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The Internet

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The Internet is like the air we every day breathe and we cannot live without the Internet. Recently, who among us does not have the Internet (either from Etisalat or Du)?.

 

What is Internet?

The smart system is either in the home like HomeSeer, the internet is a global network of computers and connected devices. It allows for the exchange of intormation and fast data transfer. 

Through it, users can access websites, apps, and digital services. It is the foundation of modern digital communication.

Why do we need the internet in smart homes?

To remotely control smart devices via phone or computer. 

To automatically update software and receive new instructions.

To connect with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.

Without it, many smart features and cloud functions won’t work.

Importance of the Internet:

Simplifies daily  life by providing quick access to information.

Essential for operating modern smart systems and technologies.

Connects devices and users around the world instantly.

Internet Fails:

If the internet stops working in a smart home, the impact depends on how the system is designed. Here's a breakdown of what typically happens:
Most smart devices (like smart switches, plugs, or thermostats) have manual buttons, so you can still operate them physically.
Or: Devices like smart lights, locks, or thermostats that use local communication protocols (e.g., Zigbee, Z-Wave) and are connected to a hub (like Home Assistant or Hubitat) may still function normally.
Example: You can turn on lights or adjust your thermostat from your phone if you're connected to the same Wi-Fi.
Some smart hubs (like Apple HomeKit, SmartThings with Edge drivers, or Home Assistant) store automations locally, so scheduled actions may still run without internet.

What Fails (Internet-Dependent Features):

Remote Access: You can’t control your devices from outside your home (e.g., using your phone at work to turn off lights).

Voice Assistants: Voice commands won’t work because they rely on cloud processing.

Cloud Based Automation: Automations set up through cloud platforms (like Tuya, Smart Life, or IFTTT) may stop working entirely.

Cameras steam & Alerts: Many smart cameras won’t stream video or send notifications unless they have internet access.

How to Make Your Smart Home More Resilient:​

Use local-control-friendly platforms (like Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit, or Hubitat).

Choose devices that support offline operation.

Avoid relying too heavily on cloud-only brands.

Conclusion:

The internet is not just a source of entertainment; it’s a vital part of smart home functionality. It enables full use of smart technologies and brings greater comfort and control to everyday life

round grey speaker on brown board

What is Smart Home?

by with No Comment Uncategorised

The smart home is a modern name for a new way to control home appliances using computer or mobile phone applications. By using these applications, we can turn on or off lighting fixtures, air conditioners, water heaters, and many more.

Smart software application:

This application is installed on the mobile devices of the owner of the house, and then this application connects to the server, this server is either at home or outside the house in the Internet cloud, all devices of the house are also connected to this server to be a meeting point between application and hardware.

Smart home system:

The smart system is either in the home like HomeSeer or in the clouds, for example, a heat-cold thermostat, and the most important decision that the homeowner makes is choosing a smart system suitable for his home, so what will the homeowner rely on to make the appropriate decision?

Information privacy:

There is a great controversy among the users of these smart systems in terms of information privacy. Some believe that the presence of the server in the cloud of the Internet outside the home will pose a threat to the information of their home, so he does not want the information to be transferred outside the home about the state of the devices associated with it, for example, locking the doors of the smart home and the possibility of controlling it if any system is hacked.

Others do not see any problem in transferring or storing this information in the cloud of the Internet and will work to take all necessary precautions from system updates in general and devices in particular.

Both teams are correct, but the presence of the server inside the house remains better, not only for the sake of privacy but for other reasons that we will now mention.

Internet service outage:

The Internet service may be interrupted for many reasons, including cutting wires outside the house during the city’s infrastructure maintenance operations. The service may be interrupted due to non-payment of the monthly bill by the service provider, and the interruption may be due to the failure of the Internet router inside the house. In this case, whoever chooses the smart system to work at home and does not depend on the Internet and the only one who will succeed. 

System downtime in the cloud:

The smart system that works in the cloud of the Internet outside the home may be broken, it may be due to a complete server failure or other technical reasons, in this case, there will be no control of the home devices through the mobile application, so how can we control the home devices in these cases?

Do devices work when the system crashes?

In general, when the smart system is interrupted, most devices have manual control to ensure the continuity of service at home. For example, the control of the air conditioner is done using the application, as well as through the smart thermostat. Direct control of the thermostat is manual control without relying on any system, this way we can use smart systems without any fear.

Is the smart system smart:

Unfortunately, until the writing of this article, smart systems are not smart. These systems depend on executing various commands through pre-programmed commands, for example, when the sun rises, the lighting is turned off. This process is called automation, but in this article, I chose the word smart because it is in use in this field, and so to not cause any confusion in clarifying the concept of modern smart homes, it is expected that these systems will be affected by artificial intelligence research, to witness a qualitative shift in the self-reliance of these systems in making on and off decisions to be truly smart.

Conclusion:

The smart home relies on cloud smart systems or inside the home. These systems work to connect all home devices in one system. They are controlled through mobile phone applications or computer programs. It is also possible to control them manually when faults occur. These systems work on Automation of commands is not smart enough, and artificial intelligence is expected to change the work of these systems very soon.