Your home should be a safe place. A space where your daily life should not be affected by the thought that an algorithm somewhere is categorizing your behavior. Privacy in the smart home means that devices must work locally without dependence on the internet.
Local control refers to the ability to control your smart home devices directly inside your local network, without requiring an internet connection. Here are some of the key benefits of local control in the smart home.
Reliability
One of the main benefits of local control is reliability. With a cloud-based smart home system, if your internet connection goes down or the company server becomes unavailable, you lose the ability to control your devices. It might not be a big deal if you’re unable to turn off a light from your couch but can be very frustrating to return to a cold home because the thermostat is not working. With local control, however, you can still control your devices even if the internet goes down. This means that you can always count on your smart home to work reliably, no matter what.
Speed
Another advantage of local control is speed. Cloud-based services often suffer from latency issues, which can cause delays in the commands you send to your devices. With local control, you can control your devices instantly, without any delays. This is especially important for devices like smart locks and lights, where the instant response is something we are used to all our lives.
Longevity
Another advantage of local control is the longevity of your smart home system. With cloud-based services, there is always a risk that the service provider will discontinue support for a particular device or service, leaving you with obsolete and unsupported hardware. With local control, however, you are in control of your devices and can continue to use them as long as they are functional. This means that you can invest in a smart home system with confidence, knowing that it will continue to function for years to come, even if a cloud-based service or the company shuts down.
Privacy and Security
Cloud-based smart home systems often require you to store your data on remote servers, which can be a security and privacy risk. Every time you interact with your devices or run automations, this information is sent to the cloud for processing, and it is certain that every action you take in your home is recorded and categorized.
On the other, with local control, your data stays within your home network, providing an added layer of security and privacy. This is especially important if we consider data like conversations, camera footage, or location.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many benefits to local control in your smart home. From increased reliability and speed to improved privacy and security, local control provides a range of advantages over cloud-based services. That’s not to say that local control doesn’t have its difficulties, or that cloud management doesn’t have benefits on a case-by-case basis. However, if you’re looking to create a smart home that is reliable, secure, and customizable, investing in local control is most of the time the right choice.
Sources:
- Paulus Schoutsen – The Open Home – Home Assistant
- Lewis Barclay – 5 Reasons Your Smart Home Should Be Local – Everything Smart Home
