People dreamed of smart homes long before the technology to support them existed. Perhaps that partially explains why so many expectations have still not been realized; why we continue dreaming of things that technology doesn’t allow for. Nonetheless, home automation has come a long way in the last decade.
Understanding where we currently are with technology is made a bit easier when one understands the most important elements of home automation itself. In other words, what can home automation do as opposed to what we want it to do? What elements can we work on in order to get where we want to be?
Vivint Home Security is a nationwide provider of home automation and security systems. In their complete guide to home automation, they describe what they call “key components of home automation.” They are essentially the three most important elements in the equation.
1. Automation
At the risk of calling on Captain Obvious, the first element in home automation is automation. But what might sound simple really is not. There are different levels of automation depending on your definition. For example, a strict definition of the term suggests that mechanical light timers are home automation devices. Yet you will not find them included in a modern home automation system.
Our modern definition of home automation removes mechanical devices wherever possible. Those devices are replaced by electronic alternatives. By doing so, we also add new capabilities. We have the ability to do things that we cannot do with mechanical devices. Thus, automation is really about taking mechanical concepts and transitioning them to the digital world.
2. Control
The second element of home automation is control. Not just control in the here and now, but also control in the future. And not just in-person control. We are also talking about remote control. Today’s home automation goes beyond turning a dial on a mechanical light timer and plugging it into an outlet.
Digital devices offer a means of electronic control. Combined with mobile technology, modern home automation devices can be controlled from anywhere in the world. All you need is an app and an internet connection. Without that control, you are left with devices that can only be modified when physically in their presence. That defeats the point of home automation, doesn’t it?
3. Monitoring
The third element is monitoring. This is really where digital technologies and the internet prove their worth to home automation. With an app and an internet connection, you can monitor every aspect of your home automation system no matter where you are. This ability gives you ultimate control.
Monitoring extends to both efficiency and security. From an efficiency standpoint, home automation lets you monitor the temperature in your home in order to minimize HVAC energy usage. If monitoring reveals you are heating or cooling unnecessarily, a simple adjustment takes care of it.
From a security standpoint, monitoring devices like video cameras and flood sensors represent an opportunity for you to act much more quickly in the event of an emergency. Monitoring allows for up-to-the-minute alerts that keep you on top of incidents unfolding at your home.
We can look at these three elements and use them to gauge where we are right now. And with that data, we can work out ways to make things better. Home automation is definitely a lot better today than it was 10 years ago. But we can always improve its automation capabilities, control and access capabilities, and how and what we monitor. All three work together to create homes that are safer, more efficient, and more comfortable.