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Should I integrate IoT into my home, or is it too expensive? Internet of Things, commonly referred to as IoT, is a term that describes devices capable of communicating to one another through a shared network connection. This network connection can be made through Bluetooth, WiFi, or cellular connection, to name a few. For example, a light bulb that is connected to a WiFi network can be controlled by a smartphone from anywhere, as long as the smartphone has a connection to the Internet. Devices such as these are included in the IoT category. So yes, there are some easy, basic and cheap ways to begin to incorporate IoT devices into your home.
What makes a device “smart”? A smart device is an electronic gadget that connects to other devices and interacts with a user via wireless protocols, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G/4G, etc.
Do smart devices spy on their users? It depends on the type of device and the permissions you allow in the accompanying applications that control and configure these devices. Some smart devices, such as smart speakers and devices with cameras, are capable of gathering personal data. However, this can be mitigated by declining certain permissions for these devices. But there are many smart home devices that do not gather any sort of personal data. These devices include smart bulbs, smart vacuums, smart garage door openers, etc.
Can smart home devices improve energy efficiency? There are a number of smart home devices that can help improve energy efficiency. WiFi enabled bulbs use LEDs, which are far more energy efficient than the standard incandescent bulbs. Additionally, these devices can be scheduled to turn on or off in order to help save energy. Other commonly used devices that can help improve energy efficiency are smart thermostats, like Nest. These devices are capable of learning the habits of the users, which can help reduce energy consumption by heating and cooling systems.
Do I need WiFi to have a smart device? While some smart devices use Bluetooth as their communications protocol most operate using WiFi, so it would be necessary to have a strong WiFi network setup to support these devices.
Do I need an internet connection to have a smart device? An internet connection is necessary to support smart devices. Most smart home devices operate on WiFi, while many handheld smart devices (smart phones, tablets, watches, etc) can connect using WiFi or a mobile network data connection (3G/4G).
What amount of bandwidth do I need to run a smart device? The required bandwidth to run smart devices depends on the type of devices and the number of devices. Devices that stream video (doorbell cameras, security cameras, etc) consume far more bandwidth than a light bulb. Generally speaking, for non-video streaming smart devices you should plan to add about 5Mbps for every 10-12 devices. Video streaming devices will consume closer to 10Mbps.
Are there any security concerns with smart devices? Data privacy is always a big factor to take into consideration when looking to bring smart devices into the home. Most devices pose no security concerns, such as light bulbs, vacuums, light switches or outlets, etc. The only devices that could pose security concerns (from a privacy standpoint) could be the smart speakers (Amazon Echo, Google Home, etc.) that can be used to control these devices through voice commands, or devices that stream video (doorbell cams, surveillance cameras, etc.). There are ways to mitigate these concerns by improving network security to prevent anyone from being able to hack into the devices, and to restrict what data the smart speakers have access to.