It’s time for your house to grow wiser: we turn any apartment into a “smart house”

By smart home is meant a home automation system. It includes a whole range of devices that serve for the convenience of life and make decisions themselves. A smart home can be formed independently as the owner needs. The most commonly used system is the control of multimedia devices and safety devices, although even a coffee maker and light bulbs can be included in it.

Why do we need smart technology?

More recently, the ability to control your home from a distance seemed fantastic. But now, through a regular smartphone, you can solve many of the problems that arose at home: turn off the lights, appliances, close doors, pre-boil water or brew coffee. Theoretically, you can enter into the system all the devices that can connect to the Internet. Also, a smart home helps to be sure of your own safety.

The organization of this system has many advantages:

1. Security. If there are special sensors on the windows and doors, information about the entry into the housing or hacking attempts will be received by the owner. In addition, the sensors themselves can turn on video cameras and show what is happening in the house in reality. The controllers will also inform the residents about the leakage of water, gas, and fire.
2. Simplicity. Do not think that connecting a smart home system is difficult. All devices included in it are regulated by built-in programs, which even a child can figure out. The basic settings will be made by specialists, the user will only have to activate and deactivate the system when required.
3. Comfort. After a hard day's work, when you don’t want to get out of bed, you can easily get the coffee machine to make a drink, or check if the garage door is closed. You can do this by pressing a few buttons on your smartphone, which is very convenient and pleasant.
4. Saving. With the help of a smart home, you can seriously increase the efficiency of the use of appliances and energy consumption. This is achieved through light control, heating systems. For example, when there is nobody in the house, the sensors will automatically turn off the bulbs, reduce the temperature of water heating, and will maintain the lowest possible air temperature. The inclusion of light can even be programmed in time, as well as the connection of thermostats.

In addition to a smart home (Eng. Smart house or smart home), now smart buildings are being increasingly built. They imply the organization of the management of apartment buildings in terms of heating, water supply, security.

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Why control the equipment?

All smart appliances and gadgets, as well as kitchen appliances, must be controlled from one or more devices. Most often, modern smartphones are used for this purpose, but there are other, more original options.

Smartphones

To organize a smart home system, the user is prompted to download special software and install it on the phone. Depending on the selected devices and technical support, Homematic IP, Innogy SmartHome and others can be used. To enter your data into a shared network, you need to create an account, step by step configure the application and make a connection.

Typically, for a smart home to work properly, a mobile device must support certain wireless standards. Availability is required:

• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• a certain amount of memory;
• frequencies from 868 MHz.

When buying a system, you need to make sure that it is able to recognize all devices in the house. The ideal option when the manufacturer of sensors and other components of a smart home itself offers the appropriate software (in some phone models it is completely built-in).

Beginners are advised to start organizing the system with a small number of devices, for example, with a door open and close sensor and a battery thermostat. All applications from the Smart Home series are designed for Android and iOS, therefore they are supported by any modern gadgets.

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Smart watch

A smart watch is another convenient device for controlling your home from a player on your phone to camcorders and a TV. Even car manufacturers hastened to create their own applications, downloaded at such hours: they help to lock and open doors, check fuel levels, battery power, etc.

Smart watches are distinguished from a smartphone by instant access to information. If you need to get the phone, unlock, launch the application, then just look at the clock. They are always nearby, on a hand, and on the screen all necessary information on a condition of the house is reflected. More advanced smartwatch models, in addition to time and date, also provide other information, for example:

• Calendar events
• number of steps taken;
• calories burned
• the weather;
• stocks in stores;
• sleep tracker (smart alarm clock);
• time to recharge.

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Smart tvs

Some operating systems are ideal for downloading to smart TVs. They allow you to combine the rest of the equipment and devices of a smart home. Using their own applications, many models of smart TVs provide the ability to control many devices of the same or other manufacturers.

After turning on the equipment, information appears on the TV screen. Through the display, the user can control the refrigerator, washing machine, microwave, air conditioning, connected wires or via Wi-Fi. For example, through the TV interface, you can adjust the temperature condition of the air conditioner or increase the brightness of the lighting in the house without leaving the living room or bedroom.

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Why connect the system?

To organize a smart home, you can start with the simplest option - to purchase smart sensors that are implemented individually or in sets.

Smart Sensor Kits

Xiaomi, as well as a number of other modern brands of gadgets, produce special sensor complexes for Smart Home. They allow you to realize your wildest dreams and manage your home, creating more favorable conditions for life.

