Building a smart home. What is Smart Home technology and what are its main advantages. The most difficult work includes interfacing with third-party equipment: air conditioning, ventilation, home theater, etc.

"were used in the last century. Like some other technical innovations in household use, they passed from military competence, where they were actively used in secret bunkers and military bases.

Smart home is an automated coordinator of all technical devices that your home is equipped with.

For a long time, housing with technically advanced control systems remained an incredibly expensive whim of the elite. And it is only in the last decade that concepts that were previously known to us only from science fiction films are actually being implemented and become available.

What technical devices are commonly used in a modern apartment?

Lighting systems;
Air conditioning, purification and humidification systems;
Audio-video equipment;
Security equipment and other functions.

Opportunities smart home, like the functions of a conductor, ensure the coordinated work of all the constituent elements and allow the owners to conveniently manage the "orchestra".

"Brains" of a smart home

They are really technically advanced - microprocessor controllers provide information processing and control of specific elements. Uninterrupted power supply is provided by power supplies and UPS, information is transmitted via IR transceivers, relay models turn on and off Appliances, dimming modules regulate the smoothness of the lighting control.

General management of all smart home functions occurs using remote control panels.

Such panels exist in the form of stationary and portable models. Portable video panels are the most convenient to use due to their mobility and the possibility of visual control. the right processes. The control panel function can also be performed by a computer, Internet tablet, smartphone, and similar devices.

you can manage technical equipment your apartment and exercise general control from anywhere in the world using the Internet.

With the help of a microprocessor controller, the owners of the apartment can program the execution of the tasks (scenarios) they need.

Scenarios can be simple - turn on the air conditioner when a certain air temperature is reached, or complex - turn on the TV while closing the curtains and adjusting the local lighting.

Smart home subsystems

A smart home is divided into separate subsystems, the main ones being lighting, home theater, multiroom, climate control, and security.

Let's consider each in more detail.

Lighting system

Controls individual lamps and their groups, sets the desired mode of operation, regulates the degree of illumination. Using the remote control, you can turn off unused in this moment light sources and, conversely, turn on in the right places. Remotely, you can create the illusion that the owners are in the house by setting the scenario for turning on the lights in some rooms.

System Capabilities:

control of all light sources in the house from a single control panel;
creation of control scripts depending on time, date, specific event;
adjustment of switching on and off of lamps;
brightness percentage adjustment;
saving the resource of lamps;
automatically turn on the lights when entering and turn off when leaving the room.

Climate control

The system controls devices intended for air conditioning, heating, purification, humidification, and air ventilation. Coordinated operation of all devices in a given mode is ensured. Provided remote control climate in the apartment, for example, the ability to establish a comfortable temperature by the arrival of the owners.

System Capabilities:

control of heating and air conditioning devices using a single control panel;
control of heating and air conditioning devices depending on the season, time, date, specific event;
the presence of temperature and humidity sensors, depending on the readings of which, certain mechanisms that regulate the climate are triggered.

Home theater and multiroom

The system controls devices for playing video and audio signals (TVs, Blu-ray players), as well as related equipment: blinds, curtains, lighting in the viewing room, creating a special comfort when watching movies.

The multiroom system is responsible for the condition of all audio and video equipment in the entire apartment. With its help, you can watch TV shows and movies, listen to music and radio channels anywhere in the house, equipped with the necessary set of equipment.

System Capabilities:

control of all AV equipment in the house using a single control panel;
control of the "home theater" system by pressing one button;
smooth control of lighting on and off;
turning on and off AV equipment depending on the date, time, a specific event, the operation of sensors, pressing the bell.

Safety system

A multifunctional system that promptly responds to all "alarms" in the house, provides remote control of events occurring in the house, turns on the alarm system, controls fire safety, as well as security in the field of communal house systems.

System Capabilities:

security and fire alarm, which can turn on automatically after the owners leave the house;
remote control or cell phone;
notification to a remote computer or mobile phone about emergency situations;
protection of several zones;
control of access to the premises, including remote control;
alarm system to prevent water leakage and flooding;
alarm system to prevent leakage of electricity and gas.

