So how do you manage all these sensors and switches, and lights, and displays and speakers…
One way has proven to be very useful and that is by using a standard calendar.
Yes, the one you got right on your smartphone or desktop.
A calendar is a simple manifestation of events in time and thus it can be used to either protocol or schedule events.
So the smart house uses calendars to:
- schedule on/off times for switches, alarms, whatever can be switched
- notes down locations and can react upon locations on schedule or when members of the household arrive/leave those locations based on calendar events
- reminds members in the house on upcoming events
- protocols media playback (what song,…) for later search
- lets members of the house set events through different means like voice, smartphone, …
So what am I using this calendar(s) for? Simple. It’s there to track travelling since I know when I was where by simply searching the calendar (screenshot). It’s easy to make out patterns and times of things happening since a calendar/timeline view feels natural. Setting on/off times and such is just a bliss if you can make it from your phone in an actual calendar rather than a tedious additional app or interface.
And of course: the house can only be smart about things when it has a way to gather and access that data. Reacting to it’s inhabitants upcoming and previous events adds several levels of smartness.