To even imagine how far our homes have come in the past 20 years alone boggles the mind. We’ve gone from fixing mortice locks to adding lights that can be controlled halfway around the world. We’ve ditched fiddling with aerials at the back of the TV for smart set-ups that play music to every room in the house and that can be controlled by clapping our hands. Naturally, other industries have benefitted from advancements in technology too. But how important is being able to control every aspect of our home from mobile devices?

One of the pros cited by smart home management systems is the saving of energy. The systems are designed to monitor energy usage and give residents more control of when the heating comes on and when lights are on and off. By monitoring how much is used, recommendations can be made on how to improve energy efficiency. Most systems are also designed with modern energy-efficient heating and light functions in place anyway, adding to the green credentials.

The security features afforded by many home management systems are also a huge plus for some. The aforementioned security lights that can be turned on when not in mean that those going away can leave a light on that can be turned off in different combinations. This confuses burglars in a way that a light that has been left on for a week doesn’t. Cameras in the home also enable people to monitor their security better. Many use them to watch pets while not in the house, too, giving them a secondary use.  These advancements are often accessed when using an app or watching a movie on your smartphone. This improvement with accessibility has been vitalized in the entertainment industries too.

House management isn’t the only development when it comes to what our smartphones can do. Other traditional industries are also entering the 21st Century with tech improvements. For instance, as William Hill shows with its options for betting on mobile, bettors can place bets, monitor betting markets, and even watch events live on their phones. Having control over something as traditional as betting from the palm of your hand makes those who engage feel more connected, which helps ramp up the tension. If such a steadfast industry can find a way for smartphones to enhance it, then so can even more traditional ones such as our homes.

There are plenty of detractors to controlling our home settings from our phones. The same arguments are often wheeled out. Some worry that if you lose your phone, you’ll never be able to turn your thermostat down. Others are concerned that the tech will suddenly turn your oven on when you’re not at home. There are even people who worry that live feeds could be hacked into to identify when you are away. While some of these concerns are merited, most are unlikely to happen. Indeed, some queries such as ‘why is the Nest camera blinking’ do indicate that errors can occur with smart homes. Smarter homes aren’t for everyone, which is something the industry has learned.

The technology surrounding smart homes provides ways in which things can be done in a more streamlined, convenient, and tech-reliant way. Beyond that, some of the same principles are used in other sites too. For many, this will help them feel more in control of their surroundings. For some, the tech-control may be perturbing. Regardless, the advances in tech for home management are set to continue to improve how we live.