Preparing to install a smart home

Installing a complex smart home system is not an easy task. It is necessary to start solving it as early as possible, preferably at the stage of designing a future home. Thinking through the future system must be done in cooperation with the owners of the architect, designer and designer of the smart home system. It is very important to think over in advance the necessary functions to be automated.

what lighting schemes do you intend to use?
how many luminaires are you going to use in different areas, what types of luminaires?
what scenarios are supposed to be used (night lighting, air conditioners stop working when a window is opened, etc.)
which rooms will be included in climate control systems or multiroom?
where will the smoke detectors and leaks be located?
where will the surveillance cameras and intercom be placed?
How will it be more convenient for you to control: from a mobile or stationary remote control?

Smart home system equipment

Main manufacturers:

AMX, Crestron (USA)
ABB, Gira (Germany)
Legrand, Schneider Electric (France)

The equipment can be used as wired (reliable, safe, expensive, pre-installed) and wireless (less reliable, the possibility of signal distortion and interception, installation after repair).

When purchasing equipment, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer and quality, which largely depends on the assembly. Luxury equipment is much more expensive, but differs in specialized programming, individual design, convenient and functional control panel.

Joint work with the installer of the smart home system will not end after its installation. In the future, it is quite possible that you will want to upgrade it with new products.

Since the installation of a smart home system is carried out at the initial stage of a major overhaul, it is very important that all work is done accurately, efficiently and on time. It is this high-class work that you are guaranteed in the construction company "TopDom".

Materials on the topic of the article

Owning a house outside the city is everyone's dream. Therefore, each family, having financial capabilities, tries to acquire or build housing that would meet modern living standards. IN Lately smart home projects are very popular. They not only allow you to correctly plan the space, but also guarantee the owners maximum comfort and convenience.

General characteristics

"Smart Home" is the housing of the future, in which the operation and control of all systems is carried out automatically, providing a room high level security and all necessary conditions for living. In such houses, labor costs for management are completely excluded, since the installation temperature regime, lighting and other things are not done manually. In addition, the building is equipped with special monitors with sensors that can pre-determine potential threats to both their own systems and the residents themselves.

In case of power outages, malfunctions in the heating, smoke and unauthorized entry, the installation instantly notifies the owners and independently fixes the problems.

The main advantage of a smart home is that its flexible control systems can significantly save energy costs, since in the absence of residents, all appliances turn on to an economy mode. Thanks to the embedded programs, such an installation will regularly fulfill all the instructions of the owners, often predicting them on their own. Therefore, we can say that after the installation of such an innovation in housing, a “freelance butler” appears. The only disadvantage of the installation is the high price, but it justifies itself over time.

Kinds

To do Vacation home as comfortable as possible, many owners install a “smart home” system, which helps not only save energy resources, but also save precious time by performing automated control all communications and entertainment centers. Depending on what functions and capabilities are available in the installation, it is divided into several types.

Wired

It consists of switches, sensors and a climate control device. All equipment is controlled by a wired panel to which signals are received. It is located in the main shield and cables are connected to it. The advantages of a wired installation include high reliability, as well as high click speed. After pressing the button, the program starts without delay, which saves residents from a long wait, scenarios when correct installation do not "hang". In addition, the control elements are characterized by a beautiful design. They are usually equipped with "smart" switches and a variety of integration systems.

Thanks to the wired "smart home", it is much easier to adjust the temperature in the rooms, as well as manage the video and audio room. It lasts a long time, as there are no batteries in the devices that require constant replacement. Switches in this case are fireproof and low-current. In order for the system to work reliably, before installing it, it is necessary to select the location of the panel in advance and lead the cables there.

If a country house is built of wood, then the owners need to first agree on the project and prepare a place for electrical wiring.

A wired device is also recommended to be installed during the home renovation process, when the wiring has not yet been done according to classical pattern. In a finished building, this will be problematic. For installation, they usually use a large shield up to 60 cm wide and up to 150 cm high. Installation work is best done with the help of experienced professionals, since the equipment is expensive and the slightest mistake can lead to whole line trouble.

Wireless

Unlike the previous version, in this system, the actuating signal is transmitted to the working devices not via wiring, but via a dedicated radio channel. This allows you to significantly save on wiring and installation. Such installations can be placed in houses with completed repairs and the usual wiring diagram. Due to the fact that each switch is “wireless”, it becomes possible to set different lighting effects by pre-programming the function keys. The installation of these systems does not require project preparation, therefore it is ideal for wooden buildings and its price is quite affordable.

A wireless "smart home", powered by a radio channel, directly depends on the quality of communication, so various interference from phones and electrical appliances can adversely affect its functionality. In addition, the quality of radio communication also depends on building material walls, and if the wiring is too scattered along the walls, then the signal level will be minimal. In the case when the system is controlled by batteries, they should be changed regularly, otherwise, at the most inopportune moment, something may not work.

Some wireless systems consist of radio equipment that is powered by alternating electricity, so they need to run a neutral wire. To avoid problems with the installation of such an installation, it is recommended to immediately lay an additional neutral wire under the switch. It is placed in a box. The downside of the device is that it is difficult to establish stable functionality in it, since the house will have to manage not only floor heating and lighting. In addition, the security of the installation is low and "hackers", applying an external communication signal, can quickly disable it.

Centralized

Its principle of operation is based on programming modes that come from a single logic module. As a rule, the device is represented by a controller having many outputs. The controller is pre-loaded with a unique program responsible for managing communication systems and actuators. Thanks to these technologies, it is possible to apply huge selection complex scenarios and any equipment. The advantages of the device include the ability to control in one window, the creation of complex tasks, taking into account the state of the owners of the house, the time of day and the lunar cycle. In addition, it is possible to connect any kind of equipment to the system.

As for the shortcomings, they also exist. First of all, such a centralized "smart home" is completely dependent on the human factor, because it works according to a program written by a programmer, and if contact is lost with it, then the entire system will need to be completely reprogrammed. Secondly, during installation, a high-quality controller should be installed, otherwise, if it fails, it can stop the entire system. Third, it's high cost.

decentralized

The operation of the "smart home" in this case is based on the use of a microprocessor with a non-volatile board. Therefore, these systems are considered the most reliable and if even one equipment fails, the entire system will fully continue to function. The installation is easy to maintain, and if there is a need to create a new scenario, then simply use an additional logic block for this. To date, on sale you can find many decentralized systems that differ in functionality and design.

Unlike the previous options, when installing the installation, many devices are laid in the shield, so it is recommended to give preference to well-proven manufacturers, otherwise you may encounter their failure in the future.

Necessary equipment

Before you install a smart home system in your suburban housing, you need to create the right project and purchase all the necessary devices.

Depending on personal preferences, the set of equipment may be different, while the minimum set should consist of:

sensory system;
adjustments with which appliances and lighting will turn on and off;
monitors where video surveillance will take place;
alarms;
controller
application programs for smartphones containing the necessary gadgets;
cloud network channels that simplify the connection and management of devices.

How to install and configure?

Installing a “smart home” is quite affordable with your own hands, but since installation and technology require proper execution, it is best to seek help from specialists. The contractor will start by defining the features of the object, then offer the most suitable project. After the design, an estimate will be drawn up, which will include control devices and a system diagram.

If the owner of the house is confident in his abilities and can do the installation on his own, then he needs to complete the following steps.

Before the beginning repair work in housing, a network of cables should be laid and installed server cabinet, racks for it and close everything with mounting boxes. In the technical room, it is necessary to place equipment for electrical supply, a switch, and connect automation to the modules.
After the renovation of the rooms is completed, you can install the speakers and control system by connecting the touch panels. The next step is to test the system.
The final stage will be the final adjustment of the equipment and testing, after which the unit is put into operation. At correct execution design and installation, the "smart home" system will begin to function effectively and fill the interior of the home with harmony and comfort. In order to securely hide it from prying eyes, even at the stage of finishing the room, you will need to skillfully hide auxiliary equipment and wiring.

From the above, we can conclude that the installation of a "smart home" is laborious, since most of the time is spent on creating a project and installing equipment. At the same time, the speed of work depends on the number of installations, the material of the walls and the area of \u200b\u200bhousing. Usually the whole process takes up to two weeks, including scenario programming.

Control systems

Usually, in modern city apartments and houses outside the city, cleaning, air conditioning, lighting systems are used, as well as a burglar alarm and video audio equipment are installed. Therefore, equipping their housing for a "smart home", its owners have a unique opportunity to conveniently manage all this "orchestra". In order for automation to occur quickly and without failures, such an installation is divided into subsystems: security, climate control, lighting, multi-room and home theater. Each of them is characterized by its own type of management.

Lighting

Groups or individual luminaires can work in different mode, for this they are given their own level of illumination. Control is carried out using remote controls, remotely it is possible to set illusory scenarios for finding the owners in the apartment. All lighting sources are controlled by a single remote control, while you can additionally set the date, time or a specific event. The brightness of the devices is adjusted in the same way, and the lamps automatically turn off when leaving the room.

