Technology marches on a path of consistent evolution. Improvements and new discoveries set the stage for future innovations. Sometimes, the innovations connected to a completely different technological achievement contribute to a third-party’s success. Examples of this can be found by examining the current growth of smart home technology. Homeowners interesting in turning their residence to become a smart home may find it valuable to look closely at the recent trends emerging from enterprise IoT.
Companies and the Enterprise Internet of Things
Enterprise IoT — enterprise Internet of Things — refers to the integration of IoT into commercial and business settings. The Internet of Things is the name given to the process of connecting electronics, software, and other items with an internet-capable device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer via an interconnected network. Data sharing serves as a central component of this interconnected process. In the world of enterprise, interest exists in adding IoT to operations.
Companies like to possess a competitive edge over their competitors. Improving the way things are done may help the cause. At a minimum, the owners of a business wish to run things efficiently and cost-effectively. Otherwise, time and money end up wasted or misused. The arrival of enterprise Internet of Things seeks to support a company’s ability to achieve these desirable goals.
Those interested in home automation options would benefit from taking a look at the world of enterprise IoT. Business executives present a wise approach to integrating the technology. The approach of the average homeowner/consumer might find a few lessons to be learned from an enterprise model.
The Business World Sees Value
Major corporations took note of IoT innovations and placed funds into researching how the concept can be utilized. When big business sees the potential value in IoT, there surely something of great value exists. The value could be transferable. The lesson gleaned here is homeowners gain more than convenience with smart home setups and technology. The actual liveability may improve just as a business’ operations improve.
Integrate Important Technology
A business probably won’t be in a rush to take advantage of IoT options solely to convenience staff and management. Anything that makes a job easier and more productive shouldn’t be dismissed, but the introduction of new technology benefits from prioritization. What would be the most helpful and useful things to add first? A homeowner should ask such questions, too.
Security systems probably would take great precedence over installing a smart thermostat. Gaining better control of the temperature adds to comfort and cuts costs, but the improved running of security cameras may dramatically increase the safety of a family. Security, for many, rises to a much more important level than comfort. Some will follow the lead of business managers and choose to go with what is most important first. Other IoT integrations such as upgrading to smart kitchen appliances may come later.
Enterprise Teaches About Cost Value
Business, for better or for worse, focuses heavily on the bottom line with most decisions. The bottom line doesn’t always refer to concerns about running at a loss. Even very profitable businesses take a close look at their expenditures. Doing so makes sense even when the company is not publicly traded. There is no reason to direct money towards useless causes when the funds could be better served in another capacity. In regards to the enterprise Internet of Things, serious questions would be asked by a business manager in relation to the cost-to-value of any acquisition.
Homeowners might find it useful to adhere to similar principles. Look at what a particular type of smart technology can do for the home. Examine the expenses related to using the technology and do so with while trying to determine how the technology would add value to the home. Security, convenience, and comfort would all be assets of value worth examining.
Bringing Best Practices From The IOT Industry To Smart Homes
A lot of people noticed that Google Glass, the cutting edge people recognition set of glasses, was quietly moved into a mode where the product people are working on developing it as an enterprise application first. If you were following it when it came out, you might ask why? It was clearly targeted at consumers and it had a lot of upside in common applications that could improve productivity.
Nonetheless, it became an example of a product that could provide a lot more for consumers, but moved in a different direction. That trend has been noted by pundits as something that is not making end users too happy about the state of IOT devices that are being marketed currently- largely because they may end up stuck with a platform that no longer matches them.
One manufacturing incubator, Imaginot, had an executive that said that perhaps forging a strong identity in the enterprise and then bringing best practices out to consumers might be a model that causes Google Glass and other products to regain more consumer appeal over time. In the movie Jeruzalem, there was certainly a lot to like about having a constant Google Glass screen in front of you that facially recognized people that you met.
Here are some best practices questions that you can ask about IOT devices that are on the market that should make your purchase relevant for longer:
Home security:
In one of the worst areas of Colombia, a man was attacked a couple of years ago. The attack was recorded late at night on 68 different video cameras because that is actually the current state of the world in terms of security. Home security cameras are not that expensive, making them fairly ubiquitous.
