Am I Designing for Today's Needs or Tomorrow’s Possibilities?

Discover Why Designing Your Smart Home with the Future in Mind Is Essential

In the excitement of embracing automated technology and creating the smart home you’ve been dreaming about for years, it’s easy to get caught up in the present moment. Which systems and user experience would best suit you and your family? From smart home entertainment to the latest LED lighting systems, the possibilities are nearly limitless.

So, where do you begin? 

And that’s where the problems start. So caught up in present needs and expectations, many homeowners forget to look to the future. Not only does technology change, but families change, with children who ultimately find their way in the world and parents who need a comfortable home to age in place. 

To create a smart home that meets your needs now and into the future, you should keep one eye on the horizon. Here, we’ll explore the best options for building a smart home that meets your needs today and doesn’t fall short as your needs evolve. 

SEE ALSO: Why Your Smart Home Needs a Professional Installation

Forward-Thinking Design

At Prodigy, we partner with Control4, a home automation platform known for its scalable solutions. Control4 releases new versions of its operating system regularly to ensure it integrates with continually evolving smart technology. Regular updates ensure that when those new smart outdoor speakers you’ve been considering are released, your smart home will be able to support them, making them a part of your automated ecosystem. 

Expandable systems and infrastructure allow for future technology to make its way into your household. Smart homes require a robust infrastructure and a home network that can handle your home’s current connectivity and what's to come. An enterprise-grade home network provides the solution, ensuring sufficient bandwidth so everyone can be on the internet simultaneously without slowdowns, lag, or buffering. 

When your 4K video turns into 8K resolution and augmented reality experiences become commonplace, integrators won’t have to tear into walls to update your home network. Instead, your initial install should be future-proofed to ensure your home network can meet your smart home needs now and well into the future. This foresight saves significant money and time down the road. 

Pre-wiring also means you already have the low-voltage wiring in place for those in-ceiling speakers you weren’t quite ready for years ago, and the motorized shades you want to install in some of the renovated rooms.

Lifestyle changes

Adaptability is an essential attribute in the face of the many changes and challenges inherent in life. It’s also essential in your smart home, allowing it to adapt as your lifestyle changes. 

As the kids grow up, you may find yourself entertaining or traveling more. You may decide that a media room better suits your needs than the home theater your kids and their many friends enjoyed. Times change, and it’s vital that your smart home can change with them. With a distributed audio-video system, all your AV equipment is already consolidated in a central location, making it easy to maintain and upgrade. 

More travel means a home that needs enhanced security. Thanks to future-proofing, your home has the wiring required for today’s AI-smart security cameras. At Prodigy, we can install an elegant keypad by the door with an engraved button that reads, “Away.” When pressed, your smart home operates in much the same way it does when you’re home, raising and lowering the shades, turning the TV on and off, and adjusting the lighting. To the onlooker, it appears to be occupied. 

Aging in Place with Smart Home Automation

Aging in place has become increasingly popular as more people prefer to stay in their homes rather than move to assisted living facilities later in life. Integrating leading voice assistants, such as Josh.ai, creates a home that’s managed with voice commands, enabling you to change the lighting, climate, shades, home entertainment devices, and security from the comfort of your favorite chair. Josh.ai also learns your preferences, transforming your home environment for you with no effort on your part. 

Are you ready to enjoy a smart home designed for tomorrow? Contact Prodigy to begin the exciting journey.