Smart home automation isn’t just about being up to date with the most on trend gadgets and gizmo’s – it’s more about enabling all your devices, appliances or systems to connect on a common network. This then allows you to manage all your home devices from your smartphone or touch screen device. Here, the Technology Doctors offers some more information to guide you through:

1. Choose which system to control your Automated Home

‍The first thing you need to decide is which system will control your Automated Home.  The main three to choose are – Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit.  The majority of connected devices and services are compatible with all three so it will depend on which technology products you currently use.  If you currently use an iPhone or have an iTunes account then Apple HomeKit might be the one for you, similarly if you use an Android Phone or have Google Drive then Google Assistant could be a good choice or if you have Amazon Fire products (or you are an Amazon Prime customer) then Amazon Alexa might be most suitable.  

Contact us to arrange an assessment so that we can recommend a solution for you: 

2. Ensure your WiFi Broadband speed and coverage is good enough

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If you are going to have lots more devices connected to your WiFi Broadband network, then you need to ensure the speed is fast enough and that coverage is good enough inside and outside of your house.   Also, many connected products need a bridge that connects via an Ethernet port to your router(s) so you will need to make sure you have enough of these available to use.  

Contact us to arrange an assessment so that we can recommend a solution for you:

3. Voice Automated TV, Sky, Netflix and Home Cinema

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‍Turn all your TV, Sky and Home Cinema devices on and off with just one voice command as well as turn the volume up and down, switch channels and play or pause on-demand movies and programs.  

To do this you will need a Logitech Harmony Elite Home Controller, click on the link below to find out more:

4. Voice Automated Wireless Speaker and Music Streaming

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‍Listen to any radio station or play any song or album in your music collection with just one voice command as well as turn the volume up and down and play or pause if your phone or doorbell rings.  To do this you will need to have a Wireless Smart Speaker and a Music Streaming service – Spotify, iTunes, iPlayer etc.

5. Voice Automated Lights, Switches, Plugs & Sockets

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‍Turn your lights on and off, set a scheduled time for them to go on or off and ensure all your plug sockets are switched off with just one voice command.  Rather than changing every light bulb or adding a smartplug to everything why not just make all your light switches and plug sockets voice enabled?

To do this you will need to a solution like Lightwave, see the link below for more information:

6. Voice Automated Heating

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‍Turn your heating on and off with just one voice command as well as increasing or decreasing the temperature in any room in your house.  As well as getting a Smart Thermostat you can also have individual thermostats for every radiator in your house so that you can control the temperature in every room.  

A solution like Honeywell Evohome can do this all for you and they claim reduce your Heating bills by 40%, see the link below for more information: