People may have drawn a distinction between home security and home automation years ago, but any such distinctions are quickly fading away. The two are now more likely to be presented as one in the same. The change is partly because of market trends and partly due to the efforts of companies like Vivint Home Security.
Vivint and many of its direct competitors have combined home automation and security to offer customers complete systems featuring both. Personally, I think that is a good deal. Why? Because there are a number of home automation features that can actually enhance security. Below are just five of them.
Treating home automation and security as distinct entities is still possible. But combining them as a single, fully integrated entity creates something bigger and better.
1. Smart Lighting Control
Lighting is one of the easiest things to automate. With a selection of smart plugs, switches, and light bulbs, a homeowner can turn every light fixture in their home into a smart fixture. That means every light can also be automated. What does this have to do with security?
Security experts constantly remind us to make our homes look occupied even when they are not. The philosophy bore the idea of putting lights on electric timers back in the 1970s. But modern home automation now makes it possible to program lights in such a way as to realistically mimic movement throughout a house. What better way to make a home appear occupied?
2. Garage Door Control
It is a given that criminals look for the easiest possible targets. Strangely, homeowners often make themselves targets by leaving doors and windows open. The garage door is a big problem because when left open, it gives a burglar an entry point and an idea of what types of valuables might be inside the house.
Vivint offers a garage door control system complete with an open-door sensor. It can be integrated with a home security system to send an alert when the door is left open. Better yet, a homeowner can program his system with a routine that automatically closes the door after a certain amount of time.
3. Smart Door Locks
A smart door lock is both a home automation and security device. From a security standpoint, it acts as an enhancement by providing remote access. Smart locks also provide notifications when someone is entering or leaving, allowing the homeowner to monitor who is coming and going from their house. And because entry is keyless, a homeowner does not have to temporarily give keys to visiting guests. Fewer keys in circulation make for a more secure home.
4. Voice Control
One of my favorite home automation features is voice control. It enhances security by allowing me to control any of my devices with a verbal command. Imagine a homeowner startled awake in the middle of the night by sounds that suggest a burglar might be prowling. A simple voice command turns on every light in the house. That should be enough to scare away anyone who should not be there.
5. Geolocation
Geolocation represents an opportunity to tie home automation routines to my physical location. A homeowner can use that to his advantage for security purposes. A fitting example is creating a routine that locks the door, turns off the lights, and checks the garage door’s position whenever he leaves home. Everything happens automatically.
Home automation and security have become one and the same thanks to new technology and integration capabilities. That’s good because both are made better when they are developed in the same ecosystem.
