THE PROBLEM WITH HOME AUTOMATION
With the advent of AI and a plethora of other smart technologies, homes have transformed into intricate networks of a diverse collection of interconnected devices and systems designed to make life efficient, safe, and convenient.
However, as with every technological advancement, new problems and challenges inevitably arise that introduce new sets of inconveniences and safety risks that the technology was meant to eliminate in the first place.
Some of the new emergent issues that smart homeowners have to grapple with include information and privacy issues, which unfortunately most homeowners are even ignorant of, not to mention compatibility issues and complexity in use and operation that make owning a smart home system more trouble than it’s worth.
The home automation waters are murky, and careful research and consideration ought to be carried out before considerable resources are invested to avoid not only wasting money but also exposing oneself to safety and security risks.
Compatibility Issues
Manufacturers of smart home devices and systems abound. This means that different manufacturers often decide to use different vendor standards and communication protocols, such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Z-Wave, to mention but a few.
In a typical home, a homeowner might buy different smart devices from different manufacturers either due to unavailability or lack of basic knowledge. They end up having devices that use distinct communication protocols that can’t communicate with each other and are thus incompatible.
The home might end up with several devices that each have to be operated and used independently rather than in concert, which more or less defeats the purpose of a smart home.
So now it’s up to the homeowner to do research and ascertain whether the devices they’re contemplating can communicate with each other. Most manufacturers often specify this information, but to the average person not familiar with smart home technology, the information would seem too technical.
They would then decide to either go ahead and purchase a device and trust the vendor or engage a consultant who understands the technology, which comes at a cost, of course. Or even worse, they could get into analysis paralysis and end up not deciding at all.
Solution
Before purchasing a smart device or system, a homeowner ought to research and ascertain whether the device will be compatible with devices they already have or if the platform or ecosystem is already in place, assuming one is already in place. As stated, manufacturers often provide this information.
The advisable thing is to research the best possible manufacturer and ecosystem to use, and then buy devices made by the same manufacturer or compatible with the ecosystem chosen to ensure seamless compatibility.
Some of these ecosystems include Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings, among others.
A central hub or controller can make things easier as it can interact with and connect devices with different communication protocols.
Internet Connectivity Issues
An unstable internet connection can be catastrophic to smart home devices, as they’re almost entirely reliant on an internet connection.
Cases of security cameras dropping video feeds, stuck smart locks, and security lights that refuse to come on or do so erratically are some of the problems caused by an unstable internet connection.
Unstable internet and communication issues can stem from several reasons, some of which are beyond the control of the homeowner.
Most Wi-Fi smart devices use the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequency, which is highly susceptible to signal interference by other wireless signals and even regular household devices like microwave ovens, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices.
Devices placed too far from the WI-FI router or access point can also struggle to latch onto and maintain a strong enough signal to work flawlessly.
In addition, physical barriers like concrete walls and thick wooden doors block wireless signals of any kind, so devices communicating via Wi-Fi or any other wireless protocol might keep dropping and picking up whenever the signal strength fluctuates.
Solution
The Wi-Fi router or access point should be placed optimally to address Wi-Fi connectivity and signal issues. Ideally, they should be placed centrally so that all devices can receive an adequate signal. In large homes or in situations where walls block signals from getting beyond certain spaces, additional access points and extenders should be considered.
Even the Wi-Fi hardware, i.e., the router and access points, should be upgraded if they are outmoded. Investing in newer, more robust hardware that can support the latest Wi-Fi standards, like Wi-Fi 6, and afford a broader range should be considered.
Other configurations, like choosing channels and frequencies less susceptible to interference, like 5 GHz, can be considered, as long as the devices can support the frequencies.
Power and Battery Drain Issues
Power and battery drain issues are a pain and a big concern, given that a lot of these devices are completely wireless and incredibly power-hungry.
Devices like wireless cameras and video doorbells that are in constant use and therefore almost always never in standby mode consume a lot of power and drain the battery quickly. This introduces the inconveniencing problem of having to either replace the batteries often or charge the device, failing which the device will go off.
Even in cases where the devices are connected to a backup power system, their energy-intensive nature makes them drain the power source quickly, and the more devices, the quicker the drain.
Solution
Some custom configurations and settings can ensure power lasts longer on such devices. Such settings include adjusting the brightness of lights, reducing the number of notifications sent, reducing background processes, and even scheduling shut-down or standby modes.
Critical devices like security cameras, lights, and alarm systems can be wired rather than battery-powered and connected to a stable and steady power supply.
Automation and Routine Failures
When a smart home device fails to automate functions or execute routines due to any number of reasons, it can compromise efficiency or even cripple the whole system.
Automation and routine execution failures can occur due to a number of reasons, such as an unstable network, network outages, interference, or congestion. Other reasons might include wrong synchronizations, misconfigurations, and the devices’ settings.
Even devices reliant on cloud services might fail or malfunction when the cloud service fails or some functions are reset, such as date and time, which are important for synchronization and the execution of time-based routines.
Bugs in the software running on the controllers, hubs, and devices can cause a malfunction. Such updates can include automatic updates that make the device dormant while it’s updating or can result in the erasing of previous settings after the update.
Solution
Constant checking and running of software and firmware updates is one way to avoid the risk of device malfunction.
Avoidance of overly complex automation routines is another way of minimizing the chances of device malfunction, especially if some devices depend on other devices for input.
Difficulty in Setting Up, Control and Management
Smart home technology is still relatively new, and thus very few people are conversant with it. Most systems, particularly when it comes to setting automations and routines, become very complex and confusing, which often leads to misconfigurations and oversights that inevitably lead to a device not working as expected. For users who are not tech-savvy, this is often a major stumbling block.
Additionally, each device, particularly if made by a different manufacturer, comes with its control app. Multiple apps to manage multiple devices add to the complexity and frustration. Some of the apps are still in development, and as such, the user interface might not be as friendly to a user who isn’t tech-savvy.
The other bottleneck is the voice feature. A voice assistant may struggle to understand and discern verbal commands if there’s a lot of background noise or if the user has a non-standard accent or dialect that the assistant is not yet trained to recognize. They might thus need help from a different person in this regard.
Solution
To reduce and mitigate some of these challenges, a homeowner ought to research and choose devices that work with popular platforms such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. These platforms would help integrate all the devices into one platform and make management via a single dashboard a little easier and more convenient.
Security and Privacy Concerns
Like any other system or device that is heavily internet-reliant, information security and privacy will always be an issue.
Smart home systems and devices like security cameras, alarm systems, and smart speakers often collect large amounts of data, such as preferences, audio and video recordings, routines, and even sleeping patterns.
This data, in the wrong hands, can wreak havoc on the user. Third parties can listen to conversations, watch video feeds, and even monitor the home for the presence of human activity. Attackers, once they gain valuable information, can do almost anything conceivable to the detriment of the homeowner.
Solutions
It’s imperative that a homeowner does enough research and settles on the most secure devices and systems possible.
The use of internet safety and security measures such as strong passwords and not sharing passwords with unauthorized persons is another imperative measure.
The avoidance of dubious third-party devices whose security protocols are unclear is also another important measure.
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