IoT For Smart Home: Role, Benefits, And Applications

Smart homes appeared at the end of the 20th century. However, they gained great popularity in the early 2000s, and now their popularity is constantly increasing. According to forecasts, by 2024, the number of smart homes worldwide will be more than 400 million.

In this article, we talk about the role, application, and benefits of IoT for smart homes.

Role of IoT in Smart Home Concept

IoT smart home is a home that contains different smart sensors and devices connected to the network that can be controlled remotely. They constantly monitor how they are used and collect information about the behavior and habits of users. Using IoT technology and special software, such as the mosquitto_pub command-line utility, they connect to an MQTT broker and exchange collected data. The received information is used to simplify the process of managing the house and automatically create comfortable conditions for living, such as temperature, lighting, etc.

Benefits of The Internet of Things for Smart Homes

The use of the latest technologies, such as IoT and smart homes, makes living more comfortable and managing the house easier. Let’s list the main benefits of using the Internet of Things for smart homes.

Improving Security

Using the Internet of Things greatly simplifies home security management. You can not worry about whether you locked the door when you left the house, and just check it on your device or set it to auto-close.

With the help of various sensors, you can also receive notifications about suspicious events and emergency situations in the house. For example, when criminals try to get into your home or when there is a water or gas leak.

Remote Control and Management

Now you can remotely control IoT smart home devices from your smartphone. For example, start a robot vacuum cleaner, turn on the air conditioner, so that it cools the apartment on a hot day before you come home, find out what products are missing in the refrigerator, etc.

Also, you can receive and analyze information about the operation of your smart devices and about your habits, and make certain changes if necessary. For example, you can find out how much electricity every device consumes, which dishes you cook most often, how often you watch TV, etc.

Energy and cost saving

Modern smart devices allow you to make your home more energy efficient. You can set the lights to automatically turn off when you’re not at home and electrical devices to turn off when not in use. With the help of a smart thermostat, you can better control the process of heating and cooling your home.

You can also get energy usage statistics for each smart device and optimize costs. When IoT home devices malfunction, the system can send notifications to avoid energy loss and repair devices in time.

Home Customization and Smart Settings

With IoT and smart homes, you can customize your house according to your needs. For example, you can adjust the brightness of the light depending on the time of day and your mood. Smart devices remember your favorite music and can turn it on on a schedule.

There are also options to control household appliances. For example, turn on the coffee maker immediately after you wake up, turn on the oven to warm up before you come home, and much more. This can be done using a voice command without additional devices.

Environmental Care

Reducing the amount of energy used allows you to reduce emissions of harmful substances, which benefits the planet. In addition, the Internet of Things technology helps to implement and manage green energy generation systems.

Applications of IoT in Smart Homes

There are many types of smart devices that you can use in different parts of the house. Let’s look at some ways to use them.

Security System

Smart sensors help you monitor and keep your house safe when you are not at home. They allow you to automatically close windows and doors and turn off electronic devices when you are not at home. You can close smart locks remotely from your smartphone.

Motion sensors in your home allow you to track movements and send you instant alerts. You can remotely access video cameras from your smartphone and ensure no one has gained access to your home.

Smart Kitchen

Smart devices make the process of cooking easier and safer. You can set the cooking start time to get freshly cooked food before you get home. Special sensors allow you to control the temperature and humidity in the kitchen and check for the presence of smoke and carbon monoxide.

Using special applications, you also can check whether there is enough food in the refrigerator.

Smart Garden

Smart sensors greatly simplify the process of growing plants. They allow you to control the quality and moisture of the soil, check whether the plant is receiving enough sunlight and whether the temperature is suitable. Custom software based on sensor readings can automatically turn the irrigation system on and off when the moisture levels are optimal.

Lighting and Climate Control

Now you can set the lights in your home to adjust automatically. For example, turn on the light when you enter the room and turn it off when you leave. You can also set the light on/off and its brightness depending on the time or some specific events. For example, to dim the light when turning on the TV.

Similarly, you can control the temperature and humidity of the air. In addition, smart sensors can detect your activity type and automatically adjust the temperature accordingly. For example, lower the temperature if you are doing sports or raise the temperature when you shower.

Emergency Protection

With the help of security sensors, you can find out when dangerous events are happening in your home, even when you are not at home. Some sensors can detect gas and water leaks, power surges, and dangerous air pollution and send you an instant alert to prevent an emergency.

Wrapping Up

The use of the Internet of Things for smart homes makes it possible to create a safe and comfortable living environment in which many functions are automated. This allows you to reduce time and effort in performing routine actions, save money, and care about the environment.