With a rapid growth in knowledge, awareness and research about Artificial Intelligence, words like ‘Automated Homes’, ‘Connected Homes’, ‘Smart Homes’ or even ‘Intelligent Homes’ are used quite casually and are generally presumed to be very different from what they really are. More often than not, they’re thought of to be the same. However, there are key differences that individuals ought to know. Sometimes, marketers and promoting brands, too, manage to confuse them. Clearly stating, Automation is simply the Creation & Application of Technologies to control & monitor any process in the best possible manner.
As the name suggests, an automated house perform various functions and executes assigned tasks in accordance to a logical cue or command. One can control Lights & Drapes to create perfect ambience & right mood for that special moment, cue in the appropriate music along with right room temperature setting and control any appliance or gadget with a click of a button on a mobile device from anywhere.
An Automated Home:-
a) Provides you the comfort of performing various tasks with a single command better known as multitasking.
These tasks can also be scheduled according to one’s preference .
b) Enables you with the immense convenience of monitoring and controlling your home, not only from within the house, but also remotely from a distant location.
c) Has many security features like intrusion detectors, CCTV monitors, presence of audio visual alarms, etc. and even the ability to call on your phone in case of any security breach or suspicious activity.
d) Is equipped with safety measures to detect an emergency situation. Examples of this are a fire, smoke or gas leak in the house. Not only does it raise an alarm, it also automatically takes remedial action to ensure complete safety.
e) Saves you money by curtailing your electricity and water bills by effective and optimized usage of devices & appliances.
f) Works on energy saving concepts, thus making our environment more efficient, greener & cleaner.
g) Enhances not only the life and longevity of devices, gadgets & appliances, but also of furniture, interiors & furnishing. This is done by automatically protecting them from heat and direct sunlight.
h) Helps relegate the maintenance cost and reduce overhead. So in the long run, it gives you ROI.
i) Finally, it enhances the WOW effect in the way you live, allowing you to live with utmost style, giving you a feel good factor, along with peace of mind round the clock..
How are Smart homes different
A Smart home is an advanced version of an Automated Home. It comes with built in intelligentsia that’s incorporated into the system with the help of, what is known as, Artificial Intelligence (AI). Basically, a Smart Home has all the features of an Automated home, along with additional skills due to AI.
A Smart Home:-
a) Eliminates human errors and takes immediate remedial measures to rectify any mistakes that an individual may make. For instance, in case of a gas hob being left ON, the system will cut off the gas supply, switch off main power supply to all appliances and switch ON the kitchen exhaust to clear of the inflammable gas out all on its own. This can be extremely beneficial and can prevent hazardous situations to occur.
b) Helps increase your productivity by taking responsibility of making decisions & performing tasks according to the behaviors, habits and patterns of the individual. For example, if the system detects that the owner has left the premises, it’ll ensure to switch off the lights, draw the curtain, switch off the A.C., lock the main door etc. This can especially be useful as it allows individuals to now focus their time and energy on tasks of higher priority instead of just these menial tasks.
c) Acts as stress buster by relieving you of the anxiety and worries of completing your ‘TO-DO-LIST’. It does this by analyzing information from your routine and work patterns.
d) Pre-anticipate the situation, make the shortest path & help you achieve your task with minimum effort and optimal time. A common example of this is the travel time from home to an individual’s workplace. If a person goes to work 20 km from his/her place every day, and has to reach there by 9:00am, the system is able to analyze the traffic & road conditions to evaluate how much time it may take for that person to reach. It then accordingly sets a wake-up alarm. It also switches ON the water geyser & brew coffee for the person!
e) Saves a lot of time by helping you in your day to day work and chores. Your Smart home can automatically order your groceries from an online store according to your shopping list as soon as it senses that your grocery stock has reduced to below a level. It can even open the door with a welcome message for the delivery man after recognizing his identity through face recognition and take snapshot as well for record purpose.
f) Can customize the den or bedroom in the house for a particular person based on his preferences stored in the database. The right color theme of lights can be set, the room temperature be adjusted to his/her preference, his/her favorite music be cued in, a movie of his/her choice can be played and even his/her favorite food can be ordered!
In a developing nation like India, one can find lot of Automated Homes. However, there are hardly any Smart homes. This is mostly because it can be a little costly, involves design complexity and requires a technologically advanced infrastructure and surroundings. But what is important to relapse is that the features and abilities of a smart home are never ending. Therefore, the developments and installations done in a home can always be a step by step process. At the end of the day, you get to choose how you want your ideal home to be. Alongside that, the fact that smart homes and automated homes, in the long run, can be more pocket dearer and friendly to your well-being. Things are moving in the right direction and we are progressing to ensure that what looks like magic today, will become our living realities very soon.
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