While home automation can greatly enhance our quality of life, and even save money, there are disadvantages to consider before you invest in the tech.
In this article we cover:
- Downsides to investing in smart tech
- How much it costs
- Benefits of smart home systems
- Watchpoints
- Op-ed from a smart home supplier
Costly to install
Whilst the upfront cost may not at first appear that great, adding more and more kit soon becomes very expensive. And for some, it’s also somewhat addictive. The secret is to keep things simple, prioritising the essentials rather than adding many nice-to-haves. Be wary, too, of over-personalising the whole system. It has to work easily for all the family.
Smart kitchen appliances and smart thermostats can be expensive when they call for professional installation. Smart thermostats, lighting systems, security cameras, and voiceactivated assistants may be fun and helpful but they too can cost a lot upfront.
Privacy matters
Smart home technology brings with it the potential for hacking and a loss of privacy. Smart locks, for example, can be hacked, even remotely. The smart home is more vulnerable to cybercriminals than is a normal one. Criminals can take over your cameras and invade your privacy, for example. And other devices can record your conversations and spy on you in other ways.
All this makes it vital to use strong passwords and to upgrade software regularly. Outdated software is a well-recognised gateway for hackers. It’s even possible that the behavioural data of your daily routines, which is constantly being collected, could be sold to advertisers, and so on. Data breaches are a real threat which can be exploited unless you are adequately protected.
Device compatibility
Interoperability is the big challenge here, especially if you’re expecting seamless integration. But this can be hard to achieve. Different brands and models may not communicate effectively with one another, leading to disappointment as the various pieces of kit don’t ‘talk’ to each other in the way you’d expected.
This can end up with lots of different systems controlled through many different apps and even having to be operated manually. Early research is everything here. Look for compatibility logos or go online to a forum to see what you can learn.
Complicated maintenance and upgrades
This can become expensive. Maintaining anything other than a simple installation can become a high-tech jigsaw puzzle of a challenge. Unfortunately, if one part of the system malfunctions it can adversely affect others, or even the entire setup, involving lots of troubleshooting by the owner. This can be time consuming.
More important, a poorly maintained system can be susceptible to security risks. This means performing regular checkups and updates. If you need to get a pro in to help with all this, things can become expensive. For some, this need for continuing maintenance makes the whole adventure an unhappy experience.
Energy use
Smart devices are meant to help save energy but achieving this could take some effort on your part. Ideally, smart things should turn off when not needed and adjust their settings when they are. But if you have many devices, all using electricity, this consumption can add up to become meaningful.
Smart lighting whose sensors aren’t functioning properly can be inadvertently left on for days, or even weeks, if you are away. Likewise, smart heating can interpret things wrongly and then cool or overheat your home unnecessarily. Continuous updates to the cloud can also use a lot of electricity, taken over a year. This is because software updates and data exchanges keep things constantly active. Discuss all this with your supplier right from the start.
Redundancy of devices
This can be a significant issue as manufactures tempt us with new and ever-better devices that can soon become outdated. Suddenly, a trusted device doesn’t work because it can no longer receive updates or isn’t compatible with newer systems.
But all this updating of equipment isn’t just costly, it’s also a serious environmental issue as we discard even more electronic waste. Most of all, as devices become redundant, they make us feel unsettled as our home ceases to run smoothly, disrupts our routines and sometimes even makes us wish we hadn’t bothered with it in the first place.
Companies can fail
Modern technology is moving fast, which means some companies won’t be able to keep up and may even go bust. Whilst this isn’t a daily occurrence it does mean it’s vital to use reputable, trusted companies that have a track record of success.
Need for good connectivity
Although smart homes are designed for power outages or wifi failure, they rely on reliable high speed connectivity so everything, including updates, can be assured. If you have a poor or unreliable wifi connection or suffer from repeated outages, a smart home is not for you.
An unhealthy reliance on tech
It’s easy to create a smart home that increases such a dependence on technology that you become a slave to the tech. More doesn’t necessarily mean better and a home that’s totally reliant on smart tech can actually be harder to use and maintain. It’s best to focus on a few key functions and do them well.
Many people are seduced into filling their smart home with gadgets which are high on novelty but, in reality, don’t deliver that well. There are also no prizes for making your home a nightmare for the non-tech-savvy to use.
