The pros and cons of smart home automation system-In depth analysis

Achal Chaurasia– Smart Home Automation

Are Smart Homes The Right Investment For You? Here Is All You Need To Know

Smart homes are quickly going from being a luxury to being a commodity. The increase in disposable income and a simultaneous decrease in data and hardware costs, along with governmental policies backing IoT have brought home automation technology within reachable grasp even for middle-class families.

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Smart homes have their advantages, which I will enlist in a bit, but like everything else in the world of technology, they have their drawbacks. I’m talking about everyday cons you may face if you choose to live in a smart home.

You should be aware of both the pros and cons of smart home automation before investing in it, and that is what this blog will help you with.

Let’s start with the Pros.

Smart homes are incredibly convenient

The number-one USP of home automation is convenience. Have you left the AC on in the living room while tending to your child in the bedroom? No problem, you can simply ask your virtual assistant to switch it off.

You can check the status of your home – locks, safety equipment like cameras, and appliances, remotely via a smartphone making home management stress-free. Most home layouts (like the positioning of switchboards) are not disabled people friendly.

A smart home makes managing everyday activities easier for disabled people. The ability to control appliances and devices remotely makes managing them easy, saving you time and effort on little chores that would otherwise pile up.

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Smart homes come with extra layers of security.

Door locks can be keypad, thumbprint, or voice-controlled.

Smartphone-accessible cameras can be placed around the house for surveillance.

Motion sensor alarms can be installed to alert owners or a third-party security firm of any intrusion.

All these safety accessories can be checked, monitored, and controlled remotely via a smartphone giving you round-the-clock control over your home’s safety.

Smart homes are energy efficient

The automation devices themselves consume very little energy. You also prevent energy wastage on appliances that are left switched on when not necessary. Smart homes also come with different levels of climate control. Lights, for example, have different brightness settings, and using dimmer lights will save energy. Temperature control units like air conditioners and heaters can be set on autopilot to adjust the home’s climate based on the time of the day. Most smart appliance manufacturers are making products that run on solar energy. Smart homes are considered, both conventionally and by the government, a green initiative.

Cons of Owning A Smart Home

Installing automation technology, or buying a smart home is still expensive.

Smart home systems are expensive. The installation costs are high and then there’s added maintenance and repair expenses. You will also have to replace incompatible appliances if you want to integrate them with the home automation system. You may also incur additional costs for electrical lines and setting up new structures around the house.

Technology has inherent vulnerabilities.

Yes, smart homes make living safer by adding extra external security like cameras and motion sensor alarms. The automation device itself, like any device exposed to the internet, is still vulnerable to threats like hacking. You can mitigate this risk by installing a system from a reputed brand, using complex passwords, and through regular maintenance and checks.

Smart homes can prove to be complex to operate for some people.

Smart homes take getting used to and can be a challenge for the elderly or people who just don’t like the infusion of technology into everyday activities. For example, troubleshooting anomalies with the automation system and fixing faulty devices can only be done by professionals. Automation technology relies on high-speed internet. Operating the smart home can be tedious when connectivity is poor. Operating a voice-controlled device can prove difficult for someone who is not comfortable speaking the device’s programmed language. In some cases, people find flipping a switch much easier than trying to be articulate with a voice assistant.

The Bottom Line: Are Smart Homes A Wise Investment?

I wish it were as easy as choosing between a yes and a no, but it is not. Living in a smart home is a lifestyle choice, and as it is with any lifestyle it depends on the individual. Are you tech-savvy?

Do you like modern amenities?

Can you afford it?

Go for a smart home. You’ll love it. But on the flip side, are you suspicious of the vulnerabilities in technology? Do you find using the voice assistant on your phone annoying? Do you live with elderly people who won’t be able to adjust? A good old-fashioned home is still a good way to live. Once you have weighed in the pros and cons, it all boils down to your circumstances. The choice is yours.

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Author-Achal Chaurasia

A young businessman who has been in the line of entrepreneurship for quite a few years. He is an active learner and loves to know more about new technological developments coming up as well as how they can be put to great use to yield better results for society.