With the increasing number of people using smartphones and tablets, and the growing availability of Wi-Fi internet environments at home, there has been a noticeable trend toward connecting familiar household appliances to the internet for convenient use. This article explains the specific types and capabilities of these devices, called IoT appliances and smart appliances, as well as important precautions.
What Are IoT Appliances Smart Appliances
IoT (Internet of Things) is called the Internet of Things and refers to technology that connects various objects to the internet. In other words, IoT appliances refer to household appliances connected to the internet, and smart appliances are used with the same meaning. Most IoT appliances connect to the internet via Wi-Fi networks. Setup and operation are typically performed by installing an app on a smartphone.
What IoT Appliances Can Do
When appliances are connected to the internet, convenient features for users increase, such as the ability to operate them remotely from outside the home via smartphone or control them by voice. Let's look at the main capabilities of IoT appliances.
Remote Control
Remote control is a signature feature of IoT appliances. You can operate appliances from a distance, whether inside or outside the home. It's common to worry about forgetting to turn off lights or air conditioners or forgetting to lock doors after leaving home. With IoT appliances, you can quickly check on your smartphone and turn power on/off or lock doors.
Voice Control
IoT appliances compatible with smart speakers enable voice control through integration with smart speakers. There are many scenarios where hands-free operation is desired even when at home, such as turning lights and appliances on/off, improving convenience.
Operation That Makes Life Convenient and Comfortable
With many features that support household tasks, such as having cleaning completed while you're away or maintaining a comfortable room temperature with air conditioning, they make life convenient and comfortable.
Monitoring Operation Status
You can monitor the operation status of appliances, such as the cleaning status of robot vacuum cleaners, and receive notifications when they start or finish.
Information Collection and Provision
Refrigerators that allow you to check food items inside are emerging. If you can see inventory status on your smartphone, it can be useful when shopping. Other products also display recipes and helpful related information.
Energy Saving, Eco-Friendly
IoT appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and lighting can operate intelligently to reduce power consumption. Some refrigerator features allow inventory checking, reducing food waste and contributing to environmental conservation.
Monitoring Family Members
IoT appliances are also effective for monitoring family members living separately. By detecting human movement with sensor-equipped air conditioners or checking the opening and closing status of refrigerator doors, they can be used for family monitoring.
Examples of IoT Appliances and Their Features
A wide variety of IoT appliances have already emerged, making life more convenient. Here are some major IoT appliances and their features.
Air Conditioners
You can control power remotely, allowing you to turn them on/off when you notice you forgot to turn them off or when you want to set a comfortable room temperature before returning home. Voice control is also possible through integration with smart speakers. Various features have been added, including functions that control operation by detecting human presence and sunlight with sensors, functions that adjust room temperature proactively based on weather forecasts, functions that notify your smartphone when you move a certain distance from home while the air conditioner is running in conjunction with smartphone location information, and functions that allow you to check electricity costs.
Robot Vacuum Cleaners
Remote control via smartphone enables various operations depending on the product, such as starting and stopping cleaning, changing courses, specifying cleaning areas, and checking cleaning status. If integrated with a smart speaker, you can start and stop cleaning simply by speaking.
Refrigerators
Features for knowing food inventory status are being developed. Functions such as automatically photographing the interior when doors open and close, and notifying you when food is approaching its expiration date, allow you to check interior inventory even when out, preventing unnecessary purchases and forgotten items. Other features that improve convenience and save energy include remotely checking operation status and operating with optimal energy-saving plans.
Televisions
You can schedule TV program recordings from your smartphone or watch recorded programs on your smartphone. You can also enjoy various video streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix on your TV. There are also features for displaying videos and photos taken with smartphones or tablets on the TV.
Smart Locks
Smart locks that allow you to lock unlock entrance doors with your smartphone are widely adopted, with many types that can be easily retrofitted. To unlock, simply hold your smartphone near or, with hands-free functionality, just approach the door. You can check and control locks remotely, so you can address forgotten locks. Some types allow keys to be shared among multiple people, making them suitable not only for homes but also for stores, offices, and vacation rentals.
※ IoT intercoms that can be used with smart locks are explained in this article."Toward Convenient Safe Secure Comfortable Living with IoT Intercoms"
Smart Bulbs Smart Lights
Smart bulbs smart lights are lighting fixtures that allow flexible control of turning lights on off, dimming, and color adjustment. In addition to remote control, some products can automatically turn on off with timer functions. Products that play music from bulbs with speaker functions or light up in various colors synchronized with music are also attracting attention.
※ Various IoT examples, including smart bulbs, are introduced in this article."Unique IoT Use Cases!"
Precautions When Introducing IoT Appliances
To use IoT appliances safely securely, you need to be mindful of the following points when introducing them.
Is the Wi-Fi Environment Ready?
A Wi-Fi environment is essential for IoT appliances operated using smartphones and smart speakers. Without a stable Wi-Fi connection, convenient features cannot be used. Check the number of IoT appliances and devices that will connect simultaneously at home and prepare a Wi-Fi router (wireless LAN router) that can support them.
Security Risks Exist
Because IoT appliances are devices used by connecting to the internet, the risk of external security breaches is unavoidable. You don't want to suffer damage such as unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi router and having IoT appliances operated without permission. Select highly reliable devices and take measures such as proper password management and performing updates.
Summary
IoT appliances can be described as household appliances that have gained new, unprecedented features by connecting to the internet. The variety is increasing, and features continue to evolve toward convenient and comfortable living. After addressing the precautions inherent to internet connectivity, we should proceed with their use wisely.