I have always
thought that it would be really cool to have an automated house. A house where
all the systems were monitored and controlled by a single control panel. While
home automation systems have been around for many years, most were very
expensive and you needed multiple systems.
For example the control panel that turned on or dimmed lights could not
set the thermostat or unlock the front door.
Recently there
have been released a number of systems that use an app on your smartphone, either
iPhone or Android, to control a number of different systems and appliances
found in most homes. One of the systems is called Wink. Many of the products that are based on Wink and the actual Wink
controller can be purchased at your local Home Depot or at Amazon.com.
The neat thing
about Wink is that it works with many
standard products found around the home. GE appliances, Philips lighting and
Schlage locks are just a few of the manufacturers making products that can be
controlled and monitored by Wink.
For example, once
you purchase the Wink hub, using your
smartphone and home Wi-Fi you can take control of setting your heating and air
conditioning, lock or unlock your front door, turn on lights, monitor your home
security system, and even check if you remembered to close the garage door. This
can be done while sitting in your living room or in a hotel half way around the
world.
The Wink compatible products vary in price. To
get started you need a controller hub that costs about $50.00. A LED light bulb
that will interface with Wink costs
about $14.00. Many products like the garage door interface costs about $80.00. Unlike
older systems that were priced in the thousands of dollars, you can get up and
running with several Wink controlled
devices for a few hundred dollars.
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