Climate control

This system controls devices that provide heating, air conditioning, air purification and ventilation. Thanks to the set settings, the equipment works smoothly in the specified mode. In addition, some projects provide for remote climate control, so that a comfortable temperature is set before the arrival of the owners of the house. All appliances are controlled from a single remote control, where you can control the heating depending on the date, time and season. The rooms are also additionally equipped with humidity and temperature sensors that are triggered at a certain time and regulate the climate.

Home theater and multiroom

This system includes not only players and TVs, but also related equipment: curtains, blinds and lighting. Thanks to the well-established work in the room, a special atmosphere is created for watching movies. Control can be both voice and automated by pressing buttons on the remote control.

Safety system

It is a unique multifunctional device that is remotely controlled and promptly responds to various alarm situations, including fire safety, alarms and disruption of communications. Fire and burglar alarm work automatically and turns on immediately after the owners leave the house. It can be controlled both with a cell phone and with a remote control. You can remotely receive alarms about gas leakage, water leakage and burglary. Information is instantly sent to a mobile phone or computer.

The smart home device is ideal for both country house, cottages, and for an apartment. Since the system is expensive and its installation is not easy, homeowners who want to install it themselves will be helped to avoid mistakes by the recommendations of specialists.

Do not use equipment that does not match the style of the room. Equipment of different design will spoil the interior of the room, because it is ugly when the panels in the room are arranged in a chaotic manner and differ in color from decorative finishes walls. For example, a plastic white intercom is out of place on a wall with a dark surface. Therefore, even at the design stage, it is necessary to pay special attention to such moments and purchase suitable keypads and panels. In addition, the devices must be additionally masked with special plates or frames that are in harmony with the rest of the interior elements.
Mounting is also not a good idea. a large number control panels on one wall. For example, a floor heating thermostat, climate control, a multi-room remote control and a switch installed at the same time will not only complicate the control of equipment, but will also look cumbersome. As a result, a “smart home”, on the contrary, will complicate life and in no way make it comfortable. Therefore, in order to prevent this, you need to try to place a minimum of devices on the walls, giving preference only to sockets, switches and touch panels. As for setting the temperature in the rooms, it is usually done once a season, so control panels can only be installed in important rooms.
Many homeowners prefer to install a "smart home" with only wireless control. Of course, modern life is arranged in such a way that every person cannot live without a tablet or mobile phone. But if you completely rely on this method of control, then you can be at risk and lose control over the devices in the event of a smartphone breakdown or Internet outage. Therefore, experts advise simultaneously connecting wireless and wired panels.

They can be in the same place, their service life exceeds 30 years. Mobile control is performed using a tablet or phone. In case of breakage or loss mobile device the system can be easily reset to stationary control. It is difficult to break and such panels do not discharge.

A smart home is considered to be a complex system in which all components must work smoothly and coherently. Therefore, when purchasing equipment from different manufacturers, such harmony can be broken. As a result, there will be problems of incompatibility of equipment, and the installation will not only become difficult to manage, but also serious failures in its operation are possible. To prevent this, it is necessary to select equipment that has the same technical indicators and information transfer rate. It is also not recommended to additionally use an auxiliary software and expansion gateways or installers, they will only complicate setup and control.
Professionals usually build a smart home system based on a software platform and equipment from one manufacturer, whose products are well known in the market and have positive reviews. The right decision will also be the acquisition of one integration platform, which is designed for automated control of climate, lighting, security systems and fire safety and audio and video equipment. It is reliable in operation, its warranty service is up to 5 years, and most importantly, the platform ensures the compatibility of all devices.
During the installation of a smart home, it is important to organize the workflow correctly using special software applications. At the same time, it is undesirable to separately create scenarios for climate, music or light, as they will complicate control. Each brand offers programs of its own development, so if you install them all, it will be difficult to find the necessary bookmark on your desktop. In addition, to configure, you will need to constantly switch from one program to another and regularly update the software.
Installing one application designed for smart home will help simplify the task. Thanks to it, it will be possible in a matter of seconds to check the device mode, automatically update the version and quickly find the desired section in the lists.
In order for the installation to please with comfortable living conditions, it is best to entrust its design to specialists, since the slightest inaccuracy in the diagrams can disrupt the system and disable expensive equipment.

Lifehacker understands how to automate an apartment and why it is worth doing.

