Have you been wanting to get into home automation but have avoided doing so because you think it is too complicated? You are in good company. Home automation seems way too complex, partly because consumers do not know the terminology. But take it from someone who has been in the home automation trenches: you learn the terminology over time.
It is tough to argue with the fact that home automation is complicated when you start digging around under the hood. But it’s equally true that a basic working knowledge of mobile devices and apps will set you up pretty well to manage just about any home automation device.
It is a lot like a car. You don’t have to know how it works under the hood to take advantage of it. You just need to know how to drive. You can let the mechanic worry about the engine block and transmission. Home automation is similar. You do not have to understand all the details to set up and use home automation devices.
Terminology Is Still a Challenge
Even with a basic working knowledge of mobile devices and apps, you still might struggle with programming because of the terminology. Simply put, there will be terms you just don’t get. But they are easy enough to learn with a bit of hands-on experience. Here are just some of the more common terms:
- Hub – A smart home hub is a home automation device that acts as a central control panel for everything else. Some smart speakers act as hubs. People can also use their mobile phones or manufacturer hubs presented as tablets.
- Integration – A smart home integration is a small app that allows a device to interact with other devices made by separate manufacturers. Hubs make use of all sorts of integrations to support third-party devices.
- Event – A smart home event is more or less an action being deployed on one of your devices. Remotely unlocking the front door is an event. So is controlling the porch light with your smartphone. Every smart home action equals an event.
- Label – A label in a smart home environment is simply the name you give a particular device. Your smart home hub might identify the very first light you installed as ‘light switch 1’. You prefer to label it ‘porch light’.
- Scene – A smart home scene is a collection of events that all occur together. Scenes are commonly used in lighting scenarios. You program multiple lights to turn on or off along with setting illumination intensity. All the lights together create a scene.
These five terms merely represent the start. There is plenty of other terminology to learn. But again, you learn over time. The more you use your apps and devices, the more comfortable you become with terminology.
Professional vs. DIY Systems
The terminology is what it is regardless of whether you opt for a professionally installed or DIY system. Note that there may be subtle differences in the details, but terminology is generally the same.
One of the advantages of going with a professional system, like one from Vivint Smart Home, is having access to their support while you are learning. A Vivint technician will even spend time with you following installation, to teach you the basics of how to program your system.
With a DIY system, you are pretty much on your own. It will be up to you to read and understand the owner’s manuals. And of course, you can search online for answers to your questions. One way or another, you will learn the terminology as you go.
