Smart Home, Wired or Wireless?
Within the literature a standardized definition of Smart Home Technology (SHT) is absent. I personally like the following combined definitions: “Smart Home Technology refers to a collection of interconnected devices, appliances, and technologies that work together to create an intelligent and automated living environment”.
…or in other words, homes integrated with SHT offer centralized control, enabling actions such as turning off all house lighting with a simple click, automatically adjusting curtains in response to the sun’s movement throughout the day, and optimizing indoor temperature for optimal comfort and energy efficiency. SHT facilitates also, remote monitoring through smartphone and connected cameras, able to alert homeowners to any unexpected intrusions.
Home automation systems are available in a wide range of solutions, conventional smart home systems rely on hardwired devices, which necessitate careful planning, have installation limitations, limited scalability, often lack adherence to open standards, and tend to be relatively expensive. Nevertheless, a hardwired smart home system is widely recognized for its superior reliability, operating efficiently through high-quality communication cables. Hardwired systems excel at multitasking, making them an ideal choice for larger homes. They enable seamless integration of various household features, including lighting, audio/video equipment, and security systems, however, it is compulsory to establish a systematic plan when constructing a house to accommodate this system type.
Wireless Home Automation Systems (WHAS) offer an alternative. WHAS operates wirelessly without physical connections, utilizing radio protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave and others, enabling seamless interaction between smart devices and appliances. Wireless systems provide flexibility in device placement and installation, making retrofitting easier and eliminating complex pre-planning. They also offer scalability, allowing the addition of new devices or expansion without rewiring. At the center of the WHAS there is a gateway or hub, which provide coordination among the local devices, ensure the privacy of the householder while connecting to a larger Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, where millions of diverse devices are seamlessly connected to the internet.
Wireless technology, while relatively new, possesses both strengths and weaknesses. And one of its strength is even the most notable weakness, the absence of physical cabling brings reliability and vulnerability issues. To the other hand, these systems offer great benefits such as reduced installation costs and potential opportunities in the retrofitting market.
It’s important to note that both wired and wireless systems still face challenges regarding interoperability among devices and systems from various manufacturers. This constraint narrows consumer choices and generates uncertainty regarding product selection. Also, many smart home systems are still merely connected and are not smart in a true sense. They typically lack an understanding of the environment and what other smart devices do.
In summary, as observed by Davis (1989) in his exploration of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it becomes evident that the adoption of a new technology is not only about its objective advantages but rather its relative advantages within a given context .
Article originally posted on LinkedIn 