What is a smart home

Remember Ray Bradbury's story "There Will Be Gentle Rain"? If not, then let us briefly recall: it is about the life of a house left without owners. Automatic systems continue to work in the same mode: the talking clock reminds you that it's time to get up, the smart oven cooks breakfast on its own, the weather box reports that it's raining outside. Painfully reminiscent of modern technology, right? But the story was published in 1950.

Smart home is a set of solutions for automating everyday activities that will save you from routine. Here and Appliances- from robot vacuum cleaners to devices controlled from a smartphone - and systems that control everything that happens in the apartment.

In fact, this is a story about improving the quality of life. Comfort consists of little things, and a smart home will take care of all the little things. If you woke up at night and went to the kitchen for a glass of water, you don’t have to make your way down a dark corridor in search of a switch: the light will turn on automatically. Have you ever worried that you didn't turn off the iron or TV? Down with disturbing thoughts: just send a command to a smart outlet from your smartphone, and it will turn off the device that is powered by it.

Why is it needed at all

Everything is obvious: to make your life easier and better. A smart home means peace of mind and significant savings.

Let's start with calmness. If worrying about everything in the world is a common thing for you, a smart home will help you get rid of at least those worries that are associated with your apartment. Did you turn off the iron? It doesn't matter, send a command to a smart socket, it will quickly de-energize it. Afraid that running before leaving home washing machine went out of order and arranged a water park for the neighbors below? It's OK. If it really leaks, the leak sensor will instantly inform you about it.

As a result: you worry less about non-existent problems and free your brain from unnecessary thoughts. You can check how things are going at home at any time using your smartphone.

Now about saving. To many, this advantage of a smart home will certainly seem dubious. Say, what other savings when you need to buy several sensors, sockets and a video camera? Trust me, it's palpable. Take the same smart socket - it can track how much energy the device connected to it consumes. As a result, you can calculate the most voracious devices and save a lot on bills. And it's hard to imagine how much money you will save if the leak sensor reports the beginning of the flood in time.

In general, a smart home is an idea that fully justifies itself. Life without unnecessary worries is much more expensive than a few sensors and sockets.

How to make your home smart

It's easier than it looks. If choose correct technique, you don’t even have to call for the installation of specially trained people. For example, all Rubetek devices are equipped with simple and clear instructions so you can handle it without any problem. Let's figure out what is worth buying if you want to upgrade your home, but it's not very clear where to start.

Perhaps this is the first thing you need to buy if you are serious. The control center will allow you to interact with all the smart devices that you purchase: up to 300 devices can be connected to it. With it, you can create work scenarios for equipment. For example, leave home - start the appropriate mode. The lights go out in the rooms, the blinds or curtains are closed, the devices powered by smart sockets are turned off. No more running around the apartment, checking to see if you turned everything off.

The control center works in conjunction with a free mobile app, so it's easy to manage from your smartphone. Commands can even be given by voice.

Sensors

Protect your home from intruders, floods, fires and gas leaks. The guys from Rubetek secretly told us that a very cool thing will go on sale soon - a temperature and humidity sensor.

If you connect it to the control center, the sensor will monitor whether it is too hot or cold in the apartment. For example, if the temperature drops below a predetermined limit, the sensor will report this to the control center, which will send a signal to the heater.

The opening sensor will be useful for parents of excessively curious children. If you have cabinets or drawers at home where a child should absolutely not look, install such a sensor on them. As soon as the child climbs where it should not, you will know about it. And if you attach a sensor to the door, you can monitor whether the child came home from school on time.

cameras

What does the child do while you are not at home, what is your pet doing right now, is everything in order with your elderly parents - a smart video camera will answer each of these questions. In the Rubetek mobile application, the camera keeps a log of events and saves screenshots, videos can also be recorded in an archive on Google.Disk or Yandex.Disk.

An outdoor video camera is useful for car owners. Firstly, this way you will know for sure that everything is in order with your car. Secondly, with its help it is easy to find out if there is a parking space near the house: you can do it right on the road. If in this parking lot someone damaged your car, you will establish the culprit in just a few minutes.

Smart sockets

A real find for everyone who does not remember whether they turned off the iron or the TV. Send a command to the socket - it immediately de-energizes the device that works from it. Dimmer sockets allow you to adjust the brightness of a floor lamp or wall sconce without getting up from your sofa. You can install such an outlet in the children's room. If the baby is used to falling asleep in the light, the night light connected to it will go out gradually.

