The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term encompassing everything connected to the internet, but increasingly defines objects that connect with each other. Basically, an IoT device is any device with an on/off switch that is connected to the internet, or to another device using the internet. Examples include cell phones, smart light bulbs, kitchen appliances, security cameras, wearable devices, industrial manufacturing robots, cars, navigation systems, GPS trackers, and so much more. A February 2020 report found that there are 30 billion connected devices on the planet and that number is projected to double over the next five years.
A smart home is defined as a home equipped with lighting, heating, appliances, and other electronic devices that are controlled remotely by phone or computer—basically a home filled with IoT devices. As of 2018, 130 million homes in the U.S. qualified as “smart”. Serving the same functionality of the regular device, smart devices are typically connected to your home’s wireless internet. Many of the devices have corresponding phone applications that allow you to receive mobile alerts and control the devices from your phone. Advancements in technology and artificial intelligence have allowed companies to produce devices that make life more convenient, save you time, and potentially, save you money.
Smarter Energy Consumption
Smart Homes are designed to make the most out of available energy and are potentially saving homeowners money. Rather than restricting energy consumption, smart homes keep track of your lifestyle, find ways to conserve energy when possible and make the most out of available energy. Many devices will track the percentage of energy being used for each appliance and inform you of your consumption allowing you understand where you are wasting energy and adjust to conserve more energy. Smart thermostats, smart meters, smart power strips, smart lighting, all offer potential savings on your utility and electric bill.
Smart Thermostats can keep track of which rooms are being occupied and make sure the temperature is sufficient while you are in them and turned off when you aren’t. This prevents the house from unnecessarily heating or cooling itself while you are out. The app on your phone allows you to adjust the temperature settings remotely. Therefore, you can warm up or cool down the house on your way home from work or after being away, so when you arrive home, the house is already the perfect temperature.
Additionally, homes that have solar panels installed, smart homes can be programmed to only use the energy the panels are producing, allowing homeowners to be self-sustaining!
Smart Power Strips (outlets): Some devices, such as TVs, laptops, and cable box, continue to consume energy when they are turned off. Smart power strips can detect when a device is off or in standby mode and cut the power to those devices allowing you to save energy. Some smart power strips can also monitor electricity consumption and report the percentage of energy being used for each smart outlet.
Smart Lighting allows you to control the lighting throughout the house from your phone. Bulbs are LED which are more energy efficient and don’t need to be replaced often. Most bulbs offer dimming features and some even change hue, giving you the option to have a range of colors or anything from yellow light to a white natural light. Since it's all controlled from your phone, you can turn the lights on and off from your phone while you are in the house and even when your not!
Smart Home Security
Smart Locks offer a security as well as a solution for those who chronically misplace their keys, eliminating the need for spare keys hidden by the entrance or given to your neighbors. They are key-less door locks that allow you to lock and unlock your doors from your phone, whether you are there or not. You could unlock the door from the car so you don't have to fumble with your keys when your hands are full or even when you aren't home and need to let someone inside.
Smart Smoke Detectors work as a connected system, so if one alarm is triggered, you will receive an alert on your phone. If it's a false alarm because you've burned something while cooking, you can easily shut the alarm off with your phone; however, if you're not home and receive a notification that is concerning, you can notify emergency services potentially avoid serious property damage. If you don't want to replace all of your smoke detectors, you can get a "Listener" which plugs into a standard wall outlet and listens for any alarms. If one goes off, the listener will sent a notification to your phone.
Smart Kitchen
Smart kitchen appliances also offer great convenience, incredible features, and can be monitored, turned on or off all from your phone so if you've ever left the house and forgotten whether you've turned off the oven, or any other appliance, you would be able to check on your phone and turn it of if you did forget.
Smart Fridge allows you to monitor the inside temperature from your phone to ensure everything is working properly. Some even have cameras inside them can be viewed from your phone allowing you to see what you're low on when your out shopping.
Smart Slow Cookers offer settings that will ensure your food is ready by the time you get home by setting a time to finish. If you're delayed for some reason, you can use the app on your phone to adjust the time you'll be home and the slow cooker will adjust it's cooking settings to make sure your meal is not over cooked.
Smart Coffee Makers can be controlled by your phone, allowing you to brew a cup or pot of coffee, just how you like. Plus, they can be programmed to brew your coffee at a specific time or when triggered by your morning alarm.
Privacy and Security
While all of these smart home gadgets are convenient, cost-effective and offer so many interesting features, they also pose potential risk, if you are not secure. Keeping your smart home secure, starts with the WiFi router. This is the foundational item that all of the smart devices use to connect. Lack of security could mean that a hacker who gains access to your WiFi would be also be able to access your smart devices. This means having access to your security camera footage, thermostat, oven, etc.
When securing your WiFi router is different from securing the connected devices — A simple firewall or security software is not the answer. You should begin with the router. It is advised to give your WiFi router a unique name and password. When you keep the factory given name and provided password, hackers will know the exact make and model of your router, and could potentially compromise your network.
As you purchase smart devices, you can enhance their security by making a few modifications to their default settings. Many IoT devices come with default usernames and passwords that are the same for all devices. With each device, change the usernames and set unique passwords. Check each device's security settings because some device's default security settings benefit the manufacturer more than they benefit you. If you are not using some of the devices features, disable them. For example, if you have a smart appliance that you never plan to access remotely, disable the remote access option. Additionally, find out how the devices receive software updates and don't wait to update. When the company identifies any security flaws, they issue software updates that address those vulnerabilities. Neglecting to update the software makes your device vulnerable to cyber criminals who are looking to exploit that security flaw.
The fear of potentially being hacked shouldn't keep you from purchasing smart devices. By simply being proactive about smart device security, you can prevent anything bad from happening.