24 Jun
Uncategorized

How much does it cost to have a smart home in Singapore?

It’s no longer a fantasy to have a smart home in Singapore. If you told someone that you could talk to your house and have it control the lights, temperature, locks, or even boil water for you several years ago, they would think you were either super rich or simply out of your mind.

Now, with the ubiquity of home automation systems and the ever-decreasing cost of smart
home technology, more and more people in Singapore are turning their homes into automated abodes.

So, how much does it cost to have a smart home in Singapore? The answer, as with most things in life, is that it depends.

The average cost of a 5 room HDB unit can range from $2,000 all the way to $7,000+. It mostly depends on the size of your home, and scope of work.

Smart Home Hub

It ranges from below $100 all the way to $900+.

Here are some of the popular brands out there in the market and their pricing:

  • Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): $139
  • Amazon echo hub: $78-$153+
  • Aeotec Smart Home Hub: $170+
  • Anasonic Smart Home KX-HNB600EW Hub: $250+
  • MOES Tuya ZigBee 3.0 Smart Gateway Hub: <$50
  • Frontpoint Hub and Keypad: $99
  • Savant’s Slick $500 Smart-Home Hub: $500+
  • Homey Pro: $749

A Smart Home Hub is a smart home device that stores information such as the smart home logic, room names, scene setup and connected devices.

The smart home hub is used to control other connected devices through a screen or through a phone application. Connect your smart bulbs, smart plugs, smart doorbells, and smart thermostats utilising voice commands or via the screen to manage everything.

While thesmart home hub contains all the information about the home, it is best to purchase a hub has cybersecurity label to ensure privacy is taken care of. While the Singapore government has a team to run through the cybersecurity checks for all the IoT devices, not every IoT device are awarded the CSA CLS certification. 

 

Smart Light Switch

It ranges from $60 to $200+.

DIY ones can go as low as $12, and they do at times share the same functionality.

Just that, they do not cover things like:

Online/back-end support
Stronger warranty coverages
And they do end up bringing in undesirable baggage, such as unwanted connection to a router, cloud communication or even data tracking.

Here are some common brands used in the market (per switch):

  • Tuya Zigbee Smart Switch: $10-$30+
  • Kyla Gen2 Smart Light Switch: $39.90
  • SONOFF T3 Series Wifi Smart Wall Switch: $26.99
  • OUTSMART Wifi Smart Switch: $21.90
  • Xiaomi Aqara D1 Wall Switch: $30-$48+
  • Aztech Kyla Gen 1 Smart 3 Gang Light Switch:
  • $55-$70+
  • Home-A-Genius Smart Switch: $99+

Smart light switches are intended to be used in place of traditional built-in switches. Yes, you still have the ability to turn your lights on and off as you always have, but these smart switches give you much more control over your home's lighting and other appliances.

Smart light switches also come in various forms, e.g. dimmable switches, scene control switches, Wi-Fi connection, Zigbee connection etc. All of these switches will cater to different needs, and their costs will vary.

Wi-Fi switches are most common in the market, as they do not require additional hubs to be connected to. This creates a very affordable price point, which attracts many users to purchase them.

However, Wi-Fi switches are not recommended, as Wi-Fi connection consumes more electricity, which in turn may lead to higher running costs overtime.

Zigbee switches are widely sold for its fast response time and lower electrical consumption. The only con for Zigbee switches is the need for an additional Zigbee Gateway.

Motion Sensor

It ranges from $9 to $100+.

  • Tuya Smart Motion Sensor ZigBee: $13.90-$27.80
  • Xiaomi Mi Home Motion Sensor: $21.90
  • IKEA TRÅDFRI Motion Sensor: $19.90
  • SONOFF SNZB-03 - ZigBee Motion Sensor: $8.95
  • Kyla by Aztech - ZigBee Motion Sensor: $39.90
  • Aqara Smart Human Motion Sensor Security Device: $18.89-$39+
  • Unicun Smart Home Motion Sensor: $197.57
  • Telekom Magenta Smart Home Wireless Motion Sensor Indoor: $260+

A motion sensor (sometimes known as a motion detector) is a piece of equipment that is designed to detect and measure movement. Motion sensors are most often utilized in home and business security systems.

IR Blaster

It ranges from $9 to $140+.

  • Kaforto Smart IR Remote Controller: $9+
  • Kyla Gen 2 Smart Station (IR Blaster All-In-1 Remote: $45.90
  • Tuya WIFI Universal Smart IR Remote Control: $19+
  • MoesGo Universal Blaster Infrared Repeater Hub: $120+
  • Broadlink RM4 Mini: $25.99

An infrared blaster (IR blaster) is a device that transmits instructions from a remote control to one or more devices that require infra-red remote control.

The most frequent use of an IR blaster is to allow a device to control the channel and options on an external gadget such as a cable box, set-top box, blu-ray player, or DVD. IR Blaster even allows one to control connected external devices using the smart touch control on the TV.

Door Camera

It ranges from $70 to $500+. OEM ones can go as low as $70 per door camera.

  • Xiaomi Youpin Video Doorbell: $70+
  • Anytek B50 Smart WiFi Video Intercom: $50+
  • Hikvision DS-HD1 3MP Outdoor Wi-Fi Smart Doorbell Camera: $180+
  • rlo Essential Spotlight Wire-Free Camera: $500+
  • Xiaomi Youpin Video Doorbell 2022: $80+
  • Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) CCTV Door Bell: $260+
  • Tuya Smart Video Doorbell Camera: $80+
    Smartdoor cameras provide audio and one-way (occasionally two-way) video communication with visitors seeking access to a home unit.

One will need to find out if the Door Camera connects to Wi-Fi or if it requires a data cable for connection.

Usually the Wi-Fi connected door cameras require frequent battery changes, in addition, Wi-Fi connected Door cameras are affected by the Wi-Fi signal strength i.e. if the door camera is not connected to the Wi-Fi, CCTV footages cannot be sent to cloud storage for recording, which will result in the Wi-Fi camera being just an artefact.

CCTV Camera

It ranges from $35 to $350 per unit. A CCTV (closed-circuit television) system may be used to monitor the interior and exterior of a property using video cameras that transmit their signals to a monitor or group of monitors.

Smart Plug

It ranges from $50 to $200+.

    • IKEA TRÅDFRI wireless control outlet: $12.90
    • SMATRUL 20A/16A smart wifi smart plug: $8 to $11+
    • Xiaomi MiJia Mi Power Socket Plug: $12-18+
    • Hive 3PKSMARTPLUG Active Smart Plug (3 Packs): $260+
    • Aoycocr Mini WIFI Smart Socket Switch: $49+
    • Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (2 Packs): $20+
    • LifeSmart Smart Plug: $30

These gadgets convert almost any wired appliance with an on/off switch into an automated one that can be controlled by a simple voice command or phone tap.

