Having an automated home has become increasingly trendy in Singapore; many homeowners are turning to smart home assistants to help out with day-to-day tasks nowadays, so it’s easy to impulsively get one for your own home. Before you jump on the automation bandwagon, here are some things to consider.
PRO: You can manage all of your home devices from one place
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One major benefit of owning smart home assistants is convenience. Instead of flipping through dozens of dusty user manuals, simply navigate an app on your smartphone or tablet to utilize your home technology to the fullest. With a click of a few buttons, you, your spouse and even your children will be able to easily access any functions needed to create the perfect home.
PRO: You can save time, money and even the environment
Yes, you can reduce your energy bill with the help of smart home assistants! Since smart technology automates repetitive chores like adjusting lights, water heaters and air-con units, they also eliminate plenty of wasted time. If you’re big on saving mother earth, you’ll appreciate how this optimized use of energy plays a pivotal role in energy conservation as well. Now that’s what we call killing three birds with one stone.
PRO: You’ll get a reliable home security system
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You know what they say in Singapore: “low crime doesn’t mean no crime.” If you really want to protect your home, smart home assistants beat manually-operated security systems through the integration of high-tech alarm systems, security cameras, door sensors and video doorbells. Apart from alerting owners when home safety is breached, protective measures will also kick in immediately. External threats aside, your home’s safety is also guaranteed thanks to smart technology’s ability to detect smoke, gas or water leakage and carry out real-time preventive action.
CON: You’ll need some trial and error before getting things right
After all, these things aren’t human and such complex technology is bound to have slip-ups. From inaccurate responses to challenges making out the Singaporean accent, it may take days or even weeks before your smart home assistant fixes these mishaps and starts performing the desired response. While this can be frustrating at first, you and your smart home assistant will get used to each other with some time and practice!
CON: You’ll encounter some privacy risks
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The biggest concern homeowners have when it comes to home automation tends to be the inherent security risks and ‘fly on the wall’ feeling that smart home assistants can give. It can be unnerving to know that your devices are constantly listening in to your private conversations or off-key shower karaoke sessions, all the while waiting for you to say the magic word before doing whatever job they’re supposed to. While these concerns are valid, you can always plug out these smart devices to deactivate them completely or delete your voice history, although doing so may degrade your experience.
CON: You’ll have to pay up for the full experience
Having a smart home isn’t just about adding a smart speaker to your living room or donning your kitchen with motion sensor lights. To get the full experience, you’ll need more than one device to make everything work. Most people spend $2,000-$4,000 for a smart automation system covering all the switch points for a three-bedroom unit and major appliances. Whether they’re worth the money really depends on the experience you want for your home. If you treasure the convenience, security and reduced costs they bring, smart assistants can elevate your quality of life. If these things aren’t of high priority and you enjoy manually setting up things at home, you’ll probably do fine without them!
Featured image courtesy of Google
