The lights go on as soon as you enter the room, the heating automatically goes one step higher when you approach the house and the washing machine sends an SMS when the laundry is ready: what sounds like science fiction is already reality in many households today. Smart Home is designed to make life at home more comfortable and safer and to use energy more efficiently. In intelligent living, many devices such as lamps, sockets and heaters can already be networked with each other and with a smartphone or tablet. The interconnected devices can then be remote-controlled using an app while on the move, from the couch or from a holiday. In this way, it is possible to regulate the temperature on the move, switch on the dishwasher from the workplace or preheat the oven on the way home.

The smart home

The smart home industry is still in its infancy, but many devices can already be networked with each other across manufacturers. Intelligent online sockets allow connected devices to be switched on and off via an app while on the move. For this purpose, the manufacturer Belkin offers beginners a WLAN-capable socket. But even remote access by remote control via the smartphone is no longer absolutely necessary. Using home automation, the devices can also communicate with each other via Bluetooth. For example, the heating automatically detects when you leave the house with your smartphone and then shuts itself down automatically. When you get closer, the heating switches on again. Or sensors in the window frame register when ventilation takes place and switch the heating off. Energy consumption can be noticeably reduced by using electricity and heating as needed. This not only protects the environment but also your wallet. The supplier Tado promises to save up to 31 percent on heating costs with its intelligent thermostat. The thermostat even takes into account the weather forecast and adjusts the heating output accordingly.

Smarter has an intelligent coffee machine in its range for those who want to feel the pleasant smell of coffee in their nose right after waking up. This makes coffee independently at a pre-programmed time, can be started on the move or makes the coffee stronger when the connected sleep tracker indicates that your night has been turbulent.

Entertainment in every room

Smart home products not only make it possible to use energy more efficiently, but also improve the quality of life. Intelligent home control can also be used to network consumer electronics. Multiroom systems play music in the room where you are. Photos and films can also be stored on an in-house server and thus retrieved in any room. For example, it is possible to continue watching films on the tablet without interruption when you leave the living room. A very special smart home experience can be achieved with smart LED bulbs. After all, who says that lamps only have to light in one colour? With a Philips E27 Hue LED lamp, you can choose from 16 million colours depending on your mood.

Even dynamic profiles with changing ambiences can be programmed in this way. Aqara LED light bulb, for example, can be set to glow in reading mode or sunset style. Smart light bulbs can also be synchronised with film and music and room lighting can be adjusted accordingly.

Everything under control at all times

Home automation can also increase security at home. For example, presence simulations can be programmed to make the accommodation appear habitable in absentia. Then the blinds open and close at different times and in different rooms the light is switched on and off for a certain time. If this is not deterrent enough, the house automatically contacts the police if sensors and motion detectors detect that doors or windows are being opened. Smoke detectors can be networked with lamps, which can then act as optical hazard detectors in an emergency or point the way outside. In addition, smart cameras can automatically connect to the WLAN and send current pictures of their own home to the smartphone or tablet. With Telekom's security package, for example, you can keep an eye on your home at all times, even when on vacation.