IP Camera (Alternative To CCTV Cameras)

It ranges from $25 (OEM ones) to $200+.

  • Xiaomi Dafang Smart IP Camera: $36+
  • Ubiquiti Uvc-g3-dome UniFi IP Dome Camera: $200+
  • Reolink - 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160p) Outdoor/Indoor PoE IP Camera: $120+
  • Vstarcam C29S 1080P HD WIFI IP Camera: $55+
  • NightChromaTM NC400 P67: $79+
  • Bosch IP Camera: $1000+
  • Panasonic i-Pro Extreme: $400-$1000+
  • Mobotix IP Cameras: $300++

An IP camera is a type of digital security camera that transmits and receives video footage through an IP network. They're commonly used for surveillance. Unlike analog closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), IP cameras do not need a local recording device; they only require a local network.

Smart Lock

It ranges from $200 all the way to even $1000+.

Though a decent one should cost at least $350+.

  • GENESIS X360 TTLOCK 5-Way Smart Mortise Digital Door Lock: $400+
  • Suleve Smart Door Lock: $120+
  • Kaadas K9 Digital Door Lock: $849+
  • Celtech D7 Aluminium Smart Lock: $430+
  • Aqara N100 Smart Lock: $429+
  • Hido - Tuya Smart Lock: $379++
  • Nest x Yale - Smart Lock with Nest Connect: $480+
  • Philips EasyKey 6100 Digital Door Lock: $699+
  • Samsung SHS-P717 Digital Door Lock Mortise: $699+
  • Yale Security YRD256-CBA-0BP Smart Lock: $400+
  • August 3rd Generation Smart Lock Pro: $500+
  • Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt: $400+

Smart locks allow a homeowner to enter their house or allow others access without requiring a traditional key. Instead, the user uses their smartphone or a key fob to electronically authenticate and physically unlock the door remotely. Smart locks are one step closer to providing on-demand home security.

Consultation and Engineering Cost

When building a smart home, the cost of consultation and system integration plays a key role in your budget. Using an in-house system can help cut upfront expenses compared to hiring external specialists. Initial consultation fees with an in-house team can range from $500 to $2,000, depending on the scope of the project and the number of smart technologies you plan to include. 

This does not include necessary rewiring works that may be required to integrate the smart technologies into your home, which will cost an average of $3000.

Apart from consultation fees, there is also the cost of engineering and customisation services.

However, integrating various smart devices isn't always straightforward. Each system — whether it’s lighting, security, or HVAC — may use different communication protocols or require unique configurations. This complexity can add to the cost, as you may need to purchase additional equipment, such as hubs or adapters, to ensure compatibility.

Why The Difference In Prices For Certain Brands?

1. Quality of product & design:

OEM products are usually limited in capabilities and quality, and are easily found on
e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, etc.

2. Closed ecosystem:

Most solutions can only link to apps within their own ecosystem. i.e. they are unable to link up to brands that are well-loved by Singaporeans Sonos, Roborock/Ecovacs or Sony Smart TV.

3. Technology:

Most of the time, the cloud connected smart home systems have to process smart home logic
via a cloud server.

This poses severe security implications that many consumers are unaware of.

4. Service Level:

While companies turn to price war to retain customers, their service level is compromised, as they need to keep the team small and lean to accommodate the low pricing.

Some companies might choose to have an extremely lean team to maintain everything: the operational, logistics, sales, marketing, technical support and on-site support of the products.

After sales support for the clients is not just important, but has become a necessity, as a smart home is a new thing, and not everyone has the knowledge to troubleshoot them when needed.

5. Off the shelf items from OEM companies:

This limits innovation and does not allow products to be built around the needs of their consumers. It only takes USD5000 to white label an app to have their own branding, and this also includes the architecture of the smart home system, i.e. cloud server.

The Home-A-Genius Difference

Home-A-Genius smart home system offers 1 unified application that can connect to various applications simultaneously. 

The difficulty is to sync all of them together. Usually, consumers would have 1 application for their security cameras, another application for their doorbell, another application for their lights, etc.

The confusion always starts when users do not know which application to use. i.e. the app provided by the system integrator or the Google Home app. The back story is that once you hop onto Google Home, which is the application that allows full integration, the promises on the application on the system integrator (Local Area Connection, single app control) would be nullified.

Multiple applications will also contribute to confusion, leading to a bad user experience.

With tons of smart home technologies already supported, you can add virtually any device or sensor to Home-A-Genius directly, with the help of team Home-A-Genius online, and also their installation manual prepared by their friendly engineers.

You can begin your smart home automation journey by adding smart devices and smart sensors in a matter of minutes.

Updating your smart home logic is also easy, as the team would have set up most of the smart home logic on your behalf. You would just need to fine tune the system to your specifics!

Best of all, there is no need for a secondary app like Google Home to work!

In addition, we offer a smart home floor plan that allows you to view the status of your smart lights, smart switches and smart devices all within a single page, without the need for additional scrolling/tapping to check on your home!

Consult us today to know more about smart home Singapore and how you can benefit from having the best smart home automation package!

24 Jun
Uncategorized

What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Smart Home?

The advent of smart technology has revolutionised the way we work, so it only makes sense that we would embrace it in our personal lives as well! More homeowners are adopting smart home systems and technology as home automation has become more affordable, with lower barriers to entry.

There are many advantages to having a smart home. You can save money on your energy bills, you can keep an eye on your property even when you’re not there, and you can increase your home’s security. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider. Today we will present the pros and cons of a smart home. 

 

Pro: Ease of mind & Higher Quality of Life

One of the main advantages of a smart home is having the flexibility and the ability to take your mind off tedious, mentally taxing stresses. Imagine the need to rush to work on a Monday morning, with both kids in your arms and running around the house to ensure that all aircons, fans and lights are powered off.

With a smart home, you can program your devices to power off with a single “Goodbye” command or at a specific timing when everyone is surely out of the house. Instead of focusing on the nitty gritty details like flicking the switches, users now can focus on the safety of their child or ponder about how to solve their issue at work.

While this may seem costly when bundled with the renovation budget, the cost of technology will eventually be neutralized when the system is used on a daily basis during system uptime.

Other benefits would include: time saving, energy efficiency, and safety. 

