Actuators are used in most home automation because they are the most common type of actuator which would be appropriate for home use. The 12 volt actuators are generally the most common anyway, and fit with the motors which are common to all actuators. This cuts down on the need for any unusual motors to be made, and means that any repairs are easily taken care of.

It is the ubiquity of these types of actuators which has led to home automation becoming so popular. Being able to use the same types of actuators in almost any motion means that we can look into all kinds of automation without fear. The most recent trends, of course, have all involved linking home automation together to create a network which makes the automation easier to handle from one point – this can be used for a variety of purposes – but home automation still has a lot of potential beyond that.

Integrating with Wearable Technology

Wearable technology has been gaining popularity over recent years, and now it is being proposed as a new way to link people with their home automation. Having remote control of the home automation is all very well, but it still requires an extra step to get into the automation. Since wearable tech is growing ever more attuned to us and our bodies, it could potentially remove an extra step when dealing with our homes.

As well as giving us even closer access to our own homes, wearable tech is something which could give our automation more information on us, allowing it to react to our presence and almost thoughts without any external input.

Automatic Shopping

Everyone has heard of the internet of things by now, haven’t they? The internet of things is the trend of home automation not just being controlled by an outside force, but being able to communicate with that outside force. So a fridge, for example, that can tell the homeowner when they are running out of milk and cheese, is an example of the internet of things. One current trend which is being developed is the ability of the fridge (and the pantry) to order food directly, without needing to bypass the homeowner.  This is incredibly useful, because it furthers the cause of home automation, which is to make life easier for the homeowner. Developers are thinking of having this become a reality through putting cameras inside specific food areas in the home, so that the home automation can keep track of what food needs to be replaced.

Better Security

Security has already benefited from home automation in a number of ways, from linear actuators being used in cameras, to remote technology allowing real-time footage to be seen by the homeowner, or to be stored in cloud footage made available through the automation itself.

As home automation improves, so does its overall usefulness to security – as well as advancements to the technology involved, and how it can be used (video links to doorbells, remote access to camera feeds, and more people have access to the data if they need it), the improvements in technology mean that everything is better – the connections are faster, the data upload is quicker and can include more data, and more information, and more can be done with the information when it is there.