Smart Home

Imagine walking up to your home after a long day, and before you even get inside the lights gently turn on, the thermostat has adjusted to your preferred evening temperature, and the TV lights up to your favorite channel — all without lifting a finger. This is possible – if not even easy – and the everyday life I am pursuing in my own home. I grew up with futuristic homes seeming luxurious, but now they are accessible to everyone. But where do you start?

This was the question I asked myself after recently realizing that we had already been using devices that can interact on this level. By this I mean, a lot of home hardware connects to the internet. I have both outdoor and indoor lights that connect to a hub, allowing for in-app control. My security cameras are managed entirely from my phone. An app controls the thermostat. There’s another app for the TV and sound system. So when I recently received an Alexa, I started to explore its capabilities. It's still in the early stages, but I find myself feeling surprisingly powerful when I demand: “Alexa, let there be light!” and all the lights in the house and outside turn on at once!

My most recent venture has been working with the camera system to have Alexa announce visitors, with the eventual goal of auto-ordering Amazon goods based on the delivery drivers' schedules. However, I’m still not sure how I feel about all this interconnectivity, and it has not yet reached the level of Jarvis from IronMan. Meaning, if you are careless with the phrases you use, Alexa may changes settings you do not want Alexa to change.

There may be more sophisticated smart home setups to come, but for now, we are still getting the hang of a basic setup. It does look like there will be a lot of yelling at Alexa in the immediate future as I work out the kinks. Hopefully, neighbors are patient and don’t house anyone also named Alexa!