 

Con: Compatibility Issues

 
pros and cons of a smart home - compatibility issue

Not combining technology that works together is one of the first flaws in adopting smart home technology. The smart technology industry is competitive, and there are a lot of alternatives on the market. This also means that a lot of the time, devices in the IoT industry don’t work together.

IoT devices also comes in many different forms; runs on various IoT protocol. As such, the in-depth details of using each device also comes with its own pros & cos. i.e. Wi-Fi switches may use higher electricity than Zigbee switches.

Such complexity will not be flagged out during the sales process and it is only up to the customer’s knowledge to understand the device they are purchasing. These are often so if the item is purchased off e-commerce platforms.

Therefore it is important to do thorough research on the items you are purchasing and it is also critical to get a superior smart home solution that is able to integrate with all of your smart electronics and appliances into a single application. 

 

Pro: Support For Older Generation

A common misconception is that smart homes are for the young ones, but believe it or not, smart homes actually help to serve the older folks.

With features like medical alert systems, automatic lightings and temperature control, the elderly can live with more independence in their own homes.

Smart home solutions are also incorporated to minimise movements by the elderly. i.e. smart doorbell camera allows video/voice footage to be sent to the user without the need to walk to the door.

Features such as the smart floor plan (a visual representation of the house) also helps older generation get used to the smart home with a single tap on the smart floor plan, which provides a visual representation for the users. 

 

Con: Dependence on Technology

Just like anything else that is technology-driven, a smart home is also dependent on gadgets and devices to function properly.

If the smart home system is reliant on your local network, or reliant on an unsecured local server, then you risk being helpless if the server crashes. 

 

Pro: Energy Efficiency

The benefit of smart home technology is the energy efficiency it will bring to your house.

There are a variety of simple ways to cut your carbon footprint and lower your utility bill. You may use energy management solutions such as lighting controls, smart power tracks, and smart plugs to help you decrease both your environmental effect and your monthly utility bill! You may also connect smart sprinkler systems and sensors to detect possible water leaks and reduce wasteful water usage.

While owning a smart home will also mean that many of your devices will be on standby mode, using the rules and logic to reduce usage appliances/devices with high energy consumption is proven to be more effective than conserving electrical consumption of devices on standby. 

 

Con: Might Be Susceptible To Outages

One disadvantage of a smart home is the risk of an internet outage. While rare, losing electricity or access to the internet for even a short time, especially when your whole house is dependent on it to function can be a huge frustration.

Therefore it is important to find a smart home provider that offers reliable service and has a solid backup plan in place. The smart home systems should also be self-reliant in case the outage happens past office hours. i.e. if the system goes down, there should be an alternative for the users to still be able to power on/off the lights via a physical switch.

Having a strong support team in place will ensure that you receive the necessary help when troubleshooting or adjustments are needed, or even when things don’t go according to plan.

Consultants who understand your daily activities and needs are more likely to offer you insights as well as recommendations to help you to achieve your smart home goals. They are also the ones that you can lean on for setup help and maintenance. 

 

Pro: Accessibility and Security

The times of only relying on our dogs to keep our homes secure are long gone: now, thanks to smart home automation and technology, our home security systems are always in touch with us.

A home automation system can be a great way to automate and keep track of your home security, without having to constantly worry about it.

If you are searching for a basic security monitoring system with door and window sensors, as well as a doorbell camera, there are plenty of internal and external security solutions out there in the market. 

 

Con: Vulnerable To Cybersecurity Breaches (At Times)

Although a home automation system can bring plenty of convenience and peace of mind to your life, it also might be vulnerable to hackers and other cybersecurity breaches.

According to a study done by HP, 70% of all IoT devices are vulnerable to medium or high severity security flaws.

So, before you invest in a smart home solution, make sure to do your research on the company and their security protocol to avoid any headaches down the road. 

 

Pro: Increased Home Value

Did you know that smart home technology is now being taken into account during property appraisals? Smart thermostats, smoke alarms with sensors, and home security systems all seem to improve a house's value. 

 

Con: Startup Costs

Even the best investments come with a cost. Even though smart devices and technology have gotten a lot more affordable over time, fitting your house with smart devices and technology may still be expensive. Make sure you conduct thorough research to figure out what would work best for your unique requirements!

In certain situations, depending on the smart home solution, it may require you to do electrical rewiring of your home, and this would increase your overall cost. 

 

The Home-A-Genius Difference

At Home-A-Genius, we offer a one Stop Wi-Fi & Smart home solution - 99% deadspot free solution.

Home-A-Genius operates within the local network; i.e. it works independently without the internet, while connecting the devices within the same network. This means that you do not have to worry if our servers shut down, and that means that your data is compromised, or that your smart devices will suddenly stop functioning.

You won't have to worry about compatibility problems, either, since we provide a single App that can connect to a variety of appliances and electrical fixes all within a single system. With numerous smart home technologies already supported, you would be able to add practically any device or sensor to your system with ease.

 
18 Jun
Uncategorized

Why running your smart home system on a Single Application makes sense

Too many platforms, too many choices...

Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Tuya, Home-A-Genius, etc. these are the platforms that you've probably heard of when you are looking to do up a smart home ecosystem.

Google Home & Amazon Alexa works on pretty much the same basics - software developers build services/skills to allow their applications to link up to Google Home & Amazon Alexa. To allow these services/skills on their platform, massive tests were done to ensure usability of services/skills.

 
broken image

Tuya platform pretty much allows for any distributor who've paid for the microchip to link up to their platform; disallowing integration with other ecosystems, unless linking up with Google Home/Amazon Alexa.

Let's skip the boring parts here and move on to more important topics. As we all know Smart home platforms comes in 2 different forms: Cloud-based and Local Area Network (LAN). Simple, one runs on cloud (requires internet) one runs on your local network (don't need internet). Google Home/Amazon Alexa and Tuya are all cloud-based.

Getting a System Integrator vs DIY

The role of system integrators (SI) involves being a consultant during the smart home setup, pre-setup and also after the setup is completed. While the role of SI may sound simple, it involves a full suite of services from developing the solution, building and R&D on new solutions, communicating with the ID/electrician, setting up the system, training users on how to use the system and lastly, off-site and on-site maintainence of the system. As you can see the scope of work of an SI is pretty hefty, hence you can never be able to justify the pricetag against a smart home system that is built via DIY.

DIY solutions are readily available in the market, with suppliers providing solutions online. While it may look as easy on the e-commerce paltform, IoT solutions are not as simple as it seems.

Do you know that Wi-Fi connected devices consume more electricity than Zigbee devices even though there is no need for an additional hub?

