A good way to explain how South Africans can set up the
beginnings of a smart home is to provide an overview of the LifeSmart range of
IoT devices:
The range
is segmented into those who want to try out smarthome devices as standalone
products and those who want to go all-in with building a smarthome. The fundamental
difference is a device called a Smart Station,
which coordinates the products via the Internet.
For the
standalone range, two products do not require a smart station to function: the Blend Light Bulb and the Blend Light Strip. These are smart
lights that connect over Wi-Fi to the LifeSmart app.
Both sets
of lights can be set to shine in combinations of 16 million colours, which can
be changed in the app. Scheduling is also possible through the app to turn the
lights on or off automatically at a certain time of day.
The Blend
Light Bulb is a standard bulb with either a bayonet or screw-in fitting, while
the Blend Light Strip is a 2-meter LED strip which the user can cut shorter to meet
specific needs.
The Smart Station
connected devices include a vast range of gadgets for security, lighting and
comfort.
The Smart Station
connects wirelessly to the devices and a home Internet connection to ensure
that one can control one’s home from anywhere in the world – or from inside the
house.
A range of
devices offer home-made security:
Two Cube Motion Sensor products, one
detecting motion within 2 meters and the other detecting up to 200 meters away,
notify the user with an app notification when movement is detected. The user
can also set up automated tasks on detection of movement, like an alarm siren
or turning on lights in the house.
A Cube Door/Window Sensor works when a
door or window is opened and can be set up in the same way as the motion
sensors.
For
lighting, a Blend Light Blub built for the base station functions like the
standalone version.
The Cube Environmental Sensor, Spot Universal Remote Controller and Cube Clicker button can keep one’s home
comfortable with different levels of automation.
The Environmental
Sensor detects humidity and temperature. Thresholds can be set in the app to
trigger actions when humidity or temperature go above or below a certain value.
This is
where the Universal Remote Controller comes in. It is also an IR-blaster,
meaning that it uses infrared signals,
with unlimited capacity for remote codes, to control any device that has remote
infrared functionality. For example, if the indoor temperature rises above a
certain temperature, the environmental sensor can trigger the Universal Remote Controller
to turn on the air conditioner.
The Spot is
shaped like a doughnut, and can be both ornamental and a conversation piece
when it’s not keeping the home smart. A colour ring can change hues to suit the
mood of a room. While it uses IR to communicate with other devices, it can be
set and controlled through its Wi-FI link to a smartphone.
Artificial
intelligence makes it possible to set up “recipes” for automation with a click
of the Cube Clicker. This smart button can be set to perform any number of
functions. For example, a Clicker button on a bedside table can arm the motion
sensors, turn off the lights, turn on the air conditioner and turn off the TV.
Clicking it again can disarm the motion sensors, turn on the lights, turn off
the air conditioner and turn on the TV again.
Any of
these IoT devices can be integrated with Alexa and Google Assistant, so that
the user can tell Google to switch on the TV. It can connect to a prepaid
electricity meter, to tell how much power is being consumed per hour, and even how
much one is paying per hour.
If that
still sounds too complicated, Lifesmart offers step-by-step instructions and
videos for setting up each of its devices, at https://www.ilifesmart.co.za/faqs.
If one wants to go all the way, and bring in the specialists, smart light
switches can also be fitted in place of the traditional units we all have in
our homes.
In short,
the smart home will, for now, be a mix-and-match technology that will revolve
around one’s budget.
- Arthur Goldstuck is founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram on @art2gee
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