What is a Smart House?

I want to make my house smart, is this possible? It really depends on your definition of “smart” but basically the design of a smart home needs to take into account not only the form of the house itself but also the requirements of the people who may live in and visit the house.

A smart home to you may mean a collection of devices that you want to automate such as swinging or closing of doors and windows, switching of lights, water, alarms, temperature detection and adjustment for hvac or airconditioning, control of rooms such as your kitchen, toilet and bath.

From the definition above, all devices in the house rely on a control or switch located next to them or one that is operated by remote control.

Another version of a smart home is one that has an integrated wiring scheme with dozens of microprocessors (or computers) running the show. This would mean a single network that can be easily and conveniently controlled and that can respond automatically to the people living in it and at the same time run with cross connection compatability with other appliances. In this house, all elements are inter-connected (microwave, washing machine, tv and surveillance cameras), providing interactivity and reactivity, and all are linked to the Internet.

These technologies already exist and our keyword here is “automation and integration.” Whether thru individual switches, detecting devices or a central control panel. The smart home must be designed so that it can be customised to suit the needs of the people living in it.