How We Can Benefit from Smart Homes
The smart-home trend is not going to disappear, and even though it might be an unfamiliar concept to some, many people are already reaping the benefits. Just as in an internet-of-things network, several devices are connected by the internet in a smart-home network. Through automation, it is possible to monitor and control the equipment from a distance.
This gives us tools that help with cleaning, cooking and other daily activities. Advanced sensors allow us to remotely monitor and control the room temperature, lighting setups, home appliances, TVs, curtains and home theater systems, to name a few. Home automation depends and relies on the internet to operate.
The IoT has made it possible to connect previously ignored sections of a household to the internet. Examples include smoke alarms, refrigerators, locks, washing machines, cleaning robots, energy meters and home-security monitoring systems.
Power supplies and the smart home
Power supplies are used everywhere, including in the comfort of our homes. As homes are becoming increasingly smarter, with IoT technology applied to several aspects of our daily life, power supplies are needed that can keep up with the growing trend of smarter power efficiency.
Smart-home equipment demands reliable, consistent electricity 24/7. Additionally, even if not used constantly, most household appliances are plugged in for a considerable amount of time, most of which is spent in standby mode.
Installing a smart energy-management system is one way to keep track of power usage. This system enables users to identify when they use the most energy and the most effective energy-saving measures to be adopted. Power sources (typically AC/DC power supplies or converters) that are dependable, portable, affordable and certified must be used to power these sensors. Regarding certification, IEC 62368 is the common standard for business and communications, whereas IEC 60335 and IEC 60558 are prerequisite standards for residential appliances.
Advantages of home automation
Many homeowners are implementing smart-home solutions, or specific task automation, such as regulating temperature, turning lights on and off, opening and shutting window treatments and adjusting irrigation according to the weather. This gives more control over how much energy you consume. Some features that can be monitored and controlled through home automation are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Examples of smart-home devices
Smart homes offer energy-consumption data that might improve your energy efficiency and ecological awareness. Smart homes can identify locations where you are consuming more energy than necessary, enabling you to reduce your usage and save money.
As a matter of fact, efficiency improvement is one of the main benefits of home automation. Devices that are autonomous or programmable may turn off on their own when not in use, which allows for greater energy savings. The IoT has also been utilized to automatically assist older individuals and those with disabilities who need help. To accommodate certain needs, home systems can be modified.
According to Omer Cheema, head of the IoT Business Unit at Renesas Electronics, smart homes provide several advantages, such as a lower carbon footprint, enhanced security and comfort. Consumers can conserve power and, in turn, lower their carbon footprint by using energy-efficient appliances and thermostats, smart lighting and other home furnishings. In the meantime, smart-home safety is enhanced by appliances like water and gas sensors and smoke alarms. Like smart locks, doorbells and cameras, these devices keep our houses safe. Finally, most smart-home features are designed to make homeowners more comfortable (e.g., adjusting temperature, lighting using machine-learning algorithms, remote parcel delivery using smart door locks). More comfort translates into higher levels of happiness for the general population.
Smart-home challenges
Because several devices are connected to the internet, security is a major concern in home automation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emphasizes the importance of the right to privacy. Our private lives are centered at home. Our privacy, security and safety are at risk if IoT devices are not secure. IoT hardware must be made secure by design for this reason. According to Cheema, security is a top priority at Renesas, and to standardize IoT security for smart homes, the company recently teamed with ARM.
Cheema said that when it comes to the development of smart-home technology, there are two major trends that we can expect to see. Context-aware smart homes are the first. New smart homes will recognize context, as opposed to older smart homes, which relied on basic rules (e.g., turn on the air conditioner if the temperature is over 25˚C). Future smart homes will be able to identify the people there, comprehend their requirements and modify the atmosphere to suit each person’s preferences and demands.
Ease of installation is the second trend. Today’s smartphones and laptops come pre-configured and are ready to use as soon as you open the box. Renesas requires the same level of “out of the box” experiences for smart homes to see their widespread adoption. A growing number of IoT device manufacturers are creating solutions that are simple to set up and install. According to Cheema, Wi-Fi–based goods can enable an “out of the box” experience that Zigbee/Z-Wave–based IoT products can’t because Wi-Fi is a pervasive technology. Renesas is developing ultra-low–power Wi-Fi chips that can provide a battery life equal to Zigbee/Z-Wave and is also simple to set up and install, thereby removing a major barrier to the adoption of smart homes.
Read the original article here.
After reading this article, what are your feelings about smart homes?
Have you already implemented some automation capability in your house? How has it improved your lifestyle?
Do you think that smart homes are safer, more efficient, more secure and more comfortable?
