Smart devices make everyday objects and spaces intelligent with advanced compute and machine learning, enabling them to automate processes and control. These devices can also monitor and analyze data to identify patterns, improve business operations and increase efficiency. They are part of the Internet of Things (IoT), which consists of a network of interconnected devices that gather, store and process data, providing insights to users.
To be considered smart, a device must meet three key criteria: context awareness, autonomous computing and network connectivity. For example, a smart surveillance camera has context awareness by recognizing the objects it sees and reporting them to a server. Its operating system must be able to process the information quickly, which requires a real-time operating system like RTOS or Linux. It must also have the ability to communicate with other devices, which is why it needs networking standards such as Thread or IoT protocols like MQTT.
Some smart devices are standalone products, such as a smart light bulb or a smart doorbell, while others require another device to operate, like a smart hub or a smartphone. These hubs act as the brain of a smart home or workplace, connecting and controlling other connected devices. They often feature a display or speaker that allows users to interact with their smart devices using voice commands. Smart hubs also offer other services, such as logging internet connections or detecting abnormal behavior.
Many smart home systems include a wall-mounted control panel that can display security cameras, allow users to turn lights on and off and arm/disarm the alarm, and show other device statuses. Several options are available, including Ikea’s Dirigera, which has an easy-to-use companion app that provides plenty of handholding as you set up your smart devices. Dirigera recently added support for the open-source Matter standard, which makes it easier to use smart home devices from different ecosystems.