The technology in the Jetsons in the year 2062 still sounds like a faraway idea although we are slowly getting there. A connected home may not be an absolute necessity, but it does help us save time. Be it for cooking or doing laundry or simply turning lights on and off, home automation has entered every sphere of our lives. But, when it comes to gadgets, we’re often reluctant about what to buy and whether or not it will be as good as advertized. From smart lights to locks, every corner of our house seems to be overtaken with technology. But, will you actually make use of it?
Welcome to the Smart Home Series by Gadget Flow. In this series, we are going to discuss each and every aspect of smart homes and devices. Starting with light bulbs, let’s see whether it’s wise to swap your old bulbs with these new smart versions.
Just like the name suggests, it’s a light bulb you can control from your smartphone. In most cases, there’s a specific app you need to download in order to control these bulbs. With Amazon Alexa and HomeKit, things are becoming even more connected. There are even smart light bulbs you can pair with your Alexa device to control them with your voice.
If you’re not up for swapping out all the lights in your home, you can still upgrade your traditional bulbs. Smart home control systems, such as Atmos, have voice-activated touchscreens. Plus, keeping your lights (as well as your other smart home devices) controllable in one central hub is extremely convenient.
Smart lights aren’t just for choosing from millions and millions of color options, although that’s pretty cool. There are several advantages of having these lights at home.
NOTE: For more complicated lighting situations where you have multiple bulbs and a single switch, consider using a smart switch. Smart light switches make the process of controlling these lights even easier and you don’t have to worry about keeping your traditional switch in the “on” position.
To be honest, automating your entire home lighting system at once is a lot of work. Also, you should get used to this system before deciding to transform your entire house with smart bulbs. Here are some great solutions to get you started:
Philips Hue Ambiance Starter Kit – This kit includes two bulbs, a bridge, and a dimmer switch to really light up your house. You can choose where you would like to place the bulbs and the wireless dimmer controls them both.
LED Lamp with Alexa – Equipped with Amazon’s super smart AI assistant, this lamp can respond to your questions and even take commands. The ultra-sleek base doubles as a speaker and elegantly displays circular LED structure.
Noon Smart Home Lighting System – By replacing your current switches, your traditional lights and bulbs can learn and adapt to you and your family’s routine. The intelligent Noon Switches even have a motion sensor.
Once you’re well-versed in your smart lighting system, you can then replace all of your light bulbs across the home. With prominent smart home industry players like Ring getting into the smart lighting space, integration is getting more and more seamless.
While using Alexa or Siri for total control sounds great, as long as the prices aren’t affordable enough, getting into the smart lighting space is still a big commitment.