There was an era when smart homes only existed in sci-fi movies. Made for the wealthy or the tech-savvy, the plotline showed us glimpses of how the lighting or the security of the house worked on command.

Sci-fi didn't happen to make the prediction of flying cars come true. But home automation? It's now surpassed reality and comes through as a full-blown consumer trend.

What started with actions to dim or dip the lights, home automation evolved with the rise of smartphones. Consumers could operate the blinds or the TV from their smartphones.

But then came the advent of the Internet of Things or IoT. This transformed the smart home space, with the market now predicted to be 11.1 trillion annually by 2025!

So, why was the introduction of IoT into smartphones a game changer for now and in the future?

Read on to find out!

The introduction of IoT devices in a smart home takes technology and automation within the house a step further. IoT technology provides the sensors with the option to connect to the internet. While Alexa and Siri are great examples, the concept of Internet of Things uses devices, sensors, and appliances to note habits and determine consumption patterns.

They do this through a set of algorithms to eventually help personalize your experience. Consider the example of an air conditioner that can assess your location, and usage and modify working temperatures accordingly.

Such smart devices rely on their algorithms and learning patterns to provide an optimal, energy-saving, personalized experience. And all of this is now possible thanks to IoT technology.

In the not-too-distant future, we expect the development of advanced devices that are usable and accessible to a larger consumer base. Currently, some of the popular smart home devices that are in use are

1. Security systems

A smart security system consists of a cloud-based IoT device and sensors. These devices have applications that can be accessed via a phone. Doorbells also have video cameras that include two-way audio. This ensures additional safety.

Other security systems include smart locks that can be accessed without a key. Smart locks can be fixed on jewellery safes and doors and can be accessed through passcodes or authentication by a phone or an internet-enabled device.

Some examples include

• August doorbell cam

• Canary

2. Temperature and air quality control systems

Air and temperature control goes beyond the smart home and extends to industries. Clean room technologies are some examples that require highly purified and regulated air conditioning systems.

In such cases, with cloud-based IoT software, the devices can notify phones when there's a deviation in temperature or air quality. In a smart home use case, temperature systems such as thermostats can automatically adjust the temperatures according to usage data, presence of people in the room, and duration.

Some examples of air and temperature control systems include

• Footbot air quality monitor.

• Flow by Plume Labs air quality monitor.

3. Alarm systems

The next time you think you've left the oven on, think about the benefits of a smart home alarm system. These systems continuously monitor the house for any unwanted emergencies. They immediately notify the user in the case of one, with loud emergency sounds or repeated notifications on connected devices such as the phone.

These can be connected throughout the house or to kitchen equipment such as ovens and coffee makers. This way, if the equipment is left unattended, the device can either switch off on its own or require a manual switch-off through a command via the phone.

Some examples include

• Nest home alarm

• June intelligent oven

• Mr coffee smart coffeemaker

4. Smart gardening

Technically an outside-the-smart home example, gardening is another application where IoT devices have come into play. Automated sprinkler systems, robot lawnmowers, and garden-focused IoT devices are now in use.

The major advantage of IoT tools and platforms is the automation and energy-efficient usage. Water supply to plants can be increased or decreased based on weather patterns, recent usage, soil quality, and so on. This is energy efficient and automated for optimal usage. Further, they can also be customized based on requirements. Examples include irrigation systems with light, rain, and temperature sensors and automated nursery and compost systems.

5. Voice controllers

These are smart devices that connect smaller appliances such as lights, switches, TV to voice commands. Smaller commands such as playing songs, requesting a weather update, and initiating phone calls can also be done through voice control IoT devices. They provide access to content through cloud-based IoT software.

These devices are on the rise currently due to the ease of interaction. These devices were primarily designed for interaction. But they now extend to smaller commands that are integrated with home automation tools.

Some examples of voice-controlled IoT devices include

• Google Home

• Amazon Echo

IoT-based automation in smart homes consists of various devices for home entertainment, security, temperature, and so on. Some of the benefits of having IoT in smart homes include

1. Cloud-based IoT software: Get notified of events instantly

As the sensors and devices are connected to the cloud, users have the flexibility to control their device from a remote location. The cloud-based software allows the storage and maintenance of data in cloud-based home automation.

Users can send a signal or a command to the hub, which then sends a signal to the device. This triggers the action to be completed. Once that is done, the hub updates the status of the action over the cloud network, thereby notifying the user.

2. Optimize energy consumption

IoT devices not only monitor usage but also optimize their performance based on this data. The devices provide detailed statistics of their usage based on time and energy. Using this, one can modify their smart home systems in a cost-effective manner. One can manually or automatically shut down the devices when not in use to save energy.

3. Convenience and security

The next time you wonder if your pet is safe, if you left the gas or the lights on, think of the benefits of a smart home. IoT technology provides the convenience of accessing information immediately to the user over the cloud-based server. It simplifies automation and receiving information by the user.

In terms of security, IoT-based smart home devices have already made their mark. Security cameras, smart locks, and smoke sensors, to name a few, are some IoT devices that work together. They notify the user immediately if there is an incident and access the security of the home when away at work or on vacation.

4. Customised preferences and safety settings

Apart from energy savings, IoT devices also provide customized preferences and safety settings. Components such as the lights can be dimmed after a particular time of the day, or the thermostat can be automatically adjusted to a particular temperature based on time.

AI integration in such devices plays a key role in data collection and processing. This can be particularly useful for an elderly audience, who may be forgetful about switching devices off. It can be energy efficient and be programmed to set off an alarm in some cases too. Overall, home automation isn't just about pricey devices. It's about making our daily tools smarter for optimal and customized usage.

Rather than the motto of making lives easier and productive, IoT devices in smart homes aim for the bigger goal. Effortless energy saving, automation, and customized experiences are part of the goals that IoT aims to achieve. As with any technology, there are always significant risks associated. But to outweigh these risks by minimizing them and maximizing the overall benefits is key. This is the era of smart homes, cars, and devices, and it is soon to extend to other areas of our daily lives. Before we know it, connectivity and automation might evolve to be a routine in our daily lives.

Looking to develop an IoT device or have a plan in the field of Internet of Things? At Toobler, we can help your organization design an IoT-based ecosystem and take connectivity and automation to the next level! To get started, drop a message for us here!