 
Electrical consumption for various microchip

While the solution may seem more afforable at the start, the running cost to maintain the system will cost more overtime. Information as such will not be displayed on the e-commerce platform, hence it is up to the client's knowledge to decide on the device.

 

Single Application - A promise from a System Integrator

The difficulty of the IoT ecosystem now is being able to sync all of the various devices together. Usually, consumers would have 1 application for their security cameras, another application for their doorbell, another application for their lights, and so on. The confusion always starts when users do not know which application to use. i.e. the app provided by the system integrator or the Google Home app.

The backstory to this is that once you hop onto Google Home, or an alternative secondary app that allows for full integration, the promises on the application on the system integrator (Local Area Connection, single app control) would be nullified. Use of multiple applications will also contribute to confusion, leading to bad user experience.

Being able to link up to a device/application is not easy - various API linkages are required. Massive programming +maintenance works required along the way. Building an application to link up to various devices is not as simple as it looks. On top of that, users have to use that application on a daily basis. The app has to be lightweight, secure and also user friendly at the same time.

 

Single Rules Engine - Single Maintainence work

An all-in-one application promises one thing. Easy maintainence. What it means is that you need not use multiple applications just to setup rules.

Example: Switches belong to a proprietary application (App P). App P is unable to link up with other smart appliances proivded in Singapore. e.g. Dyson fan, Sonos sound system and LG/Sony/Android TV. The only way to link up these devices in your living room is via Google Home.

What does this mean to a user?

Multiple Rule engine used, resulting in multiple rooms/scene setup. More complex debugging if needed.

  • Firstly, you need to link the devices in App P, group them in an dummy room e.g. Resting Room. Note you cannot use the same name in Google Home as this will confuse the system.
  • Next, you will need to sync the rooms and scenes to Google Home App.
  • Link smart appliances (Dyson, Sonos sound system and LG/Sony/Android TV) to Google Home App, and setup another new room in Google Home App. This time you can use the correct room name "Living Room" as this will be the actual name used in your Google Command.
  • Thereafter, you will need to add the devices into Living Room. Your Living Room is setup!
  • That is not all, the above steps only allow you to use the voice command. To use the Siri Widgets, you will need to create shortcuts in the shortcuts app.

Notice the number of rules engines used in this scenario and the number of times the user needs to setup a room. Much less to mention if the additional device needs to be added after your SI has left the house. Maintainence will be a nightmare.

 
broken image

In Home-A-Genius, we have a single rule engine, single admin page and a single action of setting up the rules will sync up with all downstream user interfaces: Smarter switch, Home-A-Genius Widget and the Google Home app. Furthermore, this eliminates the need to use dummy room names hence lesser confusion just to reference the rooms/scenes in-between applications.

Leave it to us!

Home-A-Genius specializes in developing smart home platform and also comes with a strong team that assist with your smart home setup. Leave the work to us while you enjoy the movie mode!

 
21 Apr
Uncategorized

How to choose the right Ceiling fan for your Smart Home?

 

With the influx of smart devices in the recent years, integrating ceiling fans are often important as it is the most economical alternative to our coolers (a.k.a Air conditioners). The vast options out there indeed worries any home owner as every fan comes with different technical specifications and different signalling protocol. Here’s a guide on how to choose the right ceiling fan for your smart home!

Signalling Protocol in the market

1. Wi-Fi Smart Fans

Popularity of Wi-Fi Smart fans are on the rise due to the accessibility of Tuya chips in the market. Pros of using Wi-Fi smart fans include bi-directional feedback, i.e. being able to have the true status of the fan reflected on the mobile app, and having the flexibility of white ambiance color tuning and brightness adjustment for the LED lights on the ceiling fans.

Why bi-directional feedback helps? Simply put, if my SO were to use the remote to power off the fan, I am able to see that the fan is powered off from the app. I will explain the confusion caused by uni-directional signalling protocol later in this article.

 

PO Fan - Blizzard

Now, the cons of having a Wi-Fi enabled fan – it contributes to network congestion, on top of your iPads, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, work station etc. now the Smart Fan joins the ecosystem. Not forgetting your smart TV, Smart Washing Machine, Smart Fridge etc. Another consideration is that Wi-Fi chips consume higher electricity than other signal protocols, which begs the question; whether getting a smart home really saves energy.

Wi-Fi enabled fans also comes with their proprietary mobile applications, which means that if you have an ecosystem of smart devices, you will have multiple app on your phone.

Brands with Wi-Fi enabled fans: PO Eco, Haiku, Crestar

2. Remote control enabled ceiling fans

Remote control comes in various forms, RF, IR and Bluetooth. Here is how you identify them

KDK DC Fan usually use IR Remote controllers

Infra-Red (IR) enabled remote control has a small bulb at the top of the remote. Most air conditioners use IR remote control and can only work with line of sight.

Brands using IR Remote controllers: Haiku, KDK (DC Fans)

Radio Frequency (RF) enabled remote control has an RF chip which is embedded within the remote. RF signals are able to pass through walls and no need any line of sight for the remote to work. RF frequency usually runs between 300-440 hz.

Brands using RF Remote Controllers: Fanco, PO Eco, KDK, Fanztec, Bestar

Bluetooth enabled remote controls are introduced very recently and are a mutated form of the RF, just that it uses radio waves on a frequency band between 2.400 GHz and 2.483.5 GHz for data transmission. Bluetooth technology is said to be the future and it is able to connect to multiple devices including your mobile phones and tablets directly.

Brands using Bluetooth Remote controllers: Crestar

It is still possible to get Crestar RF remote controls but they seem to be phasing out their RF remote controls

IR or RF remote controls are easy to replicate and learn. IR/RF universal remote controllers are readily available online with a simple manual/step by step instructions on the mobile app; it is the simplest way to integrate into smart homes.

Unline Wi-Fi connected fans, IR, RF and bluetooth remote controls are not bi-directional i.e. if my SO turns off the celing fan using the remote (and not via the smart home app) the true status of the fan will not be reflected on the app, making it frustrating to live with someone who doesn’t like to use the smart home app. Read on for Home-A-Genius’ workaround to fix this problem! 🙂

3. Good ol’ traditional fan wall switch

I’d say we’ve gone past that since 2019. Most fans have migrated to remote control for many reasons; user convenience, installer’s convenience etc. I can’t think of any pros of using a traditional wall switch except that there is no need to change put batteries. At this day and age, just go for a remote controlled fan. 🙂

broken image

So what determines the right signalling protocol for you when doing a smart home?

