Discussing things as complicated as smart home technology and the internet of things (IoT) often leads to using terms interchangeably when they really do not mean the same thing. For example, an IoT device is not necessarily a smart home device. By the strictest definition, IoT and smart home devices are two different things.
Using the terms interchangeably is no big deal unless you are an engineer or someone who is very particular about words. For the rest of us, we can understand one another even though our terms might not be exact.
Still, a full grasp of smart home automation’s full potential starts with understanding the terms correctly. So to that end, let’s discuss the difference between smart home and IoT devices. We will begin with the latter.
The Internet of Things
The phrase ‘internet of things‘ was coined some years back to describe the entire collection of things capable of being connected via the internet. Way back when the IoT first became a known entity, one of the more common examples of an IoT device was General Motors’ OnStar in-vehicle smart system. With OnStar, a GM vehicle owner had access to a full range of digital benefits by way of vehicle connectivity with the cloud.
GM vehicles and OnStar are by no means considered home automation devices. Yet they are connected to the cloud via the internet. That makes them IoT devices. Pretty much any object with built-in connectivity is considered an IoT device in the modern era.
Some IoT devices offer home automation functions as well. Take a smart refrigerator capable of monitoring its own contents and then sending an order for additional groceries directly to the supermarket. It relies on both IoT capabilities and smart home tech to do what it does.
Smart Home Devices Do More
A device having IoT capabilities simply means that it can connect to other devices or clouds via the internet. Smart home devices do more – a lot more, in fact. Let us go back to the example of the smart refrigerator. First, it needs to be equipped with some sort of sensor capable of determining what is in the refrigerator. That sensor is usually a small camera.
It also needs access to some sort of software that can analyze digital images. It needs to be programmable with a set inventory so that software can determine when more groceries need to be ordered. You essentially have a combination of sensors and software that keep track of refrigerator stock so that orders can be placed automatically. And to place such orders, it needs to be connected to a supplier via the internet.
Smart Devices Are Getting Smarter
From a purely functional standpoint, there isn’t much more we can do with the IoT – with the possible exception of speeding up data transfer times. But when it comes to smart home devices, they just keep getting smarter.
Brands like Vivint Smart Home continue to introduce new devices capable of functions we only dreamed about years ago. Brands are also integrating home automation and security in whole-house systems that increase safety, efficiency, and comfort.
It is all made possible by a robust IoT that maintains connectivity between smart home devices and the cloud computing environments that power their intelligence. But never forget this: while all smart home devices are also part of the IoT, not all IoT devices are part of a smart home. There are distinct differences between the two categories of devices. Those differences are worth noting if you want to fully understand the future of home automation.
