Technology is becoming more and more adept at responding to our lifestyle needs. 2019 smart home trends have seen advances in entertainment, security, and even personal finance. However, the one trend to rule them all is holistic home automation: the smart home holy grail. But what does holistic home automation really mean?
Is home automation the same as IoT?
A holistic approach is centered on the fundamental belief that the component parts of an object are intimately interconnected, and can only be understood in relation to the whole. For smart homes, this means that everything is connected for a complete, controlled experience that’s tailored to your home.
In previous years, this has been tough to achieve, largely because smart tech firms have been reluctant to make software that can communicate with each other. The problem was compounded by the fact that IoT (Internet of Things) producers preferred hubs connected via Bluetooth, while smart home tools tended towards WiFi hubs controlled through a smartphone.
Now, however, more and more firms are moving toward ‘interoperability’ – in other words, opening up their code so it can be connected to devices built by other providers. Trends also show that more firms are ditching Bluetooth hubs to focus on WiFi, which will make it easier for more devices to communicate through a single hub.
Is home automation the future?
Of course, having your devices speak to each other would be meaningless if they didn’t have much to say. Fortunately, advances in machine learning, or AI (artificial intelligence), mean that smart tech is getting better and better at processing data. This might not sound relevant to your home heating or lighting, but in fact, it’s essential to effective automation.
With access to your connected smartphone and sensors around the home, your smart tech can tell when you’re headed home and turn on the heating, play relaxing music and start the coffee brewing, for example. It will also be able to detect the usual time of day when you’re warm or cold, when you eat and when you wake up and suggest optimum conditions for each situation. In other words, it’s an intuitive system that adapts to your needs.
How do home automation systems work?
Until now, smart technology has been an ‘aftermarket’ solution, something you buy and install after you’ve chosen your home. Now, we’re seeing a move towards smart construction, especially in the luxury property market.
Smart construction integrates automation from the start. Tech is seamlessly incorporated into the fabric of the building, with sensors placed in optimum positions for maximum effectiveness. This approach even extends to the development of ‘smart’ construction materials. Examples include ‘unbreakable’ glass, which doesn’t require a frame and can connect directly to timber to form an integral component of the structure, and ‘self-healing’ concrete, which contains bacteria that automatically repair any cracks.
Convinced that the holistic approach is right for you? Your next step is to investigate smart living concepts to drive your holistic home. Whether you’re building an eco-home, creating avant-garde designs, or simply want your home to automatically adjust to your mood – it’s never been more possible to realize your dream design.
