Living a fast-paced life can often have us struggling to get things done the old-fashioned way. We’re talking manual, analog labor that is as cumbersome as it is time-consuming. That is why beloved tech companies all around the world come to our aid with their gadgets & gizmos. A task that would probably have you stretch, grunt and think twice about exuding energy for it can now be done with a simple swipe, tap, or voice command. It’s all about maintaining a comfort level and setting up a smart home is the least you can do to reward yourself for all the hard work you put in, day in and day out.
There are devices aplenty to help you dip your toes into or immerse completely into a well-connected smart home. Before we get into the path to take for getting things running the smart way, we’d advise meeting the prerequisites beforehand. Don’t worry, there’s not much to do other than making sure you have a robust internet.
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Now, without further ado, let’s go ahead and get started on our concise journey on how to augment your house into a fancy smart home.
Pick Your Ecosystem
This is a crucial starting step. You’d need to make a decision between some quite amazing companies and then stick with it to continue building your fleet. Options include but are not limited to Google, Apple, Amazon, and Mi. If you’re an iPhone person, this option is a no-brainer because you’d instantly want to side with the Apple HomeKit. Apple remains firm on tight control over third-party applications that, in turn, results in higher security for supported devices.
Google’s Nest devices are the most affordable and easiest to set up out of this bunch. The Nest ecosystem has been around for a while and thus has a ton of devices now to its name that can synchronize seamlessly and offer quick functions at a whim’s notice. Voice commands, style of speaking, and a good chunk of AI help Nest stand out where Alexa or Apple’s assistants may get flabbergasted.
Lastly, if you binge-shop on Amazon and are already availing their infinite number of services and subscriptions then perhaps you should look into Alexa’s expertise. Amazon Alexa boasts compatibility with a wide range of third-party apps. It can even help you shop, discover discounts and snag amazing deals during exclusive Amazon events like Prime Day!
Get a Hub
This is when you start getting serious about your smart home. Once you have enough devices set up the correct way; smart lights, kitchen appliances, AC, or TVs then you’re ready to take the next step and invest in a hub to rope them all together. It’ll eventually become a hassle to control such a colorful array of smart devices directly from your phone (even though you can do so), thus, getting something like a Google Hub is definitely the way to go.
What this will do is condense your smart device functions onto one screen. The hub will still present elaborate, respective functions of each device and help unclutter them from a small mobile screen to one that is more tablet-ish. Besides, with a hub placed in a central location like your living room, guests or other family members will be able to access those smart devices according to their needs.
Place & Name Devices Strategically
If you’re deciding whether to purchase more than one of the same smart device for each room then you have to put some thought into it. For example, if you have a Google Nest Speaker in your room as well as the dining area then it would be a good decision to name each device accordingly. To avoid confusion. Similarly, make sure that your devices with the same function have a good bit of distance between them so that when you ask one to perform a task, it isn’t mistakenly done by another just because it heard you in the other room.
Beware of Privacy
People often get paranoid about their security. There’s a lot of grey area in rumors that tech companies collect voice and video data through their products. If you’re uncomfortable or have second thoughts about such a thing then it might be best to install smart plugs to power outlets where your smart devices will be connected. This will ensure guaranteed downtime for when you want your devices to be turned off and let you have your peace. Additionally, it’ll also help save on power consumption.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap on our small & cute guide on setting up your smart home. Remember, there are always enough devices to go around but to know how they function properly is a primary requirement you must be well versed on. Regardless of what ecosystem you side with, if you do it correctly, you’re going to usher in a world of ease and accessibility for yourself.
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