The advantages and benefits that a smart home brings to us are obvious to us all. While the huge advantages of living in a smart home may seem very appealing, its downsides and risks can make you yearn for a less technological life. As this megatrend becomes more popular, will it be something we can ignore or even take advantage of? Read ahead to find out more about the pros and cons of smart homes.
Pros of Smart Homes
• Remote control. Since smart home devices are all connected to your home network, remote accession and control from smartphones are possible as long as there’s an internet connection on your mobile device.
• Convenience. Smart home devices come in a variety of sizes, whether large or small, all of which add some convenience to your life. These customized devices are all designed to make your home run more efficiently and work better for you.
• Energy monitoring and conservation. With smart homes, you’ll have better control of your energy use. From automatically adjusting the temperature, turning lights on and off to adjusting irrigation based on the weather, you’re allowed to stay connected with those consumption data.
• Safety. All surveillance cameras and various sensors such as door or window sensors combine to add an extra layer of protection to your home. You are available to check your home anytime, anywhere, and even get notifications when movement is sensed.
Cons of Smart Homes
• High cost. Smart technologies can be expensive. The cost of outfitting an entire smart home system can be a heavy price because of the amount of equipment and appliances required, especially since those smart devices always come with pretty big price tags.
• Complex setup and configuration. The stumbling block to adapting to a smart home is its complex setup and configuration, which is not that friendly for novices. If you are a tech-savvy person, the adoption can be pretty quickly. If you are not very technical, it may not be an enjoyable experience.
• Home security risks. Providing that your devices are connected to the internet, chances are that you’ll have some sort of security concern. If hackers find a way to access your smart home system, they could potentially unlock the doors, and turn off the alarms and lights, leaving your home a defenseless one to break in.
• Data Filtration. Data privacy of smart home devices is another vital part that many consumers take seriously. The more smart home devices you apply, the more chances platform manufacturers will get to collect data about you. Furthermore, hackers will gain access to some valuable data from smart home devices.