The smart-home trend is not going to disappear, and even though it might be an unfamiliar concept to some, many people are already reaping the benefits. Just as in an internet-of-things network, several devices are connected by the internet in a smart-home network. Through automation, it is possible to monitor and control the equipment from a distance.
This gives us tools that help with cleaning, cooking and other daily activities. Advanced sensors allow us to remotely monitor and control the room temperature, lighting setups, home appliances, TVs, curtains and home theater systems, to name a few. Home automation depends and relies on the internet to operate.
The IoT has made it possible to connect previously ignored sections of a household to the internet. Examples include smoke alarms, refrigerators, locks, washing machines, cleaning robots, energy meters and home-security monitoring systems.
Power supplies and the smart home
Power supplies are used everywhere, including in the comfort of our homes. As homes are becoming increasingly smarter, with IoT technology applied to several aspects of our daily life, power supplies are needed that can keep up with the growing trend of smarter power efficiency.
Smart-home equipment demands reliable, consistent electricity 24/7. Additionally, even if not used constantly, most household appliances are plugged in for a considerable amount of time, most of which is spent in standby mode.
Installing a smart energy-management system is one way to keep track of power usage. This system enables users to identify when they use the most energy and the most effective energy-saving measures to be adopted. Power sources (typically AC/DC power supplies or converters) that are dependable, portable, affordable and certified must be used to power these sensors. Regarding certification, IEC 62368 is the common standard for business and communications, whereas IEC 60335 and IEC 60558 are prerequisite standards for residential appliances.
Advantages of home automation
Many homeowners are implementing smart-home solutions, or specific task automation, such as regulating temperature, turning lights on and off, opening and shutting window treatments and adjusting irrigation according to the weather. This gives more control over how much energy you consume. Some features that can be monitored and controlled through home automation are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Examples of smart-home devices
Smart homes offer energy-consumption data that might improve your energy efficiency and ecological awareness. Smart homes can identify locations where you are consuming more energy than necessary, enabling you to reduce your usage and save money.
As a matter of fact, efficiency improvement is one of the main benefits of home automation. Devices that are autonomous or programmable may turn off on their own when not in use, which allows for greater energy savings. The IoT has also been utilized to automatically assist older individuals and those with disabilities who need help. To accommodate certain needs, home systems can be modified.
According to Omer Cheema, head of the IoT Business Unit at Renesas Electronics, smart homes provide several advantages, such as a lower carbon footprint, enhanced security and comfort. Consumers can conserve power and, in turn, lower their carbon footprint by using energy-efficient appliances and thermostats, smart lighting and other home furnishings. In the meantime, smart-home safety is enhanced by appliances like water and gas sensors and smoke alarms. Like smart locks, doorbells and cameras, these devices keep our houses safe. Finally, most smart-home features are designed to make homeowners more comfortable (e.g., adjusting temperature, lighting using machine-learning algorithms, remote parcel delivery using smart door locks). More comfort translates into higher levels of happiness for the general population.
Smart-home challenges
Because several devices are connected to the internet, security is a major concern in home automation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emphasizes the importance of the right to privacy. Our private lives are centered at home. Our privacy, security and safety are at risk if IoT devices are not secure. IoT hardware must be made secure by design for this reason. According to Cheema, security is a top priority at Renesas, and to standardize IoT security for smart homes, the company recently teamed with ARM.
Cheema said that when it comes to the development of smart-home technology, there are two major trends that we can expect to see. Context-aware smart homes are the first. New smart homes will recognize context, as opposed to older smart homes, which relied on basic rules (e.g., turn on the air conditioner if the temperature is over 25˚C). Future smart homes will be able to identify the people there, comprehend their requirements and modify the atmosphere to suit each person’s preferences and demands.
Ease of installation is the second trend. Today’s smartphones and laptops come pre-configured and are ready to use as soon as you open the box. Renesas requires the same level of “out of the box” experiences for smart homes to see their widespread adoption. A growing number of IoT device manufacturers are creating solutions that are simple to set up and install. According to Cheema, Wi-Fi–based goods can enable an “out of the box” experience that Zigbee/Z-Wave–based IoT products can’t because Wi-Fi is a pervasive technology. Renesas is developing ultra-low–power Wi-Fi chips that can provide a battery life equal to Zigbee/Z-Wave and is also simple to set up and install, thereby removing a major barrier to the adoption of smart homes.
Read the original article here.
After reading this article, what are your feelings about smart homes?
Have you already implemented some automation capability in your house? How has it improved your lifestyle?
Do you think that smart homes are safer, more efficient, more secure and more comfortable?
