After the introduction of smart phones and smart cars it was only inevitable that our homes become smart too. In so many instances one wakes up in the morning late for work wishing the coffee machine had made the coffee already, or in the instance where one is late to get home and the lights are switched off evidently showing potential intruders that no one is home, one does wish they could just switch on the lights from where ever they are. The idea of being able to control the amount of power consumed in a home is everyone’s dream come true especially when it comes to reducing the electric bill at the end of the month.
Z-wave has become one of the leading technologies to bring the future home to you with home control and monitoring technologies. It has over 1200+ devices that will work hand in hand to make the consumer’s life a dream and carry out some mundane day to day task that occupy our time as well as just make your lifestyle more convenient.
What is Z-wave?
Z-wave is a wireless communications protocol designed for home automation specifically for remote control applications in residential and light commercial environments. Put lightly it is an innovation that allows the consumer to transform their home into a smart home. The consumer can use devices such as their smart phones, their PCs, and their tablets to control various devices in their home.
The technology uses a low RF radio that is fitted into different systems and devices in the home allowing those devices to be accessed from a single point. To meet the design parameters, Z-Wave package includes a chip with a low data rate that offers reliable data delivery thus making the system quite efficient. It gives the opportunity for the consumer to control what goes on in their own household wirelessly.
The Convenience
With almost everyone having access to smart phones, consumers can now control their home very easily while they are on the go. This is especially beneficial to those consumers who are nervous travellers or those that are very forgetful. They can easily have control over their home no matter where they are. So many times people forget to switch off the stove when they leave their homes or have a nagging feeling that they left an appliance on that may inevitably start a fire? They can easily use their phone to make sure the appliance is switched off.
With a Smartphone on the “Go” it is easy to have peace of mind when leaving home for long or for short periods of time. Alerts can be sent to the consumer’s phone in the event of an emergency because Z-wave can allow one to know when something has gone wrong at home, whether it be a fire, a water leak even an intruder and all this via smart phones.
When the consumer is at home they can easily control it all without having to get up from their beds. Using a tablet they can take control of all their electrical products by simply setting up their tablets to link to these devices. They can set the house alarm without having to get up, control the lighting in the home just to suit the mood and link it up with the home entertainment center to play just the right song at the right time and the coffee will be ready on time in the morning every morning.
The PC is also another device that Z-Wave uses to control home appliances. While the consumer is at work they can easily check in on the house and manage it while they work. When anyone arrives home an email can easily be sent to alert the home owner that someone is home especially the children. It is easy to control the thermostat from the office, turning it off when one is not home and switching it on when one is heading home, giving it enough time to warm up the house in time for the owners return. With lights control the consumer can easily give the illusion that there are people at home, deterring intruders from entering.
When a parent is travelling they can easily have peace of mind that their children are safe and secure because they have control of the security system at home and ensure that all the doors are locked just in case the babysitter is not that efficient with security. The convenience of locking up and going all with just one button, allows anyone the freedom to leave knowing your home is safe and secure. You also can have control of who to allow into your home as you have total control with just a few clicks. Apart from just peace of mind, Z-waves technology provides an opportunity to save money because one can finally control the energy usage in their home by switching off appliances that do not need to be on when no one is using them.
What makes Z-Wave the leader in Home control?
This technology is very easy to set up and does not require rewiring because once it has been set up it is just plug-and-play. There is a versatile support of installation tools. Every node is a repeater which is extremely robust and self-healing which is a new network mechanism that has recently been introduced into the technology market.
With Z-wave any product pairs with any other product in the house with the Z-wave chip which makes it easier for the consumer to choose products and brands that suit their household and tastes. The setup is not only hassle free but also affordable to get started and once you have a few products you can slowly start to add on more products.
Start with the heating system and alarm system first and work you way round to the lighting system and then onto the luxury gadgets- tv-coffee machine-ice maker – hi-fi- etc. It is also an extremely secure system set because it has been around over ten years and uses the same encryption as online banking.
This technology uses ultra-low power making it ideal for battery powered sensors and battery to battery networks. It is a reliable system that is used by 9 out of 10 leading security companies and has over 1200 interoperable products. Z-wave can be found all over the world powering brand’s products that include:
· Home security panels
· Thermostats – heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC)
· Door Locks
· Sensors
· Lighting
· Gateways
· Motorized shades
· Home Theatres
· Automated window
· Pools and spas
· Garage access controls
· Appliances, such as coffee maker
Z-Wave has brought about the convenience of the future with a reliable and convenient technology that not only offers peace of mind but also the comfort that everyone is looking forward to especially in their space of relaxation. Children can feel safer in their homes. Some may argue that this will in the end create lazy people who will not get up and do things for themselves, however; it can also be seen to create happier healthier people who are stress free because they are not stressing about their homes as everything can now be controlled with just the push of a button. This technology is not only convenient for home control but also works for small businesses. Don’t be left out, keep up with the times and be in charge of your energy use even when you are out.
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