If you're genuinely surprised by your energy bill every time, buy an outlet that measures energy consumption. She will tell you which device decided not to deny yourself anything.

smart technology

If you have been thinking about buying an air conditioner, the choice is definitely worth making in favor of its smart option. To pair with it, you should purchase a temperature and humidity sensor. The sensor monitors the temperature in the room, and when it rises, tells the air conditioner that it is time to correct the situation. Control the air conditioner from your smartphone, give it voice commands, embed it in everyday smart home scenarios - in general, do not deny yourself anything.

Ready kits

In case you don’t want to think for yourself which devices to buy, Rubetek has ready-made kits for specific needs. An excellent option for the first acquaintance with smart technology, besides, such a kit is cheaper than the devices included in it separately. The Video Surveillance and Access Control set is suitable for those who are concerned about protecting their home from intruders.

The kit includes a control center, a video camera, an opening sensor and a motion sensor that can be paired with a relay or a smart socket so that when a person appears, the light turns on automatically.

Set " smart apartment» will save you from worrying about whether the faucet is leaking and whether the lights are off.

The set contains a control center, an opening sensor, a leakage sensor, a video camera and a relay for a two-gang switch to turn the light on and off from a smartphone. For complete peace of mind, you can additionally purchase a smart intercom, socket, smoke and gas detectors.

Progress is not only about landing a man on Mars or transplanting everything that is possible, but also solutions that help get rid of everyday worries. Yes, even if on a global scale the suffering of a leaking faucet looks ridiculous, but if it is possible to entrust the whole routine to smart devices, it’s a sin not to use it.

We note right away that the systems described below allow any more or less educated person to create their own automated home entry level, spending the least amount of money and effort. And all the described devices are distinguished primarily by ease of installation and use, and not by their outstanding characteristics. All of them can be easily replaced with similar ones, it all depends on your preferences, the availability of devices for sale, and of several technical factors. In addition, we do not specify here where you can buy the devices mentioned in the article, you will have to do this yourself if the need arises.

"Smart" home surveillance system

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about home automation is keeping your home and family safe. Especially if you see your home as a space stuffed with "smart" (and not so) electronics. Therefore, it is very important to know what is happening inside your home and in its immediate environment, including when you yourself are somewhere outside the home.

There are many companies that offer smart cameras that can monitor your home while you're away, including iSmartAlarm, which just unveiled its new ICamera at CEDIA 2014. It has a resolution of 1280x720 and also has a night vision function. In addition, it naturally contains motion and sound sensors. An interesting fact is that the camera can be used on its own, without the need to turn it on single system"smart home". The main advantage of the camera over the competition is the storage function. ICamera has a USB port that allows you to connect a local storage of information, such as a powerful terabyte disk. Such a camera costs $149, which is in the middle of the price range for such devices.

Or, alternatively, you can use Withings' smart HD camera, which should be available soon. This camera not only looks good and has all the necessary control sensors environment, but also allows you to see what's going on in your home from anywhere. The system has a live recording function, and you can see what is happening in the house through a mobile application, you can also zoom in to see the details. The camera has the function of sending an automatic alert if something happens in the house that is different from the usual order. The price of the camera is 200 euros.

Here are some more options:

"Smart" environment control

Surveillance cameras alone are not enough to ensure security in the house - with all their desire, they cannot cover the entire space and follow all events. Therefore, to control and ensure safety, it is necessary to use sensors different kind Fortunately, their choice is now very wide.

Take the Notion security system, for example, which uses a small, multi-functional sensor that delivers exceptional performance. With it, you can know how much fuel was left in the propane tank when your child returned from school, if you have a water leak, what is the temperature in the refrigerator, if someone has touched your safe, and the like. The system includes a hub that manages all sensors and connects to the Internet via WiFi, multifunctional sensors that can detect 8 various activities and a mobile application based on iOS and Android.

The system includes sensors for lighting, temperature, proximity, an accelerometer and a gyroscope to control the opening of doors and windows, a water leak probe and a piezoelectric transducer. Each sensor can detect several different events, so the system will respond more accurately to situations and thus provide protection against erroneous operation. Sensors work up to two years without battery replacement.

The price of the device is not yet known, as the project is at the stage of obtaining funding for production.

