What is Domotics?
The automation of household appliances in homes, particularly through electronic means is called Domotics. This includes the switching on of the lights when someone enters a room or making smart washing machines which choose an appropriate time and cycle automatically for a certain load of clothes. Domotics are also referred to as “smart home systems” or home automation. Both software and hardware are used in domotics and are used to make customized systems for a specific purpose or can be used to modify an existing system.
In home design and construction, domotics has been used by many architects. The domotics system tends to be cheaper to maintain and install when it is integrated into the house at the time it is being built. And flexibility can be provided so that further modifications and options can be added. These types of automated systems can also be used in existing homes.
The system which is used to control the levels of light in the home is the most common example of home automation. It also helps in saving energy. Low levels of light are also favored at dinner parties. The blinds and curtains can also be adjusted using these types of systems. Systems like theft-deterrent systems, automatic door-locking systems, security systems including surveillance systems and climate control systems can be installed using domotics.
More creative versions of these home automation systems include the home entertainment regulation systems which include house-wide speakers, intercoms, home networks, controlling of irrigation, pet feeding and watering systems and phone systems. People can record television shows that can be viewed at a later time, or can feed their pet while they are out on a trip by using a domotics system.
More sophisticated systems can include inventory control systems and users can have RFID tagged contents. And updates can also be requested; for example, one can be informed if the supply of a particular thing is low or on can log into a house to check which grocery item is required. Shopping lists related to products which need to be replaced or to be purchased, and lists related to collections like movies, records and books can be made using these systems.
The concept of domotics is gradually improving and homes are being automated to a larger extent as engineers are coming up with more and more creative ideas to automate homes. A computer or a centralized control panel can be used to control these systems. The control panels which are integrated into homes are helpful in such a way that people can connect these panels with remote computers. For example, if somebody is far away from home, he/she can still water the plants by using remote computers which can be networked with control panels present inside the home.
Category: Technology