When we think of a home being automated I bet you’re like me and have the grandiose vision of flying cars, robot butlers, the works, and it’s all set in a universe similar to the Jetsons’ (For everyone too young to know who the Jetsons are, they’re a cartoon family and the story is set in the distant future. Think of the polar opposite of The Flintstones.) But, contrary to that vision, home automation is something that’s presently underway, even as you’re reading this.
From Echo and Alexa to light bulbs that illuminate when signalled to by your handheld device to small, circular robots that vacuum when they sense debris in the nearby vicinity. To quote Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changing”, and people, like you and I, have the opportunity and the privilege of experiencing these breakthroughs.
Home automation, or “domotics”, started out as a theory but has rapidly evolved into a reality in such a short time that it’s as if we simply blinked and it was upon us. The word domotics, originating from the Latin word Domus, meaning “house”, isn’t a brand new, almost esoteric phrase, but it has expanded so quickly as of late due to the production of fully assimilated “home sensor” kits, which allows you to manipulate lighting, climate control, locking/ unlocking mechanisms, media, and a laundry list of other things at the simple touch of a switch or button.
With online “buying guides” that are oriented around home automation, it’s only a matter of time before domotics isn’t a transitioning phase, but an everyday reality worldwide. Everyone will have the simplicity of a “smart house”, and it all will be connected to the internet. It’s a bright future we are progressing into if we only learn to adapt to it. Progress is only progress when we transition seamlessly, instead of working against it. I’m well aware that change can be uncomfortable, and even unnerving, but change is a part of growth as an individual, as a culture, as a society, and as humankind.
Looking towards the future of home automation, I envision entering my driveway on a dark, moonless night, using my cellular device to activate outdoor lighting, and then to open my garage door. After parking my vehicle in the garage, I can then use my device to illuminate the garage and whichever interior lights I choose. I then set my home’s thermostat to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius, for the rest of the world) and enter my home.
There’s no need for me to worry about a burglary, or robbery, because my “smart house” would have, or will, notify me and the proper authorities immediately, and as the old adage goes, you can’t put a value on your peace of mind. I can secure my entire home at the touch of a button, I can adjust the atmosphere any way I choose (e.g. Lighting ambience, atmospheric music, interior/ exterior illumination, etc.) and the beauty of this vision is that it is rapidly coming to fruition, and personally, I’m elated.
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