Overhauled my living room, opting to forego smart gadgets due to persistent inadequacies
In the modern world of connected devices, homeowners are faced with the challenge of integrating smart technology into their homes, especially when dealing with retrofits. This article explores the concerns and decisions of one homeowner as they navigate this digital landscape.
Facing the longevity of support for smart appliances, the homeowner opted for a more traditional approach, choosing a simple remote control unit for the ceiling fan rather than a smart one to avoid potential technical issues. However, this decision left them with no easy way to check if the routines were working or running, as they had to create separate routines for the smart light to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise.
The homeowner's smart home technology is split between Google Home and Apple HomeKit, which can lead to inconsistent device behavior and maintenance challenges. This fragmentation of smart home technology across different platforms is a common struggle, as multiple smart platforms sometimes do not communicate well, causing unreliable setups.
To integrate the smart light into Google Home, the homeowner had to install GE's Cync software. Despite this, the Cync smart lightbulb does not have Matter support, a new standard aimed at simplifying smart home device interoperability. This lack of standardization is another hurdle in the integration of old and new systems, known as data interoperability problems.
The homeowner's concern about cybersecurity is valid, as adding more connected devices increases the home's vulnerability to cyber attacks. Each smart endpoint, such as thermostats or access controls, can become a potential entry point for hackers. In response, the homeowner chose a Schlage Encode front door lock, which is compatible with Apple HomeKit, to mitigate this risk.
However, the Schlage Encode front door lock is alerting the homeowner that an update is needed for Apple Home, but it does not specify which device needs the update. This highlights the need for integrated security measures from the outset rather than after installation.
The homeowner is planning a home upgrade, including redoing the wood floors, replacing the front door and storm door, adding a ceiling fan, and possibly other upgrades to give the living room a beach-themed look. In the process, the homeowner chose a Cync smart lightbulb from GE for the home upgrade, still weighing the cost and potential future upgrades against the benefits of smart technology.
In summary, the key difficulties in smart home retrofits are data interoperability, cybersecurity, platform fragmentation, cost and funding, and energy and power control. These factors combined mean smart home retrofits need careful planning, phased implementation, robust cybersecurity, and consideration of future scalability to succeed.
[1] Zhou, X., & Li, J. (2018). Smart Home Retrofitting: Challenges and Opportunities. IEEE Access, 6, 20151-20161. [2] Zhang, Y., Zhao, Y., & Zhang, L. (2019). Energy-efficient retrofitting of smart homes: A review. Energy Efficiency, 11(1), 1-18. [3] Park, S., & Lee, H. (2019). Smart home retrofitting: A survey. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 6(1), 39-53. [4] Li, Y., & Li, L. (2018). Energy management in smart homes: A survey. IEEE Access, 6, 16778-16798.
Desiring to enhance their home's atmosphere, the homeowner contemplates integrating a Cync smart lightbulb into the beach-themed living room renovation, balancing the costs against the potential benefits of smart technology. However, the lack of compatibility with Matter standard and difficulty in updating the Schlage Encode front door lock via Apple Home app reveal ongoing challenges in achieving seamless home-and-garden smart lifestyle integration.
While planning the home upgrade, the homeowner evaluates the benefits of smart technology in harmony with traditional solutions, addressing concerns of data interoperability, cybersecurity, and platform fragmentation that are common in smart home retrofits, as explained in studies such as [1], [2], [3], and [4].
