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Practical Examples of IoT for your Home
You can manage home appliances and entertainment with the swipe of a finger, the tap of a screen, or by voice command.
16:46 14 July 2017
Installing systems that work together throughout your home network can help keep your family safe, enable better water and energy management, and save time by automating daily tasks. Start the coffee machine from the comfort of your bed in the morning, run the dishwasher while you sit in traffic. Have the teakettle boil water while you drive home in the evening. Tell your smart TV you want to stop watching the movie and start reviewing your social media feed. A future where smart devices will seamlessly communicate with one another is quickly becoming reality.
Manufacturers are developing hubs to handle multiple protocols, and organizations such as the ZigBee Alliance and Thread Group are working to make interoperable devices. From the moment you wake up, the IoT will be running in the background of nearly every aspect of your life. Even when you are asleep, your devices will be on, working to enhance your world with data generated by sensors embedded in the wearables and appliances you use every day.
Here’s a ten ways IOT might work for you in your home;
1.SMART LIGHTS: can help to manage energy use, reduce monthly electric bills, and act as part of your home emergency system by signalling paths for a safe exit. Smart lights can be controlled from anywhere in the home or remotely through a smart device.
2.SMART SMOKE DETECTORS: can provide direct alerts to smart devices for fire, smoke, and gas detection. Smoke detection units can work with the thermostat to turn off a gas furnace and monitor carbon monoxide levels in the home. Smoke detectors fitted with motion sensors can act as night lights or emergency lighting in dark or smoky conditions. In a completely integrated environment, home systems can signal one another and push alerts to designated smart devices. If activated, the smoke detection system can send a message to have the thermostat shut off fans and heating to prevent the spread of smoke throughout house, or it can send a signal to the lighting system for smart bulbs to turn a different colour if high levels of carbon.
3.A SMART THERMOSTAT: can easily regulate your home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit based on learned temperature preferences you have established over a relatively short period of time.
4.SMART HOME SECURITY SYSTEM: will enable you to view and receive information about your home while you are away. A smart home security system includes devices like smart doors and window locks, video cameras, and interactive doorbells that can be accessed and controlled from a smartphone or tablet.
5.SMART OVEN: can be started remotely and adjusted through an app on your smartphone that also allows you to preselect a baking temperature and cook time. You can keep an eye on dinner while away from the oven.
6.SMART REFRIGERATOR: can help you conserve energy and maintain the refrigerator’s internal temperature by presenting a list of contents for you to look over via the interactive screen on its door. The interactive screen also gives you the option to e-mail grocery lists to smart devices, sync the family schedule to the refrigerator’s calendar, watch your favourite show or listen to music, and order and pay for your groceries through its connected pay system.
7.SMART DOORBELL: can send an alert to your phone when a package arrives at your doorstep. A smart doorbell can also send a picture or provide a live feed of visitors to your smartphone, allowing you the option to remotely unlock the door if necessary.
8.SMART ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS: can be operated through a smart device or by voice command. Your smart TV can access the Internet, present your social media feeds, play music from your smart phone’s playlist, and let you shop from your couch.
9.SMART HOME ASSISTANTS: can prepare a daily summary of your home’s network, alerting you to any devices that require new batteries or require software updates. They can help with various functions around the house—like executing scheduled tasks for appliances (e.g., running your dishwasher), providing you with morning news highlights and weather forecasts during breakfast, or sending a signal to start the car so it warms up while you finish preparing for work. Once you leave and the smart door lock is activated, the smart home assistant can ensure the other home systems are completing their functions, like turning off the lights and adjusting the temperature.
10.SMART SPRINKLER SYSTEM: can work with the sensors in your lawn to track moisture levels and the overall health of your soil. Combined with information from a weather application, the smart sprinkler system can determine whether to water the lawn and for how long, conserving water and saving money on your next bill.