer possible. - Cloud Computing Platforms
With cloud computing, the user can enjoy scalable computing power and this helps in saving a lot of costs and creates a need for investment that has become a very popular solution. An increase in the availability of cloud platforms enables both businesses and consumers to access infrastructure. - Machine Learning And Analytics
Machine learning is a method of data analytics that automates analytical model building. ML is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) that is based on the idea and systems that can learn from data, identify patterns and make decisions with almost no human intervention. With advances in machine learning and analytics, businesses can get a better and faster insight much more easily. The allied technologies continue to push the boundaries of IoT and data produced by IoT also feeds the technologies. - Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Advances in the networks have brought natural language processing to IoT devices and have made them appealing, viable, and affordable for home use.
How Does IoT Works In Smart Homes?
The home can become smart when it is connected to a range of smart devices that can be controlled from any remote location. These smart IoT devices can contribute to the automation of house maintenance by being united into one network. When all the devices are connected with internet access it makes the devices smart which broadens the possibilities of such a home network. There are many ways in which IoT devices work in smart homes. For instance, you can watch your security camera footage on your smartphone or computer directly. The lights and fans get automatically switched on after you enter the room, the vacuum cleaner shall start cleaning at 11 AM right after the sensors are activated at a particular time. The air conditioner gets automatically switched on as you leave the office to make your stay pleasant after a hot and tiring day at work. The coffee maker starts churning out coffee at a particular time of the day, maybe after you wake up.
Benefits Of Internet Of Things (IoT) For Smart Homes
Monitoring And Control
When using smart home IoT devices or solutions, we receive a whole new level of comfort and a new level of control over our household. It allows you to remotely switch on and off the smart IoT devices and also controls the full range of functionality of all the mobile or web apps. Smart systems or IoT smart devices give you a clear picture of how things shall work in your household. The connected devices are used for collecting data, processing it, and analyzing it in a meaningful way that can easily deliver meaningful output on your app’s dashboard. These IoT devices are used for monitoring the electricity usage of each device, calculating spending on utilities in real-time, monitoring humidity and other air quality conditions in your space, etc.
Environmental Impact
When IoT or smart devices are set up for use it usually optimizes the use of resources and also reduces the spending on resources that decreases the carbon footprint. The applications in the IoT or home automation system benefits everyone on the planet which is a driving force of green energy initiative. Internet of Things devices is known for saving energy or reducing power consumption that making our planet a green planet. Most of the autonomous LED lighting, waste management systems, IoT, and infrastructure solutions are mostly all connected technology that allows everyone to go green and decrease carbon emissions and cuts down pollution levels. The IoT-based service includes providing IoT and data tools that allows automatically to switch from one energy provider to the other one. This ensures that you create an energy-efficient, eco-friendly and green planet with the use of IoT smart devices. This creates an overall positive outcome and impact on the environment.
Optimization Of Spending
IoT and smart home systems enable transparency in your household. This shall allow you to seriously cut down on your utility spending. When the consumption insights are being presented by an IoT water management system or electricity, you can easily identify the waste points and adjust your usage accordingly. These smart appliances or IoT devices are usually designed to optimize the use of resources. For instance, the smart lights can automatically turn on and off depending upon the data that is coming from the presence of sensors.
Enhanced Security
These IoT devices can easily be used as monitoring systems for households that are used for detecting the power surges, air pollution, and leakages due to water and gas sensors that can timely send alert notifications and prevent any occurrence of complications or even an accident. These IoT devices are energy-efficient devices that ensure energy consumption monitoring, management, and storage tools. There are TP-link cameras or smart locks used for household security which are usually part of a connected home kit. This enhances security in a smart home and ensures greater surveillance and security system in the form of cameras that can improve the security of the households.
Improved Comfort
IoT-based smart home automation often requires us the use of intelligent algorithms that gives the household devices a certain level of autonomy. It provides these smart IoT devices to be capable of making effective decisions. This has increased the comfort level of the people while they stay in their homes. For instance, a smart fridge can decide to reorder groceries online and make people feel right and comfortable by adjusting the window blinders to the daylight changes. This automation in the window blinders enables of to create a natural light space within the room. This shall control the level of automation that makes our lives easy and also keeps things manually in our hands.
