Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Saturday, June 10, 2017
THE HISTORY OF SMART HOMES
The first smart homes were ideas, not actual
structures. For decades, science fiction has explored the idea of home
automation. Prolific writers, such as Ray Bradbury, imagined a future where
homes were interactive, and seemingly ran themselves. In Bradbury’s cautionary
short story, “There Will Come Soft Rains” he describes an automated home that
continues to function even after humans have died out. It’s all well and
frightening, until you consider the actual benefits of home automation, and
then the idea becomes more comforting than chilling.
Although the idea of home automation has been
around for some time, actual smart homes have only existed a short while. This
timeline focuses on hardware; meaning actual inventions leading up to the smart
homes we know today and can expect from the near future.
1901 – 1920– The invention of home appliances – Although
home appliances aren’t what we’d consider “smart,” they were an incredible
achievement in the early twentieth century. These achievements began with the
first engine-powered vacuum cleaner in 1901. A more practical
electricity-powered vacuum was invented in 1907. Throughout two decades
refrigerators would be invented, as well as clothes dryers, washing machines,
irons, toasters, and so much more. It was a
fantastic time for anyone who was employed as a maid by a very affluent family.
1966 - 1967 – ECHO IV and the Kitchen Computer –Although it was never commercially sold, the ECHO IV was the first smart device. This clever device could compute shopping lists, control the home’s temperature and turn appliances on and off. The Kitchen Computer, developed a year later, could store recipes, but had the unfortunate tagline, “If she can only cook as well as Honeywell can computer” and therefore sold no models.
1991 – Gerontechnology – Gerontechnology combines gerontology and technology and makes the lives of senior citizens easier. In the 1990s, there was a lot of new research and technology in this sector. Remember, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up?” Life Alert is one example of gerontechnology.
1966 - 1967 – ECHO IV and the Kitchen Computer –Although it was never commercially sold, the ECHO IV was the first smart device. This clever device could compute shopping lists, control the home’s temperature and turn appliances on and off. The Kitchen Computer, developed a year later, could store recipes, but had the unfortunate tagline, “If she can only cook as well as Honeywell can computer” and therefore sold no models.
1991 – Gerontechnology – Gerontechnology combines gerontology and technology and makes the lives of senior citizens easier. In the 1990s, there was a lot of new research and technology in this sector. Remember, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up?” Life Alert is one example of gerontechnology.
1998 – Early
2000s – Smart Homes –Smart homes, or home
automation, began to increase in popularity in the early 2000s. As such,
different technology began to emerge. Smart homes suddenly became a more
affordable option, and therefore a viable technology for consumers. Domestic
technologies, home networking, and other gadgets began to appear on store
shelves.
Today’s Smart
Homes – Today’s smart homes are more about security
and living greener. Our smart homes are sustainable, and they help to ensure
that our homes aren’t expending unnecessary energy. They also help alert us to
intruders (whether we’re home or not).
Current trends in
home automation include remote mobile control, automated lights, automated
thermostat adjustment, scheduling appliances, mobile/email/text notifications,
and remote video surveillance.
“Connectivity and interactivity are driving the way families live and manage their homes. So while we are expected to be in more places due to business travel, children’s school schedules and social activities, these new smart systems provide cutting edge connectivity to your household, even when you’re far away. And when the house is occupied, the high level of automation enables more convenience, control and safety from any part of your property. It all adds up to fewer worries and increased enjoyment of life, which is something we would all welcome,” writes ADT technologies, who some say have lower home security costs than other competitors.
“Connectivity and interactivity are driving the way families live and manage their homes. So while we are expected to be in more places due to business travel, children’s school schedules and social activities, these new smart systems provide cutting edge connectivity to your household, even when you’re far away. And when the house is occupied, the high level of automation enables more convenience, control and safety from any part of your property. It all adds up to fewer worries and increased enjoyment of life, which is something we would all welcome,” writes ADT technologies, who some say have lower home security costs than other competitors.
The Future of Home Automation – CNN prophesies that the smart home of the future will be a bit like what we’ve seen in the animated series, “The Jetsons.” Look forward to digital cutting boards (digital everything, really), molecular cooking devices, and so much more. http://www.iotevolutionworld.com/m2m/articles/376816-history-smart-homes.htm
FUTURE HOME
Your Future Home is Going to Be Way Smarter
Than You Think:
This weekend I went down a deep rabbit hole with
home automation. It started with me receiving my Amazon
Echo, researching
creative ways to use Alexa to its full potential, and
it ended with me nearly registering for Raspberry Pi development courses online. (FYI: I didn’t register, so if
you know even the basics of Raspberry Pi or other SBC hit me up!)
Building a smart home is not
about turning lights on/off via an app but, its creating systems and formulas
to customize controls to fit your lifestyle.
IFTTT:
Ah,
logic and the beauty of functions “if this, then that”. The reason why your
future home will be way better than anything you can think of is because of
its flexibility and customization.
SECURITY:
Security
cameras, motion sensor lights, and motion detectors have been around for
decades. What might surprise you is if you thought you were vulnerable without
smart devices, you may be worse off with them.
It is extremely easy for hackers to hack smart devices and enter a home
with ease, just like a trained locksmith could enter any home he pleased right
now.
This is where my Raspberry Pi rabbit hole began because there are ways
to connect your smart devices to a TOR essentially making them undetectable from anyone including
hackers.
DIY :
I’ve talked about how
the “Smart Home” is in its Wild West Stage in previous post.. but WOW was that an understatement.
Heres an example of
how primitive the industry is.. I want to turn my fireplace on by saying
“Alexa, Turn on my fireplace” my fireplace is controlled by a normal single
pole switch. However the wires ran to the single pole are low voltage from a
thermocouple. Most smart switches need 120v to operate, since Amazon Echo is
only compatible with a select few products I could only use the WeMo Maker
which is pretty much a relay with WIFI signal. The tricky part is feeding the WeMo
Maker with 120v power, so I would either have to fish wires from the closest
outlet and use a USB converter, or run a charger in plain sight.
FUTURE:
The homeowners
who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do some research can live a life
filled with security, data, convenience, and energy savings for their home.
Those who don’t will end up paying expensive monthly fees with limited
customization.
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