How does Smart Homes Work?

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When you’re not home, nagging little doubts can start to crowd your mind. Did I turn the coffee maker off? Did I set the security alarm? Are the kids doing their homework or watching television?

With a smart home, you could quiet all of these worries with a quick glance at your smartphone or tablet. You could connect the devices and appliances in your home so they can communicate with each other and with you.

Any device in your home that uses electricity can be put on your home network and at your command. Whether you give that command by voice, remote control, tablet or smartphone, the home reacts. Most applications relate to lighting, home security, home theater and entertainment, and thermostat regulation.

In designing a smart home, you can do as much or as little home automation as you want. For starters, it may be best to think of tasks you already routinely do and then find a way to automate them.

You could begin with a lighting starter kit and add on security devices later. If you want to start with a more expansive system with many features, it’s a good idea to carefully design how the home will work, particularly if rewiring or renovation will be required. In addition, you’ll want to strategically place the nodes of the wireless networks so that they have a good routing range.