Tips From The Top

If you’re a smart home owner, you want to make sure your tech can talk – to each other.

Interoperability, according to HIMSS, is “the ability of different information systems, devices or applications to connect, in a coordinated manner, within and across organizational boundaries to access, exchange and cooperatively use data amongst stakeholders, with the goal of optimizing the health of individuals and populations.”

The problem is, with the bombardment of smart home technology flooding the market today, finding and installing tech that can connect and speak the same language is not always as easy as it should be.

According to a recent article on “IoT for All,” the disjointed state of the smart home market is challenging for everybody, from consumers to providers to manufacturers. Actual interoperability that allows devices to connect at an optimal level is blocked by a lack of intuitive cross-product functionality, making it harder than ever to actually achieve a smart home that works the way it’s intended to.

There are a number of approaches to creating a smart home, according to the article:

• Whole home automation system, like Savant, which we install at Jackson Hole A/V.
• Flexible system platforms, which require patience and skill of motivated, early-adapters.
• Security-centric smart home solutions that are often bundled with subscription plans for monitoring and video storage.
• Open hub-based ecosystems that are compatible with a range of brand and device options such as Wink and Samsung’s SmartThings.
• DIY hybrid systems made from a collection of products from different brands—with or without their designated hardware hub (also called a “bridge”); owners install each app without any real integration.

Because the main benefits of an integrated smart home emphasize the ease, comfort, and usability of home technology, it’s crucial that the technology works together, accessible and controllable by the user from any location. Peace of mind should be the foundation of the smart home, not headaches and wasted time when systems don’t work properly together.

To learn more about how we can help you achieve an optimally-performing smart home that makes your life easier and more comfortable, call us at Jackson Hole AV. We’d love to discuss the possibilities.