The fact of the mater is that kids are growing up with using more tech in their homes and getting more used to it. Using tablets and other pieces of smart technology does in fact increase a child's cognitive skills in the long term. With the world being more and more focused on where to implement technology and make things we do in our everyday lives easier we see that impact that it has on the younger generation's.
If we are going of the "Official" definition of what home automation is then let's look and see what Wikipedia has to say about it shall we, "Home automation is the residential extension of building automation. It is automation of the home, housework or household activity. Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security. Home automation for the elderly and disabled can provide increased quality of life for persons who might otherwise require caregivers or institutional care."
One of the advantages of home automation, and might i mention the reason it's gaining popularity is because of it's affordability and simplicity. The concept of "Internet of Things" has tied in closely with the popularization of home automation.
I asked around on Facebook to see what other thought of the idea of smart homes or home automation in general and old lady brought up a good point what if you lose power? Would you be able to get in or even out of your home at this point? My response was I'd imagine that the house would use solar to story energy in battery's and also divide power to say a generator that charged itself with a car's battery gets charged, the more light energy passed through the more the alternator like device would turn thus charging a larger battery cell or a generator for like you said in case you lose power. But the downfall to that is what about if you don't get sun all that much you could resort to alternative sources of auxiliary power such as wind or hydro power.
The Rant
I still can't believe that even with the advances in new technology we still have to resort to using oil and gas for cars and for heating our homes, I would have thought that we would have been past that by 2015 or at least be using solar more often. I see homes with massive generators that cost as much as an array of solar panels and they don't give off pollution, i'm not an environmental nut but it bothers me when i see something like that. When asked about things like that people just say that it' more of a personal preference and that more reliable in the sense that with solar you have to have the battery cells full and make sure they get sun to keep then charged. It' the same with a generator, you have to keep it full of gas or else it won't start! I think there should be a compromise. A generator that's powered by a solar array. That way it's not using so much gas and it's taking advantage of that free sunlight we all have access to!My dream is to design and build a home that's completely "Smart" when asked about how i'd create the balance so i don't become lazy i just say i'd make the simple tasks such as making coffee or opening the shades manual or automatic so you have the choice between having active mornings or just wanting to stay in bed.
Conclusion
At the end of the day the question still remains the same, will smart homes take the world by storm in the next few years and completely change how we life? or will they just be a trend that only a small population of people have? I hope to find out more about smart homes in the future and thus make another article of them. Do you think they will become a new trend? leave your thoughts below!
