The Lowdown on Smart Homes

In the good old days, preparing a home was a pretty simple task. It involved only a bit of common sense; making sure you’ve remembered all the bells and whistles; somewhere to sit, somewhere to sleep, light switches, burglar bars and reliable locks. Nothing complex about that! Now, for some reason, the world (and its Millennials) don’t seem to be entirely satisfied with the simple ways of doing things; even when, most of the time, it’s the most effortless, and dependable.

Nonetheless, it’s always interesting to see what the tech masterminds come up with, especially when their efforts closely mirror that of something out of a sci-fi movie. From cars that just about drive themselves, to the scary advancements in artificial intelligence, the tech industry is ever-evolving, expanding, and quite honestly, difficult to keep up with!

Let’s be honest, though, the 21st century is riddled with innovative concepts and forward-thinking ideas. As challenging as it sometimes seems, to stay on top of it all, we have to admit, our lives have become increasingly easier, and we have technology to thank. On the contrary, though, technology has the unquestionable ability to make us lazier, too, as it allows us to control most of our lives with a simple click, without moving a muscle-except for the one in our thumb. But, with the busyness of modern life, we can at least count on technology to give us a break every now and then!

Now, give it up to the tech-savvy brain boxes for coming up with the smartest concept, yet!

A concept that will change the way you live and have you dimming the lights and cueing the music, with the click of a button or voice command. Did I hear someone say ‘house goals?!’ We assure you, you’re not dreaming and no, you haven’t been made the guinea pig for time travel either, this is real life, and the revolution has a name; the Smarthome.

So, what is it exactly? Well, the concept is quite simple, really. The Smarthome concept allows one to fully automate their home. Meaning, every single appliance in your home that runs off of electricity will be connected to your home network or ‘central hub’ and can be controlled by you, using a smartphone or tablet, giving you the opportunity to power your pad from wherever you are. Including your bed. Oh, technology, how we love you! But, don’t be fooled, one cannot simply just buy a central hub and start calling the shots- special smart home appliances have to be purchased, for the system to work effectively, and this is where the process really bankrupts the inquisitive cat. Unfortunately, you pay a pretty penny for the luxury of it. So it is advisable to take out a loan or borrow the funds in order to finance this investment.

For example, just to get the basics up and running you’d need;

1.The Central Hub

The main unit that connects everything, through wifi and Bluetooth connectivity.

2. Smart Hue

You’ll need a smart lighting appliance which combines LED lighting with mobile technology, which will work in conjunction with an app to enable you to control light bulbs from your smartphone.

3. Smart Alarm System

This alarm system will ensure all window and door fixtures are fitted with motion sensors, alerting you via the app, as well as setting off a sound when there is unusual movement.

It’s no wonder why so far, only wealthy South African homeowners are embracing this revolutionary, and rather pricy, trend. The places that seem to have grabbed this concept with both hands are upmarket residential areas in Johannesburg and Cape Town, but there has been a steady increase in traction, in other parts of the country. With fibre optic cables being installed all over South Africa, and data costs declining, it makes for a much smoother and cost effective process. Companies specialising in Smart Homes, are popping up all over the place, and they assure us that business is booming!

Either way, let’s just say, don’t break the bank in exchange for a large bowl of laziness – as tempting as it sounds!

Still, the easiest, most affordable and reliable way of doing the ‘homely’ thing is to simply find your perfect home , and bedazzle it in the simple, dependable appliances that don’t need any complex systems to be controlled. So, even if you drop your phone for the hundredth time, kill it until no glimmer of life can be seen, you can live in peace knowing your home will still function as per normal and life will go on as if nothing has changed! One less thing to worry about-sounds like a deal to me!