The trick with security cameras is to know that there can be or already is a system that you can put together over the next few decades that will run all of your locations: your house, your beach house, your office, and so on. Because this system exists independently and is also for sale with certain brands of cameras, the real question that you need to ask when you purchase is which control system are you interested in using? An independent control system gives you the luxury of controlling most types of cameras in the same way that you can use a universal remote. A control system that is tied to an individual manufacturer will normally provide you with information that is more secure than other options for the first few years. After that, if they stop development on it, it may end up being less secure than what is new on the market.
Smart thermostats:
One nice thing about getting a smart thermostat put in is that you will have the ability to use efficiency to save money on your heating and cooling right away. The question that comes up with a smart thermostat system is similar to what you have with home security. How long will the manufacturer actually support the applications that you are using to drive your thermostat remotely. What happens if the smartphone application that you use to set specific heat temperatures no longer works with your new smartphone 6 years from now. Do you need to pay again to get an application that is designed to work with legacy devices?
Another question that comes up when you are looking at smart thermostats is their portability. You may upgrade them to a different system in the future and you might use the old thermostat in a different room or your vacation home. The question that should be asked, then, is how compatible are they with non-brand name systems and systems driven by different types of fuel and technology?
Kitchen appliances:
It is a pretty exciting thing for many that love coffee in the morning to find out that you can use your smartphone to program your coffee maker while you are away. And while some people might point out that many coffee makers have allowed for direct programming for the last couple of decades, it is still a ‘cool’ feature that drives sales for many manufacturers.
The question that should be asked with most kitchen appliances that are connected to the Internet and therefore updatable is, for how long is the manufacturer committed to providing software updates for the products that you purchase? When you know the answer to that- it makes it easier to choose a brand or style because you know what the approximate useful lifespan of your product will be.
Using best practices from enterprise companies to create questions that help consumers make the right choices when they are buying things has been going on for a while. When it comes to IOT devices, finding the questions that match the devices that you have can help provide you with the information that you need to buy the best brand in the marketplace.
What Enterprise IoT Can Teach Us About Smart Homes
Many companies have this year introduced several interconnected products into the market more than at any other time in the history of technology. The ranges of products varying from smart ovens, smart lights to a smart door camera that acts as a compound eye are awash in the market today.
One thing the providers of smart devices premised on the Internet of Things overlooked but which they should have thought of ahead, is the type of business model that would be required to sustain the products. Many of the consumers of devices that are interconnected are just waking up to the reality that in the long term, the cost of keeping the devices working is almost like paying for a service.
A Support Time Frame
One aspect that users find displeasing in the products they purchase is lack of a time frame for interconnectivity and when the devices should be updated. Regarding the lifecycle of such products, the providers ought to address the issue of a sustainable business model for supporting interconnectivity more than anything else.
What matters to many consumers is the length of time that a provider can support their product without having to make the users pay exorbitant service fees. Whereas manufacturers of the Internet of Things products need to be very clear about their responsibilities to the consumers, the consumers also need quality products that will satisfy their expectations.
Maintenance Cost
It is important for both parties i.e. the provider and the user to understand the maintenance cost involved in acquiring an item of IoT. Are the manufacturers able to be honest about the cost of maintaining their products by telling the consumers about the limitations of using their product?
When someone installs a smart security camera, for instance, he or she will only fill they have a reliable device for protecting their home if they know when the device can expire. When using any smart device relying on the Internet of Things, understanding how viable it is matters a lot. When it has a time limitation, consumers should be aware of such a parameter.
Such knowledge will create awareness in the supply chain of different products, and it will also enable the buyers to determine whether they are just buying a product or they will also need to pay for the services of maintaining it as well.
Need For Regular Updates
Smart homeowners who rely on devices that are interconnected can benefit from the lifecycle of what they acquire if they have relevant information. They need to know the importance of updating their products if and when there is a necessity so that the interconnected items are not rendered obsolete or useless.
Products like interconnected lights now come with update capabilities which are installed within the walls. What was formerly the cost people invested into purchasing a product is now being transformed by the market dynamics into paying for a service. Instead of selling just a piece of hardware, the manufacturers are presently engaged in selling a service as well. Many makers of consumer devices are just embracing the new marketing method.