Approximate set of kit:

1. Window and door sensors. When you open the window, the device gives the command to the air purifier - it turns off or goes into standby mode. The door sensor can also be configured as you like. For example, when you open a child’s room, the melody of a smart alarm clock will play. If you connect the door sensor and the lighting system, the light will turn on at the entrance and turn off at the exit. It is enough to dock all the components together, connect to a smartphone and automate the settings.
2. Wireless switch. Depending on the program, pressing the switch can turn off / start equipment or lighting in any room or in the whole house, turn on the alarm, etc.
3. Motion Sensor. This device can turn off the air conditioner when going to bed, turn on the nightlight, if you suddenly have to get out of bed in the dark.With certain settings, the sensor will notify you when your pet leaves the cage or room.

In a smart set, all sensors are interconnected by the Zigbee protocol. They are compatible with the operating systems iOS and Android and perform a huge number of functions.

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Smart speakers

A device from the category of smart (intellectual) technology. This is a smart speaker with built-in microphone, computer. More expensive models include a liquid crystal touch screen and even a camcorder. The computer connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

Most smart speakers have a built-in cloud (virtual) assistant that works on the principle of a question-answer system.

Smart speakers are controlled by a human voice. They turn on after pronouncing the keyword, record the user's speech and decrypt it on the network. After that, the device generates a response, as a result of which the desired action is performed. The main functions of smart speakers:

• conversation with the user (within certain limits);
• playing music;
• reading audio books;
• reporting weather, traffic jams;
• setting an alarm;
• recording a list of tasks;
• reminders.

Many smart speakers are able to control household appliances: refrigerators, air conditioners, other electrical appliances, which are also connected to the smart home system.

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Yandex Station with Alice

This gadget appeared on the market in 2018. It is equipped with a proprietary voice assistant that works great with commands and queries in Russian.

Device Feature:

• the ability to watch movies, listen to music, fairy tales, play and just chat;
• good sound;
• sensitive microphones;
• deep integration with Yandex services;
• smart home management;
• power - 50 W;
• frequency - 50 Hz – 20 kHz;
• the presence of an HDMI connector and Bluetooth;
• support for streaming audio, video services;
• low-frequency and high-frequency speakers;
• resolution - 1080 r;
• power supply - AC adapter 220–240 V;
• the number of microphones - 7;
• weight - 2.9 kg.

Of the minuses of the product, users call weak work with YouTube video hosting, as well as the failure of some smart home systems to function (depending on the brand).

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Appliances working in the "smart home" system

Now on sale there are almost all kinds of household appliances that can connect to the smart home system. Most major electronics manufacturers equip the latest models with Internet access and many other smart features.

Programmable Robot Vacuum Cleaners

The first generation of robotic vacuum cleaners that have appeared on the market is now seriously improved. Now the most popular devices can be controlled from a smartphone or watch and included in the smart home system. In this case, the vacuum cleaner works the same as its predecessor: it moves around the house, collects dust and garbage, sucking them into itself.

The device is ideally suited for a spacious home, allowing you to maintain daily cleanliness and order. The device is especially useful for those who have pets with long hair, allergies, people who do not have time for manual cleaning.

Features of smart vacuum cleaners with built-in software:

• type of cleaning - dry, wet or combination;
• the presence of a system of built-in filters;
• laser scanning of the room;
• dock station;
• various nozzles included;
• large battery capacity;
• various optical sensors;
• viewing angle - 360 degrees;
• movement straight, in a circle, in a zigzag;
• jam signal;
• calculation of cleaning time;
• the presence of a timer;
• different cleaning modes.

Thanks to the sensor system, the most advanced models of robotic vacuum cleaners first build a map of the house, lay the cleaning route, and only then get to work. Some of them may even remember already cleared places. For a number of devices, you can create so-called virtual walls - they will not allow the vacuum cleaner to leave a certain area in the room.

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Smart sockets

Such electrical outlets are able to turn on and off depending on the command from the smartphone.Thus, the operation of the device that is plugged into the outlet is automated. Devices are very popular, their range is quite large. By design, they are divided into groups:

• control modules - are placed in the socket, so the outwardly the socket remains normal (for assembly you have to disassemble the assembly)
• overhead modules - are installed directly into the socket, after which plugs of household appliances are inserted into them (they simply need to be inserted into the socket).

By type of control, sockets also vary. They can receive commands through the remote control (like a regular TV), but from a distance of not more than 30 meters. Some devices respond to user SMS. Others work through special applications. There are also combined models, the type of control of which can be changed.

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Yandex smart socket with Alice

This is an external electrical outlet that connects to a common electrical outlet. With its help, you can turn on any device from your smartphone at the right time according to the given conditions.

