Here are the most common myths about home automation - and the truth behind each one.
Home automation is expensive.
Because the sky is the limit with home automation, it is entirely possible to invest a significant amount of money. But is it required? Not at all. There are options to get you up and running with an automation solution for the same price as it would cost to install a new HD TV.
Home automation is only for celebrities and professional athletes.
That used to be the case—because in the early days, getting a smart home would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars; however, as more and more connected products have entered the market, an increasing number of consumers are looking for an easy way to control technology in their homes.
Home automation interferes with great design aesthetic.
If less wiring, fewer boxes, and fewer remote controls is how you define attractive, then home automation is an upgrade in the attractive department! Instead of a tower of black boxes, you can have just a TV and one remote control from which to control everything. Architects are starting to incorporate home automation into their building plans and it is even being introduced into the syllabus of some architecture programs.
Home automation is hard to learn and even more complicated to use.
It often doesn’t take more than a few minutes of explanation to understand most systems. Built for ease-of-use, the intuitive interface streamlines the user experience and by reducing five remote controls into one, makes learning it pretty quick.
Home automation can only be implemented in new construction.
Home automation can be retrofitted into existing homes. Many systems are designed for homeowners to add automation to their homes and continue to do so over time and at their convenience.
Home automation only works when you’re at home.
With the advent of apps and mobile technology, there are in fact myriad ways that home automation can be controlled and leveraged remotely. Whether it’s from a phone or computer, people can do everything from setting their thermostat to making sure the garage door is closed and that the lights are out—or to finding out if their kids are watching TV when they should be doing homework.
Home automation requires the latest gear, and it all has to be the same brand.
You do not have to buy all your gear from a single consumer electronics vendor for home automation to work. Your devices don’t have to be a certain brand or even the newest, latest and greatest. And as for how you control it all, you can even use your current smart phone, tablet or touch screen. Needless to say, there are, of course, apps for that.