For smart homes, it is now possible to negotiate for what it will cost to maintain and support a device. The vendors now need to service as well as support the software running most of the interconnected devices for specified time limits. However, although this is the emerging marketing trend, in the consumer world this is causing many ripples because many manufacturers are not ye selling their product as a service
Traditionally, when people buy a product such as an oven, they do not view their purchase as a service. But the more many products people purchase are getting interconnected, the more consumers should wake up to the reality that the products come with overhead service fees. When you purchase an interconnected product, as a consumer you need to be aware of the cost implications of what you are purchasing in terms of maintaining it.
Make Your Smart Home Smarter In The Following 5 Ingenious Methods
The error of smart things and smart devices such as smartphones, smart computers, smart cars, smart doorbell with camera, and even entire smart homes is here with as now, and it is likely to get even more advanced with the Internet of Things.
The most amazing thing about the new-fangled devices is not just because they make people seem smart and cool, rather, they are also cost-effective in terms of energy conservation. Where security issues are concerned, they also have no peers due to the software for interconnectivity the devices possess. Let us take time to consider some very simple but ingenious ways by which you can make your smart home even smarter.
1. Use of a Skybell
These are smart bells which are almost the same as an automation system for your home. The new invention are some form of intelligent bells equipped with cameras such that when it is given a push, a video captures the image of the person at the door and transmits it to your phone regardless of where you are.
The bell also facilitates real time communication with anyone at your door. It is an ideal solution for individuals who have problems accessing their doors, or mothers with little children who can reach for the door ahead of you. However, for a majority of people, it is cool due to the enhanced sense of security it provides. If you are fishing for one, be sure to be spoilt for choice because there is quite a variety out there.
2. A Digital Butler
Amazon echo as it is commonly called is smart speakerphone that is defines your voice. When the speaker is on you can enquire about virtually anything ranging from the music you want to listen to, the state of the weather, movies, news etc.
The echo or digital butler can interconnect to other devices, systems or programs within your home. With the ability to instruct your coffee percolator when to start, your dishwasher when to clean the dishes, and your upstairs light when to come on, you will have a digital butler at hand all the times. Sooner it will be able to link up with your fitness app to determine how much of the calories you are burning. The possibilities for this smart butler are endless.
3. Electricity Quality Meter
You can also save money on your utility bill by smartening your home with a power quality meter. Apart from keeping track of the level of kilowatt hours you use, the smart device will also enable you to know where and how power is going to waste in your home. They are good for energy efficiency and conservation.
The smart meter is also eco-friendly, and it is an important way of assisting in saving planet earth. If you are a landlord and you have to deal with renters who are wasteful, the meter will help you track the source of wastage. It is also a smart way of billing and monitoring your tenants. They can also be inter connected wirelessly, and they will help you spot where you are losing a lot of energy.
4. A Smart Automation System
The best way to make your home even for smarter is with a system for automating your home. Although the downside is that you can get to be lazy – a couch potato, the good thing is that you can get a lot of stuff done without raising a finger. From anywhere, the home automation system will allow you to control aspects within your home like appliances, lighting, thermostat, and even the security apparatus. Can you imagine having to open you door from the phone or switching on your lights before you even hit the garage?
5. Lastly use Nest Thermostat
When it comes to saving energy and regulating the humidity and temperature in your home, nothing can beat Nest. This is a smart thermostat which can learn and predict the temperature preferences you like. It will help you select temperatures that are energy-efficient.
These are just but a few examples about how you can make your smart home smarter
3 Amazing IoT Devices That Could Be Streamlined Through BIM
Technology for new homes is improving rapidly. There are many people who want to invest in their home for numerous reasons. Not only is this a great way to enjoy a home, but more technology generally means lower electrical consumption.
The vast majority of people today are interested in saving money each month on their home. This is one of the best investments that a person can make in order to accomplish this goal. Many homes are now connected to the internet through various different applications. Although this means that owners can essentially control their home from anywhere, it also causes some people to be concerned about privacy. Numerous people today have equity in their home from the booming housing market. Using this equity to invest in the home is one of the best ways to improve the value of a home.
Thermostat Control
The easiest way to improve the energy efficiency within a home is to have a smart thermostat. This will let you define settings based on what is needed in the home. Some people want to use as little energy as possible in order to save money. Other people would rather spend more money to make their home comfortable. Whatever is preferred, a smart thermostat can help owners adjust the home to their needs.
