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Making your house smarter could be addictive! At the book’s publication, Patrick confesses to having 18 schedules and hundreds of the following: devices, triggers, and action groups. Divided into two parts, this 173-page book first provides an overview of the devices/technologies/apps involved in creating a smart house and ways scheduling can simplify how you leave, return, and interact with your home. Next, it briefly supplies information regarding devices and services to install yourself—suited to a ‘home attitude’ enthusiast.
The author identifies three approaches for turning a house into a smart home: Go Professional; Subscription-Based Service; Do It Yourself. A table presents the pros/cons of each. For example, you could start at the time of building with professional installers doing the wiring before the walls are closed up. Provide for Wi-Fi, music, TV, lights along with control pads to schedule or set triggers for activities. Then decide on subscription-based services. For homes already built, you could hire subscription services to manage and communicate remotely with devices that adjust the heat or provide security cameras and sensors. Or you could do it yourself (DYI) by starting simply, as Patrick did, with a single smart plug and smartphone. You could add programmable smart light bulbs, color-coded to indicate events like the delivery time for pizza. Next, you could try using scenes and paths to dim or turn on/off various lights to create a mood for dining, movie watching, and more.
After reading this excellent resource, you might share the knowledge by purchasing items like Wemo switch smart plugs as gifts for friends and family. They may even want a copy of the book for themselves. The author’s research mentions two of the latest technologies: Augmented Reality (AR) that could replace user manuals and Artificial Intelligence (AI) employed in user interfaces on par with what was once seen as science fiction. Home Attitude consolidates huge amounts of technical information but simplified so anyone can understand into one soft-cover book. The endnotes are thorough with an in-depth index. A glossary of acronyms and improved graphics would only serve to enhance this useful book.
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