Technology for the home: a guide to home automation basics

We take a quick look at home technology that can transform your home into a smart home.

The use of technology for the home is in fashion, there are many applications and services that exist to control our home and there are more and more applications and services for home automation. homes for sale (especially in new builds) that offer these amenities.

If you are one of those lazy people who don't even like to turn on the lights, you will find technologies applied even for this type of action. And, if you want to go further, you can also control other systems, such as blinds so that they are automatically raised or lowered depending on daylight hours and temperature.

As you can imagine, the applications of ICT in the home can be endless.

Do you want to get on our ship and park in the future? Then read on!

The best technology for the home

You may not have realised it, but the smart home technology is present in our lives on a regular basis.. We use it every day when we use the microwave, the television or the fridge. All these appliances have evolved technologically over the years and their operation has been fine-tuned. 

It is already normal to find smart TVs or air conditioners that we can control from our mobile phones. But why not go further? Until now, many of our household appliances were "watertight" devices, but now, most of them come with wifi connection so that you can configure them remotely, order spare parts from a central purchasing centre simply by pressing a button, or buy milk from a little screen on the fridge that detects that you are running low... This is what is known as the Internet of Things and the possibilities are endless.

Transforming your home into a smart home

We can say, broadly speaking, that the aspiration of ICTs within the home is to achieve an housing that is self-regulating and operates independently by means of commands or devices. Thanks to these systems we can achieve:

• Much more energy efficient homes. Housing where electricity, water or gas bills will reduce by themselves.
• Helping those groups who would otherwise be dependent on others to live independently. For example, people with reduced mobility or other disabilities can improve their quality of life by incorporating smart technology in the home.

Today, smart homes can be divided into several types depending on the systems they incorporate:

• Programmable houses. These are those in which certain devices are programmed, by means of devices, to switch on or off. There are different levels of programming; from devices that use regulators to others that, by means of sensors, identify certain situations in order to regulate their operation.
• Controllable housingwhere all members of the family can control different technological devices through devices. There are cases in which the control is done by voice command, such as Amazon's well-known Alexa, to regulate lights, television or music.
• Intelligent housing. This is the maximum expression of home automation: homes that do everything independently, adapting to the needs and habits of their inhabitants. These homes change their programming and adapt themselves to become efficient.

Now that we know this, here comes the million-dollar question: how difficult is it to transform a house into a smart home? Not today. Nor is it as expensive as many people think. Below, you will find a list of the most sought-after smart home technology devicesthose who can help you to achieve your goal.

Smart home technology devices

Some of the most popular smart home technology devices are:

Voice assistants

I'm sure you still remember the famous Siri, the voice that appeared with Apple mobile phones. Even in the legendary series The Big Bang TheoryRajesh had a affair with her. Since Siri came into our lives, things have evolved to apply to home control as well.

By means of voice assistants we can control different smart devices, it is only necessary to give commands out loud. Echo is the system offered by Amazon together with Alexa, which is the artificial intelligence that helps us to organise all the devices that can be programmed with it. From the lights, the heating or the television.

There are more options than just the ones offered by Amazon, such as the Nest of Google.

Smart switches and bulbs

• You've probably heard a thousand times about energy-saving light bulbs, but are you familiar with energy-saving bulbs? smart light bulbs? They are an option that goes one step further, as they allow you to switch lights on and off via mobile devices or voice assistants.

• If you prefer, instead of smart light bulbs, you can opt for smart switches. They work in the same way as light bulbs, although their installation is a little more complex, it all depends on your taste! One of their main advantages is that, with them, you can convert in smart any household appliance.

In both cases all you need is the app and have internet access to control the lighting in your home.. Soon you will be able to switch the light on and off from anywhere, with the significant energy savings that this entails.

Smart thermostats

Now that we have the voice assistant and control over the light, what do you think about regulating the temperature in your home? You can do this by means of a intelligent thermostat. These controllers allow us to reach the optimal temperature to feel great at home. 

Smart hoovers

Roomba o Conga are two friends that have become indispensable in many homes. This type of robot hoover has evolved over the years. Gone are the days of those somewhat "dumb" models that did not manage to clean our home perfectly and kept banging against the walls over and over again.

Today, these devices are equipped with laser sensors that draw digital maps of your home and can be programmed to clean your home when you want them to. In addition, some include a mop option to mop the floor.

Smart locks

Are you tired of losing your keys and being locked out of your home? Well, this situation can be a thing of the past thanks to smart locks. Forget about looking for your keys. Smart locks are easy to install and there are options that are controlled by voice assistants.. It is a matter of finding the one that best suits our needs.

As you can see, there are many options for making your home work smart and you can invest in them gradually until you get the home of your dreams. In this tour we have talked about the most economical and easy to install systems. As well as offering you maximum comfort, they can be a perfect selling point or a perfect selling point. rent your home. You know, Alexa will be able to help you with a lot of things... but for SELL YOUR HOUSE you'd better talk to Monapart 😉.