What is a smart house? Clearly explain the advantages and disadvantages

"Smart house" means smart house.

I don't think you understand well even if it is said to be a smart house. In this article, we will introduce what kind of house a smart house is, and what advantages and disadvantages there are in making it a smart house.

What is a smart house?

Smart house refers to the concept of housing. Introduced in the United States in the 1980s. At that time, the Internet was not so widespread, so energy and power saving were promoted as the axis. However, in recent years, the term "smart house" has been used more and more to refer to housing that uses the Internet to make life more convenient and comfortable.

In this way, the smart house is interpreted differently depending on the times. It is possible that the interpretation will change in the future.

In this article, I will explain the smart house as a house that utilizes the Internet.

Smart House and HEMS

There is a system called "HEMS" that manages energy consumption in the home. HEMS is an abbreviation of "Home Energy Management System". HEMS can record power consumption on an hourly basis by connecting home appliances with a network. By visualizing the amount of energy consumption, it is a mechanism that can aim for energy saving and peak cut effects.

Smart House and IoT

The key word for smart houses these days is "IoT (Internet of Things)." IoT is a term that stands for “Internet of Things”. For a detailed explanation of IoT, please see "What is the meaning of IoT? An easy-to-understand explanation of the mechanism of technology that will change society."

For example, if you connect your home appliances to the Internet, you will be able to easily operate them on the go using your smartphone or tablet.

Specifically, the following are possible.

Of course, you can do much more than this. By linking a smart speaker with a home appliance, it is possible to operate the home appliance with just voice without operating the remote control.

In recent years, products related to smart houses have been released by home security companies and audio equipment manufacturers.

In addition, when you think of a smart house, you may have an image of a detached house, but the trend of IoT is progressing even in condominiums. It's not necessarily limited to single-family homes.

In order to realize a smart house, "devices" and "networks" are necessary. A device is something that actually works, like an air conditioner or a camera in the previous example.

A management system, on the other hand, is responsible for controlling devices. This includes smartphones and smart speakers. A comfortable life can be realized by receiving commands from the management system and operating the device.

Purposes and Effects of Smart Houses

The purpose of smart houses is to make life more comfortable.

Until now, home appliances that had to be operated manually can now be operated outside the home, and in some cases, they can be operated automatically without doing anything. The stress in your life is greatly reduced.

If you introduce a smart house, you can expect the effect that the elderly will be able to live in the house with peace of mind. Cognitive ability declines with age, and there are many cases where it becomes difficult to operate home appliances. I'm sure you've seen the news about elderly people dying of heatstroke because they didn't use air conditioners in the heat of the summer.

If you introduce a smart house and set the air conditioner to operate automatically, the sensor will react to the temperature and automatically turn on the switch before the room gets hot. That way, the tragedy of the elderly dying of heatstroke can be avoided.

Smart houses also have the effect of enhancing the security of your home. By attaching a smart lock product to the entrance door, you can operate the key with your smartphone.

Not only that, but there is also an auto-lock function that detects if the door is closed even if you forget to lock it. Since smartphones can be used as keys, there are now functions that automatically unlock the door just by approaching it.

If you introduce a smart lock like this, you will be able to go out with peace of mind.

In addition to the smart lock, security can be enhanced by installing a network camera. A network camera is a camera that is connected to the Internet.

This allows you to check the state of your home from your smartphone or computer even when you are away from home. If you install it in front of the entrance, it will also play the role of a security camera.

Benefits of a smart house

From here, I will introduce the benefits of a smart house.

The first advantage is that you can have more time at home. Until now, you had to go to the side of the air conditioner, TV, lighting, etc. to operate. However, if you make it a smart house, you will be able to operate it with a single smartphone, and in some cases you will be able to move everything automatically. Since the time required for operation can be greatly reduced, you will be able to enjoy your hobbies in your free time.

The second advantage is that you can save on utility bills. Even if you forget to turn off the TV or lights, the smart house will automatically turn it off in response to the sensor. So you don't waste your electricity bill. You will be able to operate the air conditioner in a way that does not cost the most utility costs, so you will be able to reduce utility costs.

The third advantage is that you can increase the security of your home. If you install the network camera I introduced earlier and have it immediately notify the security company when an intruder enters the room, you should be able to minimize the damage even if you break into a burglary. .

The fourth advantage is that it can be used for health management. If you attach a product to your bed that can collect data while you sleep, you can import the collected data to your smartphone and perform various analyses.

If the data shows an abnormal value, you can immediately go to the hospital and get tested, and you can also receive expert advice to improve your health. This system can also be used for nursing care services. If the care recipient is stuck in bed all day, if the helper can be notified of the situation, they will be able to quickly rush to the caregiver if something happens.

Disadvantages of Smart Houses

While smart houses have many advantages, there are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of.

The first disadvantage is that it requires an initial cost to introduce. If you try to introduce a large-scale system such as home security, you will need money as it is. It is necessary to consider whether to introduce it or not, considering the balance with the budget.

The second disadvantage is that some home appliances require some knowledge to operate. In some cases, when building a custom-built home, the home builder will set everything up for you.

However, if you buy and install IoT-enabled home appliances yourself, you will need some knowledge about the Internet and smartphones. However, in many cases, instructions are provided and it is not a complicated task, so you don't have to worry about it. Some manufacturers even support the setting.

The third disadvantage is the need for solid cybersecurity. A smart house is realized by connecting various home appliances in the house to the Internet. If cyber security is weak, there is a risk of receiving a cyber attack from the outside.

If you receive a cyber attack, the computer installed in the home appliance may be hijacked and malfunction may occur. There is also the risk of being scattered.

Let's realize a comfortable life with a smart house

With the development of IoT technology, various things are connected to the Internet. Smart home appliances and smart speakers have become indispensable in our daily lives.

How about starting with something like this that can be easily introduced as the first step of a smart house?

With the development of IT technology, smart houses should evolve further and make our lives more comfortable.

Reference:

≫ [Case studies and service introductions] Sakura Internet Useful materials download page

Saku Maga Editorial Department

Twitter