The Lodha Group has been a frontrunner in the adoption of latest technologies and has showcased Smart Home features in several Show Residences across Mumbai. In this section, we have asked one of our technology partners, Cool Setup, to provide an overview of Smart Homes and explain why this area of technology has seen a meteoric rise over the past couple of years.

Smart Homes and what it means for you!

If there are two words that we are familiar with in the 21st century, they are ‘Smart Homes’. Today, with the help of technology, we have been able to push the boundaries of our imagination further than it has ever reached before – opening up a world of opportunities that were not available to the past generations.

We live in an age where smartphones, smart gadgets and smart cars have become the norm as we rapidly move to a future driven by automation and technology.

So, what do we actually mean by a Smart Home?

Introducing Smart Homes

Thanks to what is now known as ‘The Internet of Things’, we are living in a world where almost everything is connected to the internet. This has allowed our devices (such as lights, music, climate control, motion sensors, security etc.) to talk to each other and has given us the power to control them through voice commands or the touch of a button.

Homes today are being built keeping in mind ‘The Internet of Things’ and are transforming our day to day, fast paced lifestyle. These futuristic homes are being tailored to make life a more relaxing, efficient and a pleasurable experience by leverage upon latest technology.

Briefly put, Smart Homes are homes that think the way you want them to.

The Pinnacle of Modern Living

Through the decades, technology has helped make our lives a lot simpler, convenient and luxurious, but in a much-limited capacity. The advent of Smart Homes in the housing segment portends exciting times for a homebuyer.

We have been presented with an opportunity to live a lifestyle straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. Smart Homes enables us to take the comfort and lifestyle offered to a completely new level by allowing us the opportunity to integrate technology into our homes and daily lives.

Life in a smart home

Let’s paint a picture – as you walk into your bedroom in the evening, the lights switch on, the TV turns to your favourite nightly news channel, the room temperature on your AC is set to your preference and the curtains are automatically drawn. All this is done just by using your voice. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

If you are in the mood for a romantic flick or an action packed thriller - by simply giving a command, your state-of- the-art home theatre system turns on, lights dim and the AC is switched on. All you need to do is grab some popcorn and enjoy the movie.

Now when you leave your home, you don’t need to worry. Motion sensors will send you alerts on your smartphone if they detect any motion. Use of a camera allows you to view your home even if you are miles away and a biometric door lock makes it very difficult for any unauthorized entry. Best of all, you no longer need to carry any keys!

Today, your smart refrigerator can alert you if you are running short of any groceries. You can talk to your pet and feed them even if you are not at home and can switch off your home with a click of a button - these are just a few features that Smart Homes have to offer their customers that can elevate a basic lifestyle to a luxurious one.

With gadgets this smart, home truly is where the heart lives.

A Smart Investment option

We are on the verge of a smart home boon. A recently study by Intl Corporation said that it expects to see at least one smart home device in every home by 2025.

According to Money Control, smart homes are no longer a toy for the rich. They are now increasingly becoming more affordable and accessible to the average Indian household as well. These households are already familiar with some form of smart home automation or the other and find it easy to adapt to the Smart Home lifestyle.

Before considering investing in smart home technology, ask yourself a few questions:

If your answer is yes, then we’d recommend that you invest in a Smart Home now and reap the benefits for a lifetime.

The opinions expressed in this column are that of the author.
Author – Sumeet Mashru, Founder of Cool Setup. http://www.coolsetup.com/#home