Alternative environmental control systems:

"Smart" lighting

It seemed like a simple thing - lighting. But remember how many times you have to get up to turn on this or that lamp, how many times you think that it would be nice to be able to dim the lighting a little here and add it there. There are several systems on the market (plus a few in the near future) that allow you to control the light with your smartphone, but one of the first and deservedly trusted buyers is Philips Hue. Since this system appeared on the market, it has grown and changed a lot, but the original system allows you to control 50 light bulbs connected to a wireless network using a mobile application.

The system includes a bridge that connects the lamps into a single network, and a smartphone (or tablet) application that allows you to do a lot of things, such as setting certain modes, within which individual bulbs change the tone and strength of the light. The system has a number of preset modes: Concentration, Energy, Reading and Relaxation. They all feature different Philips Hue LED controllable settings.

Philips Hue even allows you to change the color of the lighting or turn on a special mode for when you are away for a long time, so that it looks like someone is at home.

And all these settings you can choose right from your favorite sofa.

Such a system is, frankly, not cheap. A starter set of a basic controller and three lamps costs about $300, each additional lamp costs about $80.

Here is a similar system, with the difference that it allows you to control the lighting with your voice. We are talking about a light bulb holder, called Vocca, which acts as an intermediary between an ordinary light bulb and an equally ordinary cartridge. The smart gadget has a speech recognition function: when it hears a passphrase, it turns the lights on or off. Voice control is not new, but in Vocca it is implemented in the simplest and most convenient way: the device does not need additional equipment and does not require any configuration. There is also a Vocca Pro modification that allows you to change the passphrase, as well as control the lighting from your smartphone. In this case, Bluetooth is used for communication.

Here are also a few alternatives:

"Smart" heating

Just as in the case of "smart" lighting, there are many options decisions, some of which can do more than others. And you have to decide for yourself what you want from your heating system, apart from being able to control it with your smartphone or tablet. You should also consider what type of heating system or boilers you have in order to find a solution that will work with them. Which is not as obvious as it seems. For example, the NEST thermostat, popular in the USA, has only recently been sold in Europe and so far it has not been suitable for use with heating systems familiar to Russia.

One of the very convenient systems is a Honeywell Evohome that connects to a heating boiler and room radiators, allowing it to control 12 individual zones from a single central console or mobile app.

Each zone can have multiple radiators, and you can set your own parameters for each of them. The Honeywell Evohome system comes with several preset settings that allow you to, for example, lower your home temperature when you are away from home all day.

The Evohome starter kit, which allows you to connect your boiler and water heater to it, will cost over $400, and each battery sensor will set you back about $80 each. Frankly, it's expensive, especially when compared with competitive solutions, but it's worth it. Still, it is better to entrust the installation of the system to specialists, it will take less time and ultimately allow you to save a lot of nerves.

For a simpler option, consider the ZEN thermostat, which is currently being collected on Indiegogo. This device does not even have a display: all information is displayed through a group of LEDs, and the thermostat is controlled by pressing the edges of the front panel. Nevertheless, ZEN looks stylish and performs basic functions - heating, cooling and ventilation control - very well. You can connect to the thermostat using an app for iOS or Android. It allows you not only to adjust the temperature and mode of operation, but also to schedule. Of course, all this can be done remotely via the Internet. The thermostat only supports the ZigBee protocol so far, to connect to WiFi networks you need to use a special hub.

The approximate cost of the thermostat is $150.

Of the possible options, the following devices seem to us the most preferable:

"Smart" power supply

If you are one of those people who periodically start to worry about whether you turned off the iron before leaving the house, or start to wonder why electricity costs have risen so much and what can be done about it, then systems that remotely control devices connected to the network help you deal with those worries. Now such systems have begun to appear on the market all in more and their main function is to be able to turn off electrical sockets and thus turn off unused equipment.

The D-Link Smart Plug is a simple, easy-to-use device. You just need to plug it into a standard socket, press the WPS button on your router and the button on the Smart Plug. And your smart plug is already online. Controlled by the mydlink Home App, available for iOS and Android, free of charge. The application allows not only turning the device on and off, but also scheduling it to turn on/off at a specific time, which is very convenient when leaving for long time. The suggested retail price of the D-Link Smart Plug is $39.99.

Alternative options:

Smart home equipment

Starting to build a "smart home" with security, lighting and heating systems is a very good step, but if your budget does not deplete, then you can expand your options somewhat by considering the use of "smart" home devices. Today you can buy many different kinds of devices that are controlled using a smartphone, and Korean companies Samsung and LG are among the leaders here. But we will introduce you not only these manufacturers.