What is Smart Home?

A smart home refers to a household that uses a system of appliances connected to the internet to manage chores or maintenance. Owners of smart homes can monitor and utilize the devices in their households remotely, even if they’re in a different country. Smart homes are part of the interconnected global network known as the Internet of Things (IoT).

Smart home appliances can help make many chores and household processes automatic. From setting up sprinklers or a robot lawnmower outside to scheduling the coffee machine and putting a timer on the lights – tedious tasks can be controlled by just opening an app on the phone or a computer and adjusting the settings.

Smart home technology can be convenient and help improve the sustainability of your home. If you have to leave the house for a while, you can adjust the thermostat so you’re not wasting heat and then turn it back on again right before you get home. Some smart home devices are even designed to be pet-friendly – like automatic feeders.

They can also help save money in the long term. While some smart home devices can be on the pricier end, their utility pays off quite quickly. The ability to automatically control heating or power usage can help cut down the money spent on monthly bills.

The goal of smart home technology is to simplify many aspects of our everyday lives. These appliances can not only help with household upkeep but also our overall routine, such as maintaining our schedules or preparing shopping lists. New types of smart home appliances seem to pop up on the radar on a near-daily basis.

The simplicity of smart home devices is especially advantageous for the elderly or people with disabilities who may struggle with household chores and may require some assistance. Smart vacuum cleaners can help ensure that the house is clean while home assistants can be set up with regular reminders to take medications or to order grocery deliveries.

Types of Smart Home Appliances

There is a wide range of smart home appliances on the market, varying from tools dedicated to home security and garden maintenance to small devices that make life inside the house easier.

Home Security

Smart home cameras are among the most popular digital household appliances. Most smart cameras are “sleeping” until they detect movement on the radar. They transfer data directly to the phone so there’s no need to dig through hours upon hours of tape footage.

Some smart cameras come with a microphone and speaker options. So, if you have a parcel arriving while you’re at work, you can tell the delivery person to leave it in a safe location near the house.

Smart Cleaners

Smart cleaners can be designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Smart lawn mowers can be programmed to the territory surrounding your household, ensuring every inch of the area is covered. You can schedule the frequency of mowing and save yourself the physical extortion of pushing forward a giant lawnmower.

However, perhaps the best-known example of smart cleaners is a robot vacuum. They can be used to dry or wet clean your house depending on the surface and can even be scheduled to work while you’re out of the house.

Smart Speakers

Smart speakers might be the most recognizable example of smart home appliances. Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Home Assistant are prime examples of smart speakers. They are devices that connect to the internet and complete tasks personalized to the preferences of the homeowner.

Smart speakers are perhaps the ultimate tools to help simplify your life at home. Smart speakers can create a network connection with other smart devices at home, extending their functionality to a higher degree. Their utility is near-endless.

By sending voice commands, you can adjust the lights, lower the thermostat, lock the door, pick your favorite playlist, set up your grocery list for the day, or even set up the order – just about any household task can be made easy with smart speakers.

Blockchain Technology in Smart Homes

Although IoT devices are growing increasingly popular, concerns regarding their security cannot be overlooked. There have been recorded instances of hackers gaining access to user data by breaking into the Internet of Things or Internet of Toys (also IoT) devices.

To mitigate the risks associated with digital household appliances, more and more companies are implementing blockchain technology—particularly smart contracts—to reinforce security. Smart contracts are self-executing programs that contain the client command and require certain conditions to be met in order to function.

Blockchain technology employs a network of decentralized nodes, making it next to impossible to compromise the entire system. The anonymity provided by smart contracts means that hackers cannot trace the direction of the client message and are unable to compromise data.