Technical parameters and features of a smart device:

• material - plastic;
• number of nests - 1;
• dimensions - 55 x 55 x 80 mm;
• voltage - up to 230 V;
• maximum power - 3680 W;
• rated current - 16 A;
• grounding contact;
• the presence of Wi-Fi.

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Smart light bulbs

If light bulbs are part of a smart home, you can control them from anywhere in the world. For example, it is possible to turn on the light while on vacation, to create the impression of habitability of the apartment. Advanced models of bulbs allow you to adjust the brightness and even change the color, the shade of the light flux.

When buying, you need to make sure that they are compatible with the main controller and the program on the smartphone. It is also worth connecting light bulbs with motion sensors - this will help save energy.

Budget models of smart bulbs work only via Bluetooth, more expensive ones via Wi-Fi. This should also be taken into account when buying, because the Bluetooth version will not be combined with automation systems due to the lack of an Internet connection. Thus, it will be possible to regulate lighting only at home.

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Security systems

Conventional security systems are equipped with many apartments that do not qualify for the title of smart home. But it is the intelligent security systems that are better, more efficient and more convenient for the user. These include cameras, alarms, a variety of sensors and detectors. In addition to personal safety, in the smart home system, attention is paid to the protection of engineering. It includes instruments for tracking various leaks, gas leaks, and identifying and extinguishing a fire.

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CCTV Cameras

The camera is a key element in organizing a control and security system. Previously, cameras simply took pictures, but now they have become more functional. The most popular are devices based on CCDs, which are in the lines of all modern manufacturers. By design features, smart cameras come in several forms:

• modular;
• case;
• domed;
• rotary (high-speed);
• gyrostabilized.

Most often, in a smart home system, wireless cameras are used, consisting of a transmitting device and an antenna. They are also called IP cameras, and they transmit the image over the air of a Wi-Fi network. Additional functions of CCTV cameras are:

• the presence of an analytical module;
• connection to cloud storage;
• access to records from anywhere in the world;
• the presence of heating and housing protection (for installation in the yard).

For shooting in the dark, the camera will need an infrared backlight that works on infrared LEDs. They help to get a clear picture, even where complete darkness reigns.

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Gas leakage sensors

There are several types of gas leak detectors on the market. All of them are aimed at organizing reliable protection against invisible threats to the eye. Depending on the need, you can purchase a sensor that captures different types of gas:

• natural;
• carbonic;
• carbon monoxide.

Some devices are connected to the network, others are wireless and operate on battery power. The smart sensors based on semiconductor elements are considered the cheapest, while the most expensive ones are based on infrared radiation. The latter work with maximum accuracy and instantly detect even minimal gas leakage. Sensors, if necessary, give a loud signal that cannot be heard, and also transmit information to a smartphone.

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Water leakage sensors

Water leakage control systems are the best solution to protect the apartment and prevent flooding of neighbors. The sensor complex is adapted for modern heating and water supply systems. It consists of electric ball valves, a control module, control sensors.

The latter emit light and sound alerts and can automatically block the water supply. Through the mobile application, the owner immediately receives information on the smartphone. Additional system features:

• tracking meter readings;
• monitoring the status of important elements;
• the ability to connect many other wireless sensors;
• emergency battery power;
• indication of a condition of cranes.

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Air purity sensors

When living in an urban environment, you should think about the quality of air in an apartment, a house. To assess it, special devices are used that check the level of contamination. They can also be included in a smart home and measure different types of pollutants:

• solid particles;
• nitrogen dioxide;
• volatile organic compounds;
• carbon dioxide.

In such smart devices, parameters of sensitivity to certain impurities are set. If the indicator is exceeded, the sensor is triggered, and the owner receives a notification on the smartphone. As the air purifies, the sensors change color or give a new signal. Also, with the help of a smart system, you can check the air quality at any time by pressing the appropriate buttons.

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Smart temperature, humidity and freeze sensors

Climate control in the room is another popular feature in the smart home system. A set of sensors helps to turn on and off the air conditioner, humidifier, when the temperature and humidity have reached certain limits. You can monitor the readings on the spot or remotely via a smartphone.

Outwardly, humidity and temperature sensors resemble round tablets made of white plastic of small diameter. Bottom they have a hole for air intake. Some devices work only in the house, others can be installed even on the street.

The smart home system allows you to create a unique microclimate, improve the ecology in the house, make life more convenient and comfortable. Taking the time to organize this system, you can get a modern high-quality service for managing all equipment and fully appreciate its functionality.