Applications Of IoT In Smart Homes
- Lighting
Home lighting can automatically adjust to your personal needs and moods. For instance, if users start watching a movie, the lights shall be programmed to be automatically dim, or in order to absolutely suit the mood, the lights may become dim so that you do not get distracted from watching the movie plot. When you enter the home, the system can automatically turn on the lights without the need to press the button. When you leave the home, the lights get automatically switched off which saves a lot of energy. These smart home lighting can be automatically connected to your laptop, computer, smartphone etc. Your light can turn if the alarm goes rings in the morning that can also be one way to configure your app. - Bathrooms
IoT technology in the bathroom can facilitate your home routine more entertaining and convenient. Smart mirrors can easily connect to other devices like laptops and smartphones that can easily recognize the faces of family members in front of them. There are special monitors that can easily detect the movements in the bathroom and also switch off the water automatically. The smart mirror can display the information to those people who find it interesting such as weather forecasts, news articles, or any specific websites. There are also smart shower controllers that can be used for setting up the preferred water temperature and pressure and limiting the water consumption rate. With an automated jacuzzi, users can take a bath without having the need to manually adjust temperatures or select their favorite music. Your IoT app in the bathroom shall help you to enjoy and relax while bathing. You can even select your favorite music or playlists while taking a shower. - Kitchen
IoT sensors and devices can even make the cooking process simple, easy, and safe. Smart sensors ensure that everything is perfectly working in your kitchen. There are smart pressure cookers that have auto pressure release functions ensuring safety and precision. There are smart fridges that can keep the food fresh and its nutritional value intact. Smart sensors are used to monitor the temperature in the fridge and smart spoons remind you of mindful eating. - Gardens
There are IoT apps that users can use for growing vegetables, herbs, spices, and fruits in their homes and sensors can be very beneficial in this. Your IoT app can monitor the soil, and moisture and can even turn on a smart irrigation system. The sensor detects it and stops watering the system, the moment it realizes the moisture content has reached above its optimal level. The sensor detects it and stops watering the system and thus avoiding the overuse of water. IoT technology can transform the gardening experience as it shall completely change the traditional approach to growing plants. The IoT technology allows the users to check the plant whether it’s properly hydrated and receiving proper sunlight. - Safety Sensors
Safety sensors are smart devices that can easily identify if there is an indication of risk or any mishap to occur at your home. They can notify the users of all the potential threats that are present in the immediate environment and preventive actions taken against them to prevent any such situation. If you have a smartphone it can be connected to the internet. If someone is trying to trespass your property immediately you shall be notified as the alarm will blow and call the police. There are temperature, gas controllers, and humidity controllers that can be used for regularly checking the air quality in your home and sending alerts on the internet. There are safety sensors that help in protecting your home against different natural disasters, and gas or water emissions. - Security Systems
These smart home devices can be used for strengthening the security systems that check if the doors and windows are closed. Smart controllers are installed that can automatically close doors, shutters, and electronic devices. These devices provide high security and protection to the habitants against wild animals or human trespassers. The users can make their homes smarter by remotely managing their homes through an app on their phones. It enables the users to control temperature, lighting, humidity, and other aspects of the room temperatures. - Temperature Control
There is temperature control automation, where you can adjust the home temperature to the level that suits you the best. These temperature controllers can check the present temperature and thermostats can control the temperature that is best preferred by the users. If you decide to perform yoga or other forms of exercises at home, the temperature shall automatically decrease in the room to keep your body temperature cool. These smart controllers can check your present physical activity and change the temperature accordingly. - Windows
Smart windows can react to signals from other appliances or to triggering events. The windows shall get closed automatically when you leave home and the system will check this automatically. The shutters can open or close which depends on the time of the day. The shutters can be lifted in the morning and evening and at any time or hour of the day. These smart devices can easily respond to all types of weather conditions such as rain, snow, strong wind, storm, sunny etc. - Doors
There are smart doors in our house that can be used for a special purpose. The smart doors can use facial recognition to recognize people on the door whether they should be allowed inside or not. If there is an intruder the alarm shall blow away alerting the people residing inside the house. The doors can be programmed in such a way that when you approach home the door shall open automatically and while leaving the door gets closed. An entrance door can be used for reasons of security and other reasons.
Conclusion
The IoT home automation is the ability to control all the domestic electronic appliances that are all interconnected through an internet connected systems. Smart IoT sensors are known for controlling all the electronic devices according to the tastes and preferences of the people. Smart IoT sensors and devices knows our tastes, preferences and temperatures accordingly it regulates it’s own temperature. There are devices like smart plugs, lighting and security systems helps us to simplify the daily routine. All these daily tasks or activities in the smart home can be controlled by smartphone app and this shall also ensure a high security around the home and neighborhood.