Simple answer: Smart signalling device and Location of your fan

The most generic smart home device is the universal controller – Broadlink. Broadlink has a few versions. Let’s zoom into the 2 favourites. Broadlink RM 4 Pro and Broadlink RM 4.

Broadlink RM4 Pro

Broadlink RM 4 has IR capabilities and RM 4 Pro has both RF and IR functionalities. Both are able sync up to Google Assistant and Alexa. For your smart fan to work with Broadlink, your fan must be able to receive IR/RF signals. Broadlink can only learn RF signals within the range of 315.XX or 433.XX MHz unencrypted. This does not apply to RF controllers which are sending out rolling codes. Rolling codes mean that every RF signal sent out is different. Broadlink is unable to learn rolling codes as of now.

Examples of fans with Rolling codes: Vento, Aeroair

Note: We’ve confirmed that Eco-Airx is no longer running on rolling code and we are able to use Broadlink RF blaster to send signalsto the fans!

Broadlink, just like any other electronic devices, is not weatherproof. If you are getting a fan for your balcony, best to get an RF/Wi-Fi fan. This way, you are able to keep the signalling devices indoors while you automate your balcony fans.

How to select a good Fan remote for Broadlink?

image courtesy from Home-A-Genius' client

TOP Choice for RF fan remote. The above remote control has all the functions needed for:

1. Fan Speed, as represented by the individual 1,2,3,4,5

2. White Ambiance color tuning, as represented by Cool, Day and warm in seperate buttons

3. Seperate off function for fan and light

4. RF control, meaning to say I can keep the Broadlink RM 4 Pro indoors while i control the ceiling fan in the balcony.

Overall the above remote has all the features needed for smart home automation, with all functions available for Broadlink to learn. Also mean that I can easily give voice command to Google/Smart home app for almost every function I need for my fan. The only feature that is lacking for this remote is to be able to control the brightness of the lights via percentage. i.e. the user has to be present to validate the correct brightness.

image courtesy from Home-A-Genius' client

 

The above remote control has all the functions needed for:

1. Fan Speed, as represented by the individual 1,2,3,4,5,6

2. Seperate off function for fan

3. Color adjustment of LED light is limited by toggle action.

4. RF control, meaning to say I can keep the Broadlink RM 4 Pro indoors while I control the ceiling fan in the balcony.

My only issue with this remote is that it does not allow me to give voice command to say “Set lights to warm white”. The user will need to validate the color of the lights by being physically there.

 

Dyson Fan remote control

Sadly, Dyson has the worst remote control for linking up to Broadlink. Don’t get me wrong. Dyson fan and remote is good if you are not doing any smart home automation. I’ll list down the reasons why its not the best option with Broadlink:

1. There is no specific on/off button.

2. No distinct buttons for specific fan speed

3. Remote control is IR

This means that we are unable to determine the fan speed or if the fan is powered on/off unless we validate it ourselves. Also the IR blaster has to be in line of sight to the Dyson fans.

An alternative is to set up a Google routine by turning on a smart plug and sending an IR signal to the fan.

broken image

We recently saw the above fan remote and it can’t be linked to Broadlink RM Pro+. We suspect its not RF. What we didnt like about this remote was:

1. There was no distinct speed for the system to determine “Low, Medium, High” fan speed.

2. The LED light buttons were too small for us to figure out which buttons to increase/decrease brightness.

3. We couldnt figure out what the rest of the buttons mean.

Overall, we can’t link this fan up and user has to use the fan seperately from the smart home system.

Fine-Tuning/Workaround by Home-A-Genius

1. Ease off network congestion

Most of our ceiling fans are linked up by 1x RF Broadlink, reducing the number of connected devices to the routers to its minimum. As RF remotes can pass through walls, we usually recommend just 1 RF blaster for a single storey apartment.

2. Deep integration with Smart Fans

While Dyson remains one of the favourite fans in Singapore, Home-A-Genius is compatible with Dyson fans, allowing our app users to control on/off and fan speed (from 0% to 100%) with bi-directional feedback. This way, the reliance on smart plugs and IR blasters is eliminated.

While we see IR & RF signals as a way to minimize network congestion, IR/RF signals can only be sent out in sequence. I.e. If you are planning to turn on your Air Con and Ceiling fan at the same time, we will recommend a 2 step process as the signals can only be sent out in sequence. Deep integration on the other hand, is able to manage multiple commands.

broken image

3. Powering on/off fans by switches

broken image

Home owners who want to capture true status of their homes, using voice command and app control is the best method. However, an alternative option is to power off/on fans. Such situations may poise a problem if the fan motor does not have last state memory. i.e. the fan remains off despite it being powered on before someone presses the switch. Home-A-Genius has implemented a 2-step feature for all ceiling fans whereby pressing on the switch alone will trigger the RF blaster to turn on the fan to the defualt fan speed the family desires.

Feel free to drop by our showroom at 1 Tampines North Drive 1 #01-20 T-Space Singapore 528559 to see how we automate our partner company PO fan!

Disclaimer: Signalling protocol of the above brands are truthful as of December 2021. We are unsure when the companies will change their protocol. Best to check in with the vendors’ salesperson before purchasing the ceiling fan of your choice!

20 Apr
Uncategorized

Smart Home in times like COVID-19 #Stayhome for #SGUnited

COVID-19 sparks fear, anxiety & kiasu-ism

With the constant news on COVID-19 spread across the globe, everyone is living in fear. The constant awareness on social distancing, sanitizing, washing of hands etc. have led to an increase in steps/processes within the home. Technology is here to simplify things.

 
broken image

1. Reducing surface contact

- Voice control such as Google Assistant(s)

Voice command was always the call for automation hands-free/touch-free. With the constant fear of contaminated surfaces, voice command surely brings reduced contact. Turning on lights/fans are not limited through switches.

Worried about slow network speeds affecting your smart home's reaction time? We heard you. Home-A-Genius recently launched our Local Google Assistant; voice commands get activated in less than 1s (cold starts excluded). Our engineers were hard at work on it during our COVID-19 #stayhome days as we knew the importance of speedy voice commands in smart homes. Existing Home-A-Genius homeowners, stay tuned to your upgraded hubs this week!

 
broken image

- Motion sensors & Door sensors

Lights can also be triggered via sensors that simply reduces surface contact. Simply walk to the area of interest and the lights turn on like TA-DA.

- Automatic Soap Dispenser

Rule of thumb. Reduce as much contact as possible. Instead of contaminating your soap dispenser, use the Xiaomi Automatic Soap Dispenser instead. Powered by only 4x AA batteries, the dispenser simply squirts a generous amount of foam for direct sanitization.

