IoT and Smart Home: The Power of Connectivity

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the phrase “Smart Home”?

Maybe it’s the ability to lock and unlock your doors or windows from your phone. Maybe it’s having full control of the thermostat in a certain area of the house. Even still, maybe it’s being able to ask a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to turn on the lights in the bedroom before you get there.

Whatever your image of a smart home may be, there’s one thing that remains constant – the need for your smart appliances to be connected to one another and to the internet via a little something called the Internet of Things.

What is the Internet of Things?

Put simply, the Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the idea of connecting all things to the internet. While this definition is broad, IoT For All’s Calum McClelland notes that connecting “things” to the internet – from cell phones to smartwatches – has already had incredible benefits in our society and everyday lives. The idea of IoT, he continues, suggests that these benefits can extend to quite literally everything.

McClelland writes that “When something is connected to the internet, that means that it can send information or receive information, or both.” This particular ability is, at a base level, what makes an appliance or technology “smart”.

IoT at CES 2019

Because tech and internet connectivity go hand-in-hand, the Internet of Things had quite the presence at CES 2019. In addition to smart home solutions, everything depends on the Internet of Things to, well, work.

Along with the advent of 5G, the Smart Cities section of CES was guided by the IoT, painting a picture of the connected cities of the future. According to CES Daily, smart cities with this kind of connectivity will have sensors in places such as water and waste systems, buildings, and roads: “Connected technologies will include smart energy meters, automated street lighting, parking assistance apps, and sensors to make cities safer, smarter, and more accessible.”

Of course, Smart Cities weren’t the only exhibits that relied on the IoT for necessary connectivity. CES 2019’s Vehicle Technology Marketplace showcased the latest in self-driving, connected cars that bring interactivity to the driving experience. Exhibitors like Allstate, Dassault Systemes, and Mobileye showcased just how important the combination of tech, connectivity, and vehicle automation will be as we explore the future of automotive and transportation.

IoT and Smart Home

At CES 2019, hundreds of Smart Home exhibitors focused on the easy, accessible connectivity that can be brought to a home in order to make it “smart”. This includes everything from smart blinds to lighting, smart locks to smart kitchens appliances. From this year’s show, it’s clear that the Smart Home of the future is one that brings this connectivity to every aspect of the home.

As greater numbers of consumers adopt smart home technology, the reliance of smart home on the IoT will only grow. In fact, Katherine Lazarevich of IoT For All writes that “some of the best solutions in IoT will come to life in smart homes.” It’s thought that the number of connected products will triple by 2025, reaching nearly 75 billion devices across the world.

So what does this mean for Smart Home companies? For Rently Keyless, it means an incredible opportunity to bring connected solutions that will benefit both individuals and communities.

The Rently Keyless Smart Solution

The Rently Keyless proprietary Tri-Band Hub ensures that users have three times the connection – and three times the security. Should Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection be unavailable, the Keyless system connects through a cellular connection.

The central core of the Keyless system, the Tri-Band hub technology includes 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connection for superior and optimal industry uptime. Unlike many smart home companies, the Keyless Tri-Band Hub has been engineered from the ground up to ensure that users are getting the very best in smart home tech.

Of course, the Keyless smart home solution is scalable. Support for Z-Wave, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi protocols alow Rently Keyless to securely incorporate over 1800 smart home devices.

Want to learn more about Rently and Keyless? Feel free to check out the rest of our blog!

Sources: IoT For All, CES Daily, All About Circuits