Smart home technology is now a standard option for all, not just the wealthy and tech-savvy. The tech industry has responded by creating ever more sophisticated solutions. Many people associate smart home technology with gadgets like Google’s Nest or Amazon’s Echo however the term also encompasses a myriad of solutions for your house. This encompasses everything from remote-controlled lighting and heating to CCTV, home security systems doorbells, as well as smart locks. Some let you keep tabs on children or elderly relatives as well as pets to monitor electricity or water usage, and so on.
Integration is the most important aspect of the success of a smart home system. This is why the best products integrate with other devices and systems to make your home smarter. For instance the smart light bulb can communicate with an centralized hub to set your lights according to a set time or turn them off after you leave the home. A video doorbell could alert you to unexpected visitors or alarms can call the police or fire departments. And, once you’ve mastered IFTTT (If This Then That) You can make use of services like Stringify to automate your devices in more sophisticated ways.
Of course, bringing in new smart her explanation devices to the home brings with it the same concerns. CNET works hard to understand company policies, raise privacy concerns, and even direct questions to companies.