There are numerous different options for smart thermostats on the market today. Although some are more expensive than others, homeowners should look at this purchase as an investment. Many of the cheaper models will not last as long and will not be as effective.
Cameras
Home security is a major concern for many homeowners. Although crime rates are dropping, there is always the threat of a home invasion. Upgrading the security inside and outside of a home is always a solid financial investment.
Investing in a doorbell with camera option may seem like an unnecessary purchase. However, there are many times when this purchase will help you feel more secure in your home. When someone is alone, they may not want to answer the door. With a camera, a homeowner can check to see who is at the front door first. This is also great for people who buy a lot of products online. When someone is at the door with the product, the owner will know exactly when it is delivered to the home.
There are also numerous indoor camera options to use. This is a great way to check on kids while an adult is not home with them. Some parents also invest in cameras if they hire a babysitter to watch their kids. There are plenty of times when these cameras will help homeowners feel more safe and secure while they are away.
Automated Cleaning
There are many people who feel like they never have enough time to clean their home. With all of the new technology today, homeowners can purchase automated cleaning devices. These are great devices for people who simply want the floors to be clear of dust and other debris.
Once the robot is set up, it will move around the floor in an area that the owner decides. When there is dirt on the floor, the robot will clean the dirt quickly and efficiently. This is an excellent way to maintain a clean home without having to constantly spend time cleaning it. Some people spend hundreds of dollars per month by hiring a house cleaner to help them with this process. By spending some money on a robot that can be programmed easily, homeowners will be able to spend more time and money in other areas of their life.
What About BIM?
What about BIM? Could BIM streamline the implementation of these great devices, even in large structures like apartment complexes? Absolutely. BIM is rapidly pushing our construction into the futuristic world only imagined over the past few decades.
The Value of New Technology in Homes
The real estate market is increasing in value in various areas of the country. As the economy continues to improve, many people are interested in investing in their home. For the vast majority of people, their home is their largest and most important investment. With this in mind, it is important to invest in a home in a way that will add value over time.
There are numerous homeowners who are interested in adding new technology to their home. Not only does this technology make living in a home more enjoyable, but it also reduces the overall cost of operating the home. Many of the newest technology options will increase the overall efficiency of the home.
Smart Homes
One of the biggest developments in the real estate market is the expansion of smart homes. These are homes that have numerous new technology options in order to operate the home.
Perhaps the best example of a smart home is a thermostat that adjusts based on settings that the owner puts in. For example, if you want to minimize electrical usage, you can command the thermostat to do so. It will adjust the temperature based on what the weather is outside. Over time, this will save you a lot of money on electrical costs.
Homeowners should look at the initial cost versus the expected savings in order to decide whether it is a good financial decision.
Solar Panels
The cost of solar energy has decreased greatly over the past few years. This is a great way to supply electricity to your home and to save money every month. In some parts of the country, it makes much more sense to use solar panels due to the access to sunlight.
In addition, there are areas of the country where there are numerous suppliers to choose from. Prices tend to be lower when multiple companies are competing to gain the business of a customer.
Before installing solar panels, you should work with an expert in the field to decide the best design for your home. Now is a great time to invest in this upgrade and receive various tax benefits from it.
Cameras
With the increase in technology for homes, many people are investing in an outdoor camera. Not only is this a great way to protect your home, but it helps homeowners feel more secure at night as well. A strong security system can make a huge difference in whether a person feels safe or not.
There are areas of the country where the crime rate is extremely high. In these areas, many residents are starting to spend a lot of money to protect their homes. With all of the new technology options, you have plenty of security cameras to choose from. Some people are also choosing to install indoor cameras in their homes. This is a great way have protection in the event of an incident.
Choosing What to Upgrade
With all of the new options for your home, it is hard to choose what area to upgrade. The good news is that there are plenty of ways for people to improve their home. If you need a major upgrade, the company you purchase from may offer financing to help you pay for the upgrade. There are few people who have the cash in the bank to pay for a major upgrade in their home.
In the coming years, the amount of new technology for homes is going to continue increasing. Now is a great time to spend money to improve the value of your home and save money in the coming years.
