The Rise of Smart Homes and Garage Doors

The essence of a smart home is control; by using your smartphone, laptop or tablet you can remotely tweak a huge range of settings around your home – from anywhere in the world. Turn on your heating, set some mood lighting, check what food is left in your fridge and double check that you closed your garage door, all from the tips of your fingers. The faster technology grows, the closer we are to living in a full smart home reality, but what exactly are smart homes and how could they impact your lifestyle?

What are smart homes?

If you’ve ever heard of the phrase ‘The Internet of Things’ (IoT) then you’ll have some background knowledge about what it is that makes a smart home “smart”. If not, let’s briefly explain. IoT refers to the ever growing number of products and appliances that can be connected, controlled and interacted with via digital networks.

Almost every electrical household appliance can fall under this banner, from kettles to window blinds, you just need to find the right model. Having a smart home means you can use a smart device – such as your phone – to control every appliance that is connected to your network. You can opt to manually control everything, or you can set preferences to let certain items regulate themselves. In the 20th century, a smart home would sound more like science fiction, but today we’re almost there.

How do smart homes work?

Smart homes work how you want them to work. Once you’ve got some smart products connected to your phone – usually through their own proprietary app – it’s just a case of controlling them as and when you wish.

If you wanted to go deeper, you can invest in smart products that work on your behalf. For instance, a smart toothbrush which sends reports to your phone with statistics on your brushing technique. You can set up video doorbells to view visitors while you’re away, or you can set your phone to act as a remote garage door opener so you don’t have to lift a finger when coming or going from your home. Each smart product you install can be hooked into this Internet of Things, which you have access to wherever you are through your smart device. It can be overwhelming to think of all the possibilities, but realistically, a smart home works with intuitive simplicity.

How popular are smart homes?

While many homeowners are likely to have one or more products connected to their phone  – a thermostat or LED lighting, for example – there has not yet been a widespread adoption of smart homes in the UK. But you don’t have to commit whole-hog, just a couple of choice additions can make your home smarter and your lifestyle simpler.

Security and comfort are the two biggest factors in the smart home market. You’d probably agree that installing a camera in the fridge to keep a constant check on food supply is overkill, while linking essential security features to your phone so you can control them when you’re on holiday is safe, wise and convenient. The popularity of smart homes will grow further when consumers better understand how these features can complement their specific lifestyle.

What does this mean for my garage door and security?

The garage is one part of your home that is primed for smart home integration. With security being such an important factor, being able to monitor and control your garage door from your smartphone means absolute control is in your hands.

This also makes your life more convenient. For example, a Somfy controlled garage door allows you to open and close your door via WiFi or Bluetooth, or manually through the app. As you approach your home after a day at work, there’s nothing more for you to think about; just drive up to your gate or garage and let the Internet of Things do the rest.

To start your smart home journey by connecting your garage door, all you need to do is talk to Rollerdor Ltd and ask about the range of doors we supply with Somfy integration. With a Somfy motor and app connectivity, you can enjoy convenience, security and access control at its best. Call today on 0800 030 6004.