Home Automation - Where I Started

I have always been fascinated with the concept of home automation. I have a technical background, and thought of having a more technical home seemed like a great idea. However, I never “got it.” I always thought, “What is so hard about flipping the light switch on/off when I enter or leave a room?” I just saw home automation as a novelty. In my mind, I always thought of home automation in the context of home control. If I have to initiate an action, then why do I need to do it through a non-standard device (remote control vs. wall switch).

A lot of people use home control and home automation interchangeably. While there are similarities and overlap between the two terms, the difference is what held me back from pursuing connected devices for many years.

Home control is where you interact with something in your environment to control different devices with your home. This interaction could be with a light switch, a remote control, tablet, web application, and in recent years a voice assistant. You flip a switch, press a button, or ask for something to be done, and your device(s) execute those commands. As home control became more sophisticated, you gained the ability to run macros and turn on scenes. Turning on the TV could now turn on the cable box, set the inputs on the A/V receiver, and even turn down the lights. These advanced features allow for more straightforward interactions for home control.

Home automation is where your devices do tasks automatically. Your window shades open with the sunrise, your doors automatically lock in the evening, or your bathroom fan turns on when the humidity is too high. After the initial setup and configuration, these tasks happen without any thought or interaction from you.

Understanding this difference was my “ah-ha” moment. My garage door was my entryway into understanding home automation. One or two times a month, I would accidentally leave the garage door open. I would shake my head and try to remember to double-check the door during my evening routine. Each night I would look into the garage and make sure the door was closed. Inevitably, I would forget to close the door.

And then the epiphany happened: Evening Routine. My technical background kicked into full gear. Anything routine should be scripted/automated, so you do not have to be bothered by the day-to-day issues with it. I did not need to control my garage door; I needed to automate the garage door.

After a lot of internet research and discussions with my technical friends, I decided on using Z-Wave devices as the start for my journey in home automation. After a few online orders, I had a Z-Wave Garage Door Opener and a Smart Hub. I had the garage door closing on its own every evening. Sometimes I would leave the garage door open just so that I could hear the home automation kick in without any interaction from me.

Now that I had the essential items, I was ready to start tackling new projects. A whole new world of services, switches, and sensors were ready to automate my home.

The adventure still continues today. This blog will cover details of past and present projects, as well as, reviews and current events in the connected smart home market.