Smart devices and appliances continue to flood into the marketplace as fast as manufacturers can make them. Every day, the latest and greatest widget hits the market, tantalizing consumers with their ease of use, connectivity, and sophistication. Converting your home into a smart home might seem like the right thing to do. There are some things to consider, though, before making that decision—both good and bad. Before making the investment of time and money in the conversion, ask yourself: is having a smart home worth it?
Pros
There are Buckets of Convenience
Adding smart lighting, plugs, and thermostats to your home ups the convenience level in your home exponentially. We can all get up off the couch and turn on the lights, but now you’ve given yourself another option; not getting up and doing it from your smart device. Have you ever tried to explain to someone how to turn on your TV and cable box? It’s like entering a combination to a safe. Now, you only have to tell them, “say ‘Alexa, turn on the TV.’” Done.
Problem Solving Abounds
Smart homes help you solve daily problems and annoyances. Anyone with kids knows the frustration of speaking to someone in another room. Ask a kid to go get their brother and they will move two feet from you and yell for them. Thanks for the help. Voice assistants eliminate this problem. For people with handicaps, smart sensors on lights illuminate rooms as they enter—and for anyone else, for that matter.
Cons
There are Safety Concerns
With all this technology and connectivity, though, comes concerns that are specific to home networks. First and foremost is the network’s security. There are people in the world that are up to no good and would love nothing more than to corrupt your smart home to steal information and resources from you. The more devices in your home that are connected to the internet, the more vulnerable you are. You must take precautions to
protect your smart home from hackers.
Devices Can Stop Working
A smart device or appliance might be super cool and advanced, but it’s a machine, and machines break down. The more technology that a machine has, the more chances there are for something in it to break. When it breaks, the more sophisticated it is, the less likely you can fix it yourself. That means either calling in a professional, replacing it altogether, or both. Keep in mind that just because something is first to the market, doesn’t mean it’s the best.