 

2. Contactless Delivery

- 2-way Audio CCTV

With all the #stayhome signs everywhere, the best way to shop is through e-Commerce. Platforms like Singapore Home Cooks where fresh foods can be ordered online and delivered to your doorsteps has eased its way into every household's lifestyle.

Scenario: The doorbell rings and you rush to don up your mask.

Instead of rushing to the mask station, use a 2-way Audio CCTV to instruct the delivery man were to place the items. Slowly make your way to the delivered items after the delivery man has left.

 

FYI. Skip sending the pin code to the deliveryman as much as possible. 🙂

3. No internet? No Problem

Your favourite telco has gone down during COVID-19. Bummer. While Home-Based Learnings and Zoom calls no longer work, the last you'd want is for your smart home to be disconnected. Smart Home hubs are best designed as local servers to reduce dependency on your internet speed and downtime. Consider the internet aspect when purchasing your smart home.

Let us know if your home has any WiFi problem. Team Home-A-Genius are experts in setting up networking solutions to zhng your WiFi to the max.

4. Energy Monitoring

While Singapore is prepping into her hotter summer time, the balance for energy consumption has to be monitored to reduce wastage. Air Quality can be monitored by air purifers and room temperatures can be controlled by temperature sensors. While home owners have to take note not to overuse the air con throughout the day, the smart home system can regulate duration the air con can be turned on/off based on the day's usage.

Smart home reduces anxiety

With the constant maintianence, monitoring and looking after your home, the added stress of COVID-19 will surely lead to decision fatigue. Inclusion of smart home reduces small actions like turning on the light or the consciousness to off devices off our minds so we can focus on work, COVID-19 santizations and our families better. While our time at home will eventually increase during the fight with COVID-19, smart home technology is here to assist any home owners in managing their homes.

22 Mar
Uncategorized

2020 Renovation Guide to Smart Home Automation

Pre-Renovation planning: Networking & Electrical wiring

 

Planning a smart home starts way back to pre-renovation stage. This is the golden stage any smart home consultants get most flexibility to achieve the optimal smart home solution for their clients. During this stage, 2 main agenda will be covered to ensure that the smart home works at its best - networking & electrical wiring.

 

Networking with minimal WiFi deadspot

 

Networking Solutions: First, look at the location of your Distributor box (DB). This is where most of your data points terminate. New BTO/Condo units will have a network switch, the OpenNet port and the Internet Service Provider (ISP) modem located in the DB. In short, the DB is like the networking HQ of your home. This is also where most of your router will be placed.

The issue lies here - the DB in most new BTO/Condo units are located in an isolated area of the home. This means that most homes in Singapore will have WiFi deadspots if the networking solution is not planned carefully. In this case, no matter how many smart devices your home is equipped with, the lack of connectivity will dampen the performance of the smart home.

 

How to solve this?

Networking itself is a module in University and it is a subject students are afraid of. With the speed at how technology is evolving, networking cannot be mastered overnight. My advice, get an expert's opinion, it only makes your life (and your partner's) a lot easier with a stable WiFi within your new home.

 

If you are really keen on D.I.Y, plan your networking solution such that the router is situated at the center of your home. Do note that all the other devices (connected via LAN) will have to be connected to the same router.

 

Next, do take note of the number of walls your router have to penetrate to reach the end of the home. Weaker routers may not be able to reach the far end of your home due interferences.

 

Lastly, plan your networking solution with Access Points (AP) i.e. connect your LAN cables directly. AP solutions are (for sure) more stable and reliable compared to wireless mesh solutions. Situtate the AP within your home that covers greatest traffic. This will ensure your WiFi connected devices to be within areas of WiFi network coverage.

 

Why the additional neutral wire?

 

Electrical wiring: Do I need a neutral wire for my switches? Our recommendation is always to go with a YES. Neutral wire not only stabilizes the circuit within the home, it also allows for a more efficient smart switch protcol within the home.

 

BTO/Condo will already have ready made switches. Note that these switches may not come with a neutral wire. You may speak to your electricians on how to pull the extra neutral wire to your switch. Alternatively, you may look into getting Non-Neutral wire switches.

 

Post-Renovation: am I too late to implement my Smart Home?

 

It is never too late to start. Just that post-reno implementation of smart home will not garner as much flexibility as pre-reno. This means that implementing a smart home post-reno may cost you even more than planning your smart home pre-reno, due to many limitations:

 

Networking Solution: You may be limited to mesh router options, where WiFi signal are interlinked wirelessly. Compared to the AP option, mesh routers are pricier and may result loss of network speed down the node.

 

Lack of Neutral wire: this means that neutral wire smart switches may be out of reach. This leaves you to only Smart Lights, universal IR or RF blasters for ceiling fans. The option of Smart Lights are often costlier and less optimal than installing smart switches.

 

Let's take a look at these 2 scenarios.

 

Post-Reno: Philips HUE smart lights are $99/downlight. Assuming you are looking to furnish your living room with 8 smart downlights. The item cost will be $792, not to forget the HUE bridge, which is $89 each, amounting the full sum to automate your living room lights to $881.

 

Pre-Reno: Electrical fees to pull the neutral wire (without hacking) range between $100 to $160. Let's take the fees to add the blue wire to be $120. The cost of a 2G touch panel smart switch is $99. The total amount to smarten your living room is only $220.

 

The smart home hub you are looking not only reduces its communication protocol to only 1x smart switch from the above 8x smart lights, optimizing your smart home system as much as possible.

 

Disclaimer: Of cause, HUE lights have their pros. If you are looking for lights that change colors and can dim/brighten, HUE lights are our top light choice. Lights linked to switches can only on/of or dim. Color changing is not possible with smart switches.

 

Just gotten your keys? Plan your smart home now!

Always budget for smart home during renovation. Prices of Smart home solutions can range drastically, depending on the features and lifestyle you are looking at. Always seek expert's advises as Smart Home Technology is constantly evolving and small, intricate details have to be considered when planning for a smart home.

 

Not sure where to start? Speak to us!

26 Oct
Uncategorized

Why an open smart home platform makes sense in 2020?

broken image

Boom in Smart Devices

We are in the era of smart technology, IoT, smart curtains, smart lights, smart-whatever-you-call-it. With the current state of smart home, this technology is in a mess.

