In an era where anybody can buy an Alexa and a couple of smart lightbulbs, the idea of what a smart home actually is appears to be one of confusion.

It used to mean a fully integrated home, but with the advent of stand-alone devices, people tend to conflate having a couple of smart devices with having a truly smart home.

This confusion will continue, especially now that it's predicted smart device adoption will grow due to the Coronavirus.

We are living through interesting times.

Cities are shut down; businesses are closed.

And more people than ever are working from home -- often for the first time. People are spending more time at home than they have in years.

But it can be hard to focus when you're working from home. If you're not used to working amid distractions, it can be hard to be productive.

Fortunately, there are smart home solutions that can help you stay focused and get your work done.

Here are our top tips.

One of the biggest challenges with the smart home industry is keeping up on all the tech.

2020 is a year full of innovations for the smart home industry, with new tech rolling out consistently. It can be hard to know what is worth paying attention to and what is merely noise.

Here are the news stories that caught our eye.

We live in interesting times.

We live in an age where you can set your thermostat while you're thousands of miles away.

You can start your car from your phone.

Your driveway can heat itself to melt ice.

And yet research shows that while consumers expect homes to be efficient, state-of-the-art, and modern, they don't want to pay extra for it. Even more consumers are reluctant to set it up after they buy their home and have moved in.

Should you worry about the smart home device hack in the news this week?

Maybe.

You’ve decided that you want to add the convenience, security, and fun of smart home automation to your family’s home. Now what?

If you’ve been looking into the smart home space for any time at all, you have certainly discovered just how large it is and how fast new products and companies are appearing on the market. After looking at all the options, the complexity and time involved in designing, installing and configuring a system, you’ve come to the conclusion that hiring a pro is by far the best way forward. But how do you find a professional firm you can work with and trust?

Happy New Year! And welcome to another year of smart home automation innovations.

Ever since smart homes came onto the market, one thing has held the technology back from becoming mainstream: 

The lack of a standard.

In the current state of the market, devices are not all compatible. Different manufacturers develop devices for different standards. Apple, Google, Amazon, and Zigbee devices don't always play nicely together, which makes setting up a smart home frustrating for most homeowners.

Whether you have guests arriving for a dinner party or an extended holiday stay, smart home automation can enhance the experience for you and your guests.

The holidays can be a joyful time spent with family and dear friends, but are also fraught with headaches and concerns. Did you pack enough diversions to keep the kids happy in the car or on the flight? Will your travel be delayed by weather? How will your special Thanksgiving dish hold up during the trip? Will your irascible uncle hold a symposium on his current pet peeve during dinner, making that new in-law cringe?

With your smart home holding down the home front, you have one less thing to worry about. Here are just a few ideas to help you configure your smart home so it will keep making your life easier even while you are away.

With homeowners’ growing reliance on smart home automation technology, it’s easy to forget just how new the modern industry really is. Certainly, many ground-breaking technologies and products debuted before 2010, but most people think of the innovations of just the past decade. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Simply put, geofencing is the process of using the location of a device to trigger an action or sequence of events. Let’s explore!

The world of smart home automation continues to boom with new products being introduced seemingly daily and companies positioning themselves to try to leap ahead of the competition with innovative systems and business structures. Here we discuss a couple of the more notable recent developments.

Every day brings more media coverage about the options multiplying in the booming smart home automation arena. Many renters think they are excluded from enjoying the comfort, convenience and security that these systems bring. We’ve rounded up some great ideas that renters can use to integrate smart Internet of Things (IoT) devices in their homes…without running afoul of their leases. 

And, if you own rental property, these devices will add value for your tenants without the expense of a fully integrated system.

Smart home automation devices are becoming one of the main features of luxury living. After all, who wouldn’t want garage doors that magically open as you approach your home; lights that know when you go to bed and turn themselves off; a thermostat that optimizes itself to save you money; or a refrigerator that lets you know the milk is sour before you take a sip?