First of all, what is a smart home?
A smart home is a house that utilizes information technology such as IoT and AI to make life safer, more convenient, and more comfortable. It often refers to the system installed in the house rather than the house itself. By linking smartphones and dedicated devices with home appliances and controlling them via a network, it is possible to eliminate minor inconveniences that people feel in their daily lives. It is a technology that is closely related to modern life.
Until a few years ago, the term “smart home” was often seen at housing exhibitions, with the image of it being something that was jointly provided by home appliance manufacturers and house manufacturers. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in products that can be easily added to existing housing equipment, rather than just large-scale products that need to be installed from the time of construction, and they have suddenly become popular along with the term smart home. It seems that there are also more cases of installing them not only in homes, but also to increase the asset value of managed properties.
In general, the benefits of introducing a smart home can be broadly divided into two categories: security and automation. By keeping this classification in mind, it will be easier to imagine what you can actually do when introducing it to your home, office, or real estate.
Security : Strengthening security at your home using information technology
<Examples of security products>
Smart window sensors
If a door or window is opened without permission while you are away, a smartphone or tablet will be contacted to alert you. Some products can be used simply by attaching a sensor to a door or window, making them easy to install.
Network cameras
Mostly indoor cameras. They can monitor your family and pets, and can record while broadcasting video in real time. Some have a speaker function that allows voice communication like a phone.
Automation : Automating the operation of some home equipment
<Examples of home automation products>
Smart speakers
By talking to a speaker equipped with cloud-based AI (artificial intelligence), you can operate home appliances and use Internet functions with just your voice.
Smart
locks You can open and close the lock using a smartphone app or by entering a PIN number. If you move a few meters away from your house, the door will automatically lock, and if you approach your house, it will automatically unlock the door when it detects that you have returned home. As with window sensors, there are also types available that can be installed over your existing key with a sticker, without having to replace the existing key. This is a convenient feature that allows you to avoid taking out your keys or smartphone when you have a lot of luggage and your hands are full.
Control your home appliances with your smartphone, a smart remote control
There are many smart home products that can be installed in rental apartments without major construction work. First, let’s introduce smart remote controls. A smart remote control is a device that allows you to control home appliances that use infrared remote controls over the Internet. Smart remote controls can be used in the following situations:
・I don’t want to go back to a hot room in the summer… I don’t want to go back to a cold room in the winter…
[In such cases, you can operate the air conditioner from your smartphone and set it to a comfortable temperature when you come back] You
can operate the air conditioner at any time with a dedicated app on your smartphone. If you have a smart remote control with a temperature sensor and humidity sensor, it will automatically adjust the room temperature to the setting in conjunction with the air conditioner. It is also possible to operate the air conditioner automatically when it reaches a certain temperature.
・Oh, did I turn off the lights when I left the house…
[Such worries are eliminated with the function that allows you to automatically turn the lights on and off from anywhere]
By using an LED bulb with built-in Wi-Fi, you can operate the lights not only indoors but also when you are away from home. It is useful for crime prevention and preventing forgetting to turn them off, and it also saves on electricity bills. You can change the color of the bulb according to the time of day, so you can use it according to your lifestyle, such as “white light until 4 p.m. and orange light after that to relax”.
・I can’t turn on the TV right away because I don’t have a remote control…
[No need for remote controls for TVs and audio equipment anymore. All TV operations are performed by voice by linking with apps and smart speakers]
Even if the home appliance does not have smart home functions, it can be turned into a “smart home appliance” by using a smart remote control. All you have to do is register the remote control of the home appliance you want to make IoT compatible with a dedicated app for smart remote controls connected to Wi-Fi. You can register all the buttons on the remote control to the app. If you use a smart speaker, which I’ll explain later, you can operate it with just your voice without having to open the app.
Coming home to a comfortable room temperature, lights on, and music playing from the speakers is surely more comfortable than you can imagine. The average price for a smart remote control is around 5,000 to 20,000 yen depending on the functions, but as long as you have a network environment at home, you can easily install one for this cost. Most smart remote controls have a learning function, so they can basically operate any home appliance.
Furthermore, the introduction of voice assistants will make smart remote controls even more convenient to use.
More than just a smart remote control or voice assistant
For example, by using smart lock products, you can change the entrance to an auto-lock system like that of a hotel. Normally, if you want to change the locks on your residence, you might think that special construction work is required.
However, to realize a smart home, all you need are home appliances and devices that can connect to the Internet, so no major construction work is required. It can be installed on most thumb-turn doors used in ordinary homes. The fact that it is so easy and simple to implement will be a major factor in the progress of smart homes.
Our future lifestyles and smart homes
Some people may have a negative impression of IoT after learning about the possible disadvantages and risks mentioned above. However, research into IoT technology is progressing every day, and security and performance are steadily improving. Life incorporating IoT will become more comfortable and convenient, and there is no doubt that it will bring about major changes in our lives in terms of safety and security, such as crime prevention measures and home monitoring.
Smart functional products are evolving rapidly. They will be fully introduced into various fields and IoT devices will become more and more familiar. The day is approaching when IoT will be used not only in the business world but also as an indispensable partner in daily life.