SmartZone

There is plenty of talk today about the smart home. It's been discussed and reported in all forms of media, but for the most part only in generalities. An interview done by Bloomberg television discusses potential applications and predicted impact the industry will have on society with the CEO of Green Peak. Check out the video after the break.

Anyone who is now or in the past has researched home automation knows that it can be an intimidating subject. There's a lot to learn about and an overwhelming number of options from which to choose. The learning curve is made to seem even steeper thanks to the variety of terms it is marketed under by the companies offering it. Whether a brand pitches their products as a Connected home, intelligent home, digital home, or the Internet of things we want to help you understand that they all are just another name for home automation.

There's no doubting the great potential for controlling devices with the myriad of available options. But, it's still a new concept to most people. Any new product carries a steep learning curve until people have had enough time to familiarize themselves with it. Seemingly the companies offering the new product each have their own take on how best to market the product to customers. They coin their own unique terms and phrases to entice potential buyers interest.

There are many home automation options available to you today. Some are rather limited in their capabilities offering a single task solution (think a thermostat or door lock), while others allow you to take command of nearly everything in your home or even multiple homes. With so many choices and variations available many people find themselves overwhelmed and confused.

The best way of simplifying your search is understanding what you want to get out of a home control system and focusing on the options which best match your needs. Here are 5 questions to which you need to know the answers. Knowing them will help guide you to the right home automation system.