Did you know there are approximately 77 million smart homeowners in the U.S. market alone?
If you want to be part of that group, whether in or out of the country, then keep reading.
Because we’ll explain everything there is to be known about smart homes in 2022, including its concept/definition, many reasons to have one (pros) and when it’s not recommended (cons), as well as plenty of examples and DIY ideas to the smart home of your dreams.
To begin with…
What is in a Smart Home?
Investopedia defines Smart Homes as “a convenient home setup where appliances and devices can be automatically controlled remotely from anywhere with an internet connection using a mobile or other networked device.
Devices in a smart home are interconnected through the internet, allowing the user to control functions such as security access to the home, temperature, lighting, and a home theater remotely.”
And at MyITGuy, we define it as the use of technologies aimed at improving the quality of life, comfort, and efficiency in homes and offices. Different disciplines such as engineering, computer science, electronics, architecture, and telecommunications contribute to this field.
That’s only possible with IoT devices. which use the Internet connection and smartphone apps to offer new functions, activities, and processes in the home, to optimize consumption and guarantee greater comfort for those who inhabit it.
Smart homes make us of either hardwired or wireless systems (in some cases, they’re made of both). Hardwired ones are often more reliable and difficult to hack, while wireless is easier to install.
So, after all, we just mentioned… Are you still wondering if Smart Homes is a good idea?
Let’s find out.
Why Setup your Smart Home in 2022? (Reasons/Advantages)
There’s no doubt Smart homes allow you to keep up with your energy use through the automatic adjustment of temperature and lights, as well as the detailed insights it provides about micro and macro consumption. This is because most are capable of pinpointing areas and devices that use more than needed, to cut back and save money later on.
That fact alone is what pushes the needle for those who think about the setup cost.
If this is not convenient enough, then think about all of the IoT devices that you can control remotely and all at once, using your smartphone, computer, or tablet. You’ll also get updates and issue notifications about your smart home directly to these same devices.
But not everything can be good, right?
Disadvantages of Smart Homes
Yes, you can save good money and benefit from a smart home’s convenience, but there are still some disadvantages to it. Most are related to the IoT security issues that exist – which we recently wrote about!
You read right. Bugs and hacks could also affect your entire home (or at least part of them) as they do with computers. And challenges like this one aren’t new nor exclusive to 2022.
Right in October of 2016, Mirai (botnet) infiltrated IoT devices (cameras and routers) of a smart home to shut down major websites through a DDoS attack.
And after all, even if you can protect all of your appliances well quite easily, they aren’t as cheap as you may think. Building a smart home or transforming your own can cost good money. We’re talking about thousands, if not hundreds of thousands.
So why would someone even think about living in one then?
Well, in a second you’ll see plenty of things you in a Smart Home…
What it can do for you!
DIY Ideas & Examples for Smart Homes (building smart home + smart home kit)
The best part about building a Smart Home is the realization that “every device can be turned into a smart one”. That means: that if it can be plugged in and used in your house or apartment, then there are high chances a company released a smart version of that device.
Just take a look at the following list and then decide if you want to go through the main or DIY path:
- Smart Lighting: While turning on and off your lights remotely is true, one of the main uses smart lighting has, it’s barely the most basic one. Besides that, you can also change colors, set different patterns, and make it react to music or to voice commands.
- Smart Thermostat & Air Conditioner: These let you know the best time to turn on and off the AC and do it for you, as well as setting the right temperature at all times.
- Smart Security System (Locks included): While the first security systems in smart homes focused only on monitoring (through sensors and cameras), you and your family can now be protected through the addition of smart door locks and automatic emergency contact.
- Smart Home Entertainment System: You don’t deserve great entertainment… But the best. So, if you want to benefit from the basic benefits (such as remote controlling and media streaming) to the most advanced (like multi-room video and audio), then consider getting a smart home entertainment system.
- Smart Speakers: Speaking of speakers and entertainment systems… Smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home make it easy to connect to every other smart home device by asking the right questions and then, giving extra help.
If extra help is what you need, then you’re in the right place. Don’t look up smart home companies or the “right smart home company” because you found it.
MyITGuy experts specialize in th smart home solutions.
Just ask us whatever question and we’ll prove it to you.