It usually starts…
.. by buying a device with “Smart” on the box, like an air conditioner, which you install, plug in, download an app and you can control the temperature remotely. After that, you buy a few light bulbs, a dishwasher, a security camera and a loudspeaker, which inevitably leads to this:
Of course, in most cases you can easily ignore all the “smart” functionality and it won’t be a problem, but if you want to use them efficiently, then it makes sense to combine their management into one app - a central system that can talk to all your devices. This way, it’s easier to use because everything is in one place - from the data the devices collect to sending commands from a central interface - the mobile app. So another app to add to your phone screen? Yes, but all the existing ones are no longer needed to litter our home screen.
Automatics
Reducing the number of apps is fine, but we’re still at the level of a virtual remote waiting for a human to come along and press something. The next step is to automate these devices - to act automatically when something happens. Some examples:
- turn on the air conditioning when I leave work
- switch on the pantry light when I open the door
- turn off the TV if there’s no one in the living room
- notify me when there is mail in the mailbox
- notify me if the window is open and a storm is approaching
- vacuum the floor when I’m not home
So every action needs a trigger - an event. This data is something that everyone lacks, at least initially, because existing smart devices only support the action and do not always have the role of a sensor. Sensors are usually dedicated devices that record data about the physical world - from human presence to wind speed - and can be used to interpret what is happening and, consequently, define the conditions for taking action.
So without buying sensors, can I get started? You can, because you’ve got a bunch of sensors just sitting in your pocket. Your mobile phone monitors a lot of data, which is enough to get you started. For example, the charging status of your phone at a certain time can be used to switch off the lights in your bedroom before going to bed. The phone’s geolocation can be used for actions related to arriving home, and so on. Other sources of data are external services and environmental conditions, such as the weather, the position of the sun and even just the time of day.
Is it worth it?
To save time or improve comfort: no, because the theoretical savings are never recouped, because every now and then something simply goes wrong and needs to be fixed. Maybe the device loses connectivity to the network. Maybe the automation makes the better half nervous. There is always something.
To solve specific problems: probably yes. I know someone who has a robotic lawnmower without a rain sensor and has been happily mowing even in a rainstorm. He solved the problem by using a weather station that sends the mower to rest when it rains. This is his only automation - it is simple, works well and solves a real problem.
For the hobby: Yes! It’s relatively cheap to get started, the challenges are endless, and the only limit is your imagination.
How to get started
There are a number of solutions for central integration of these connected devices, such as Google Home, Apple Homekit, IFTTT, Tuya and Home Assistant. Most of these are cloud-based services and have their own advantages, such as easy set-up and integration of devices. Disadvantages include dependency on external factors, privacy, limitations with more complex automation and limited number of integrations with smart devices.
I use the open source Home Assistant. It needs to be hosted at home, either on a decommissioned PC, a server or a dedicated device offered by the developers of the software. This makes it a bit more difficult to get started with compared to the cloud offering, but it pays off in the long run. Some advantages:
- Independence from external providers. For example, Google can shut down their Google Home at any time or change the service to a paid service.
- Huge cross-device support. Since the project is open source, anyone can develop an integration and share it with others. I contributed an integration with the Orca heat pump.
- unlimited possibilities for automation. The default automation mode is enough to get started, but for more complex automations, NodeRED can be used to draw automations graphically, or even Appdaemon and PyScript to use a programming language.
- Improved privacy. Your data stays with you (provided the smart devices used are also managed locally without the cloud).
Continue reading: Devices in my Home Assistant