In recent years, every supplier is looking to smarten their own devices. This has become a trend in every supplier. Daikin's smart air con is on its way. Philips, our favourite light supplier, has started the HUE series long time ago. Somfy, our most welcomed curtains & blinds motor company, has also created a hub - Connexxon that connects to the internet.

 
broken image

Boom in Smart Home Ecosystems & Smart Home Apps

Each device has its own app (per say). Some suppliers even ventured out to white-label smart devices to tag on their "brands", hoping to encapsulate their clients into their own smart home ecosystem; and eventually dominating the smart home world like how Pinky and the Brain tried.

This seemed like a peachy and logical solution for any established, well-reputable company. Simply invest in a range of factory-made devices, with the only agenda of mass producing smart home devices at low prices.

Why an open platform makes sense in 2020?

Specialization

 
Specialize in Smart Home

One thing for sure, manufacturers should focus on manufacturing devices/systems they specialize in. This should make logical sense to anyone; you simply can't get someone trained in history to work on accounting. Either the historian takes a few years to fully understand the intricacy of accounting, or he simply falls into the pit hole of repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

Investing in factory-made solutions is a quick way to solve the current "goal" (just like outsourcing). Outsourcing always lead to one problem: you tend to lose the company's identity & focus. Fulfilling the “goal” of achieving a smart home ecosystem is easy, but the goal of customer satisfaction may be compromised.

Future-proofing

 
Future Proofing your home

An open platform, vastly different from a closed ecosystem, allows users to pick and choose the best brands of their device. “Best” is often subjected by the user’s needs and wants and choices often vary amongst clients. The closed ecosystem may provide an affordable and working smart home solution. Whilst, limiting the clients on other smart devices such as home theatre systems, sound systems, TV choices and even voice controllers.

The ultimate objective of dominating market share will only come close if the solution is well embraced by many. This will require usability, robustness and stability of the system.

Accessibility

 
Sonos with Alexa & Google Home | Smart Sound System

Sonos, became all time popular after it's integration with Alexa/google home was made possible. On its own, it may not be the best sound system available in the market (really all depends on needs of the clients). With high expectations of clients these days, being the best is no longer the unique selling point. Being able to access the device, either through an app, through voice control, or even through buttons, has become the new selling point of the system is.

The most cost effective method is to use the device more often so as to maximize the use of its lifespan. If the device is built to be the best, but setting it up takes a while, users may use it for a short period of time and the frequency of use will eventually decline.

Is an open platform worth it?

For the flexibility, stability and usability, it is definitely worth it. For me to be able to reuse my current devices is a sure yes. An open platform will cost more than a closed ecosystem, due to its regular maintainence on making sure the codes are updated regularly, even when the device’s codes are buggy/unstable. We have experienced bad codes/bugs from big companies and had to fix the bug on our end, just to ensure that our clients’ smart home continue to work.

On top of that, new devices are constantly being considered based on demands from clients. While a closed ecosystem fulfil the role of a smart home, it will not satisfy the needs of a user in the long run.

13 Jun
Uncategorized

Smart Light Automation: Nanoleaf Singapore – See the music in colors

Nanoleaf - just lights only mah.

Nanoleaf is more than just a gamers' haven lights display. It is a futuristic light, mood setter and a music visualizer in your home. Being a really curious and up-to-date technology company, we've purchased one months ago to welcome our new office. Attached some images of our Nanoleaf in the office.

 
Nanoleaf | Smart Light Setup | Smart Home Automation | Smart Home Setup
 
Nanoleaf | Smart Light Setup | Smart Home Automation | Smart Home Setup

Understand my photography skills aren't the best. I have attached some Instagram worthy images from the web, to give Nanoleaf some justice.

 
Baby room with Nanoleaf

Nanoleaf as part of baby's room deco + light source.

Credits: imguruweb.com

 
Nanoleaf | Smart Light Setup | Smart Home Automation | Smart Home Setup

Simple light decoration for living room. More quirks than the normal cove lights.

Credits: UrbanOutfitters

Setting up your Nanoleaf

This smart light is one of the easiest lights to setup. How simple? So simple we did not even need anyone else to help (no electricians, no dads, just me alone).

 
Nanoleaf Rhythm Module 9 panel pack

Nanoleaf Light Panels: As we've tried out the pack (very eagerly), we forgot to take photos of the unboxed view. The box comes with a 9 piece light panel, a 3-pin UK adapter, several 3M double sided tapes, several panel connectors, a control panel and also the most important RHYTHM MODULE.

You'll first need to attach the 3-pin UK adapter to a power source. The first panel will be connected to the control panel. Once connected, it will light up with this super bright white light. I have also connected the rhythm module to the first panel for simplicity sake. You can place the Rhythm module on any panel.

 
Nanoleaf | Smart Light Setup | Smart Home Automation | Smart Home Setup

Next, stick the 3M on the next panel and use the panel connectors to connect it with the first panel. After all panels are up, you are up for the app connection.

 
Nanoleaf panel connector

Setting up your Nanoleaf App

First, download the Nanoleaf app from AppStore (or Google PlayStore).

 
Nanoleaf | Smart Light Setup | Smart Home Automation | Smart Home Setup

The cool thing about the Nanoleaf app is that there is no need to log in to any account and the app still works fine. Skip all the log in functions and dive directly to the more option at the bottom right of the app. Select "My Devices", "+" at the top right of the app, Light Panels, Start Pairing. Afterwhich, simply follow the instructions on the app and WHOLLA! Your Nanoleaf is ready!

 
Nanoleaf | Smart Light Setup | Smart Home Automation | Smart Home Setup

During this process you'll need to ensure that the Nanoleaf has power supply. Also, note that Nanoleaf app control only works on one mobile device (if you are using the local connection method). We've tried to access the Nanoleaf via multiple devices, however we were made to do a factory reset on the Nanoleaf before the app can find the Nanoleaf in the list of devices.

Start Jamming!

Now that your Nanoleaf has been paired, it's time to JAM!

There are several cool stuffs on the app:

1. Dashboard: This is probably the most frequently used page for me. Turn on the Rhythm Module by toggling the button on the left to On.

Scrolling down the page will give you various light designs from the Nanoeaf team.

You can also adjust the brightness of the leaf by scrolling the brightness bar right beside the toggle button.

 
Nanoleaf | Smart Light Setup | Smart Home Automation | Smart Home Setup

2. Discover: This is the second most frequently used page in the app. You can preview the lights before downloading the new light designs into your Nanoleaf.

Tip: My favorite is Electric Chills within the Rhythm section. The light dances really well with the playlist "Light & Easy"/"Chill Hits" on Spotify.

