What is a Smart Home?

This is a frequently asked question and is tricky to answer as a Smart Home is a very personal thing that means different things to each person or household. Some people's lives revolve around music, while others are film buffs. Others are concerned about security, while others enjoy outdoor activities with friends. While the above is their starting point, most people eventually end up with most of the components of a Smart Home; it's just that their starting point is different.

The important thing about Smart Homes is that you can customise your home however you want to get the best experience for you and your family. Another advantage of a Smart Home is that you can start with a basic install and add to it when you can or want.

What is the difference between automated apps and a Smart Home?

Some in our industry believe they are the same thing, but I disagree. To me, automated apps entail installing a control app, such as a security alarm and CCTV cameras onto a device like a smartphone. You then can individually control each device remotely one at a time but they do not talk to each other. The ability, artistry, and technical know-how to bring these services together are required to make this a Smart Home. For example, instead of performing each operation separately, you can programme one button to perform them all. Assume you are leaving your home and want to activate the security system. As you leave, you press one button, which activates the CCTV internal cameras, closes all the automated curtains, locks all the doors, and activates the alarm in 30 seconds. Then, as you get closer to home, you tell Siri or Google while you are in the car that you are home. The garage door opens, the lights turn on, the security system disarms, and the internal CCTV cameras turn off when you issue this command..

This is how you transition from a Home automation service to a Smart Home experience. See the short video below.

The Smart Home experience extends beyond your four (or more) walls. Your Smart Home system can also be integrated into your Bach, Business, or AirBnB. It makes no difference where you live or where your properties are because Smart Automation systems can work from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. Many of our clients at Smart Installations have multiple and we integrate these into our single Control4 automation platform so they can control them all from one place on their smart phone..

So, in summary, the only limit to what you can do is your imagination, and remember to always approach it from the standpoint of making your home smart, not automated.