The below is a guest post.
You may have heard of the “internet of things” lately, but not realized the extent of the technological revolution which may surpass the rise of the Internet itself. Consumers are increasingly familiar with smartphones – phones that can be customized to fit users’ needs – but technology has moved to connected cars: vehicles with access to your preferences and connected to the Internet to maximize your driving experience. It’s moved to smart glasses capable of instant text translation of signs in foreign languages. But it doesn’t stop there: the “Internet of Things” is slowly moving towards smart homes, homes which can interact with your specific needs and will make your life easier and more productive.
The Smart Home: The Home of the Future
Increased connectivity between what were once “dumb” objects, such as cars and phones, could only move towards the smart home. As the price of sensors have dropped significantly, rapidly accelerating the development of internet-connected appliances, companies are building devices capable of gathering readings and transmitting them to other devices to enhance user control. Need an example? Google acquired Nest recently, a company which makes Internet-connected thermostats and smoke detectors. Nest’s thermostats can adjust temperature remotely as well as based on user preferences such as cost, and their smoke & CO2 detectors can catch oxygen depletion and warn users in advance in different areas of the house.
Yet thermostats are just the tip of the iceberg. Already many major manufacturers are producing larger smart appliances such as dishwashers and laundry appliances. LG, for example, has created HomeChat, a unique system that connects all your major appliances to your smartphone. Using a system such as HomeChat system allows users to ask their refrigerator, for example, whether they are out of an item or not. Users can tell their washing machines to start away from home. The number of ways in which smart homes will adapt based upon user preferences is increasing daily and limited only by individual imagination in potential uses.
Preparing for a Connected Future
Every aspect of your home life will be user-controllable from the convenience of your smartphone. And as technology ramps up, home building companies are preparing. Homebuilders are embracing the concepts behind smart homes and designing them accordingly. In fact, they’ve been working on it for just about a decade. Because of this, home builders are ahead of the curve in designing homes that will adapt well to the Internet of Things.
How can you make your existing home a smart home? Well, connecting appliances is one part of it, but the other is making sure you have sufficient signal throughout the house for all your appliances. One of the most important aspects of your home, if you are either building or expanding it, is what type of material you’ll be using. Many materials can actually cause signal leakage; because most smart appliances connect via WiFi, this can be a very big problem. Using quality steel and iron in your building frame and construction can make a huge difference in terms of improved WiFi connectivity, provided you use the standard 802.11n wireless protocol.
The smart home of the future is more than just technological advancement: it’s about improving user comfort in unprecedented ways. As appliances become increasingly internet-enabled, everything in the home will be connected to the smartphone, which today has become almost an extension of its owner. In the end, people in smart phones will, to their comfort and satisfaction, feel more connected to their homes than ever before.
This article was contributed on behalf of Texas Iron & Metal, your number one choice when looking for help with where to find steel in Houston, TX. Check out their website today and see how they can help you!
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