Nanoleaf + Home-A-Genius

The magic about smart home automation is not being able to control these guys from different apps. It is about how you can simply scream "Alexa, turn on Music Mode" and your various lights (from all sorts of brands) start changing accordingly. We even spiced up the game by adding a Magic Cube from Xiaomi Aqara.

Smart Home Automation has evolved to more than just turning on/off lights. At this time and age, Smart home automation should answer to the user's comfort, ambiance and convenience level. The Nanoleaf has enhanced the whole smart home experience by adding color and mood to the home.

I would say a 4 out of 5 to buy this cool device. Why minus one? Technically, it is not a need. You will still enjoy the convenience & comfort of a smart home even without it. With it, you'll get to enjoy the luxury of smart home to its maximum.

The Nanoleaf Light Panel Starter Kit is going at $359. We have officially become distributors for Nanoleaf Singapore (YAYYYY!). Whatsapp us to order yours now!

Smart home Automation can be complex, we are always here to help. Contact us or even drop by for a visit if you are keen to have a look/demo of the Nanoleaf real time.

Disclaimer: Nanoleaf works directly with Google Assistant, Alexa & IFTTT. Just that i haven't gotten the chance to try it out.

 
11 Apr
Uncategorized

Fight the dark side of Smart Home & Internet Of Things (IoT)

The dark side of Smart Home & IoT has invaded

Over the years, we have evolved with machines. Pen, paper & calculators vs Excel calculations, broom vs vacuum, candles vs light bulbs, analogue phones vs smart phones, hand washing vs washing machines. Believe it or not, devices (smart or not) will eventually enter our homes in one way or another.

We have read many, many, many articles about how easily our data can be exposed through IoT devices from smart homes. In some way or another we agree and disagree with them.

The dark side can invade us... easily

Storm troopers working for Lord Vader looked at a few things when they hack.

1. They target groups of people and not individuals

If you ever get your data compromised, even though you are a normal human being like you and I, you are probably just........ one of us. Hackers target groups not individuals. Simple logic, your data is not worth their efforts; a population of data (or money) is worth it.

 

2. Troopers planned their attack well

Lets take a look at our recent SingHealth cyberattack; these storm troopers had their plan done up so well they even knew which system had that loophole. We have so many devices around us such as: Smart TV, Robot Vacuums or even something as innocent as your wireless printers. Any one of those could be used for hacking.

 
Appliances and devices such as Smart TV may pose potential security risk to the home owner

3. How valuable are these data

Data is just numbers, how we interpret them is another art to master. Why are data collected by smart home valuable - they tell us your lifestyle, how big is your home (based on the number of devices you have), when your home has no one in it, how often do you take your medicine etc. These are valuable data, well sought after by businesses out there.

How to prevent visits from the dark side?

Simple! Make yourself less of a target compared to other users.

1. Password Protection

We hear this everyday: Use Two-Factor Authentication, Updating Passwords etc. they do keep storm troopers out of sight. We can't bring down the importance of a strong password as it is the key to our data.

2. Downloading latest software

Once again, why do everyone say that?!

Simple. Companies are constantly trying to protect their consumers by actively looking for system loopholes. Every software update you do may include patches that may protect you and your family.

3. Minimize connection

Yes minimize connection. Get your home connected internally, but reduce the times it need to be connected. Keeping your home automation server local means that it can work without the internet. i.e. lesser chance for our trooper fellows to take chance.

Not so gloomy hard truths afterall?

In April 2018, Facebook CEO made a public apology to the congress with regards to the data breach scandal with Cambridge Analytica. Companies have since taken data security more seriously and boosting measures to protect their consumers. Consumers are even protected by the law to ensure that data privacy is looked after by the business itself.

We didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibility and that was a big mistake, my mistake and I am sorry. - Mark Zuckerburg

Businesses have heard the needs of their consumers and have done up measures to protect their consumers and the key to modern businesses is to allow for customers to opt in for their data to be shared.

Are you still afraid about technological advances? Let us know! We would love to hear from you!

 
26 Jan
Uncategorized

IoT, Smart Home and Edge Computing

One key consideration we thought of 2 years ago, was "how do we make the Home-A-Genius hub faster, smarter and safer". Our answer: a local processor, hosted locally in each of our client's home.

 

Today, this definition is known as Edge Computing.

 

What is Edge Computing?

 

Edge computing stores and process data locally, delivering a faster device response and keeping personal data secure.

In other words, edge computing caters only to the needs of the user, with the server hosted locally within the network premise of the user.

 

What does Edge Computing bring across?

 

Simply put, reduced latency, personal data security and distributed processing.

 

How Smart Home and Edge Computing complement each other

 

1. Reduced Latency

 

Edge computing processes the smart home logic locally. Meaning to say variables such as Internet connection to the cloud, slow network speed, congested client server etc. are minimised.

 

This may sound like a small matter. However, the story changes when you are living in it. If every command takes 10s to load, it may really be faster walking to the switch.

 

2. Keeping personal data secure

 

Keeping your smart home automation within your local network means that your personal data, behaviour, digital habits (e.g. when do you reach home, when do you wake up, which channels do you watch etc.) are stored locally.

 

Assuming someone/stalker is really interested in you, he or she will have to get access into your smart home network in order to retrieve such information. As such, we always advise clients to set up a guest network for their guests; so that only their family members have access to their smart home network.

 

3. Reduced failure points

 

The decentralised approach of Edge Computing allows for critical processing to be acted upon immediately, while non-critical processes can be processed during low usage.

 

Non-Critical processing can come in forms of video recordings from the IP camera . Uploading several 1080p videos may result in a bandwidth issue. Edge computing allows for quick local storage, while backup onto a secure server can be done during lull period.

 

Is Smart Home still vulnerable to security breach?

 

Corporate banks, government agencies and even the device you are reading from now are all vulnerable to security breach. However, that should not deter us from using existing technologies to make our lives easier. Technology has came a long way. Humans have started from local processing in the 1960s to cloud computing and now, with the abundance of IoT, we are moving back to local processing.

 

With Edge Computing, processes and logic are managed locally, reducing interaction with the internet; ultimately creating an invisible barrier to interested parties. A locally hosted smart home reduces digital vulnerability, and should be complemented by good security practices.

 

Is Edge Computing all that safe?

 

While Edge Computing allows for smart home systems to be run smoothly, it lacks the luster for backup solutions. i.e. if the hardware is damaged, your smart home disappears with it as well.

 

Home-A-Genius came up with a dual solution; to allow for cloud backup only when the smart home is least busy. This way, your smart home automation logic, smart home devices or smart home gadgets will be restored after recalling the previous day's copy.

 
Load more posts
Loading...