Best Home Automation Systems at a Glance

These days, convenience is at the heart of everything. And with most conveniences in our lives being just a click away, it makes sense that we’d want our living spaces to be just as easy to navigate. That’s where a home automation system comes into play. 

With just a tap on your smartphone, imagine being able to instantly set the mood inside your home: turn lights on and off, adjust their brightness levels and set your blinds at just the right level. The best part? This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what a properly installed home automation system can do for you by effectively leveraging AI, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing technology. 

Convinced? Before you give the go-ahead to transform your home into something that seems magically futuristic, you’ll first need to learn a thing or two about what kind of home automation system is best for you.

The Two Main Smart Home Technologies

When it comes to installing a home automation system, Sri Lanka and many other countries worldwide generally offer two main options. One is to go with a KNX based wired system. The other is to go with a wireless system that’s based on technology such as Zigbee. Sounds like Greek? Let’s get into it.

First of all, let’s take a look at the wired smart home system. Just what is KNX? To put it simply, it’s a communication protocol that’s used in home and building automation. Using this system, devices and elements within your smart home can send messages to one another, in order to carry out an instruction that’s been specified by you. 

What’s the advantage of using a KNX system? It’s been around for two decades, is open-source, manufacturer-independent and accepted and used internationally. This means that it plays well and unbiasedly with a lot of other devices and technology. Via KNX based systems, you can properly plan and implement complex solutions that are highly customised and energy-efficient. The latter perk can go a long way in helping you keep down your energy-related expenditures over time.

In contrast, Zigbee is an open-standard wireless communication protocol. Like KNX, it also allows you to control smart devices and components in your home. Zigbee technology has been designed to allow smart machines to speak to each other in a wireless, yet power-efficient manner.

Wired or Wireless Home Automation?

So which is right for you?

If you’re building a home from scratch, you can easily design your new home with smart home elements in mind. In this sense, you can plan to make the most of a wired setup that relies on a protocol such as KNX. However, that’s not to say that existing buildings cannot be renovated or modified to include the wired infrastructure that KNX systems need to function.

Conversely, if you’re someone that moves around a lot or lives in rented accommodation, a wireless, Zigbee-based solution might be a more practical approach. 

At the end of the day, both types of home automation systems can offer various advantages. To really understand which one might offer the most value, it’s helpful to consider your specific circumstances and needs. 

Interested in learning more? At Shinrai, we offer both types of home automation systems in Sri Lanka. Book a consultation with our team and have a chat about how you can turn your smart home dreams into a reality.