Remember the days of all the campy sci-fi movies and TV shows a la Meet the Jetsons and Back to the Future where we thought there would be flying cars and completely automated homes in the 21st century? While we have yet to see airborne automobiles and we’re still far away from getting our hair done and teeth brushed by domesticated robots every morning, we are getting closer to making fiction a reality.
The popularity of smart home systems have recently boomed due to innovations like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home. However, smart home systems are much more than just telling Alexa to put on some Adele when you’re in your feels or to turn off the lights. Before you jump into the wonderful world of smart home systems, here are some pros and cons to think of before you spend the time and money investing in one.
The Pros
Peace of mind.
This ranges from improved security systems to being alerted you have a water leak. Security systems have advanced way past sensors on doors and windows – now you can have cameras, motion sensors on the outside of your house – and you can always be sure your house is locked up like Fort Knox without having to drive all the way home again. Similarly, you’ll no longer have to panic about whether or not you left the oven on, though you can still use that as an excuse to get out of awkward social situations.
At any time, you can access the cameras inside or outside the home to check that everything’s how it should be. If you’re caring for an aging parent, some devices and sensors can help you monitor them and ensure their safety, while also helping them maintain independence.
Saves money and the environment.
The thermostat can be set to go up or down during the day to maximize energy efficiency, and then return to your preferred temperature before you get home. Certain systems can even identity the energy hogs in your home and decrease their energy usage. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!
Convenience.
You can control all of these appliances and systems from one device, meaning you don’t even have to move to turn off a light or change the temperature. Motion sensors can be installed to trigger your coffee maker when you get out of bed in the morning. You can preheat the oven during your commute home or disable your alarm so your nephew can let your dog out, all from your phone.
The Cons
Expense.
Individual systems can be inexpensive, but if you’re wanting to have the whole shebang, the cost can pile up. Also, while some you can install yourself, installing more complicated systems might be better left to the professionals, which incurs additional cost.
Relying on wi-fi.
This is probably the biggest issue out of the cons. If your wi-fi goes down, whatever part of your systems relies on wi-fi become moot. Additionally, if you have a ton of devices on your wi-fi, this can cause it to weaken, necessitating wi-fi boosters throughout your home.
Compatibility.
While there is convenience in being able to control everything from your phone, you will have to have multiple different apps to control all your different smart home systems. There are, however, a few companies creating hubs to connect all these things for you, but they are at an added cost.
Hacking.
Smart home systems can be easily broken into, which can mean anything from your house being broken into to hackers using that as a backdoor to your personal information. As with compatibility, there are no standards these companies have to abide by when making their devices and this extends to security.
This is just a bird’s-eye-view of smart home technologies – just a simple Google search will show you how vast this market is, so make sure to do your due diligence when looking for the perfect system for you. And, if you’re looking for a home to put all your tech in, we’re here to help!
