5 More Home Automation Vocabulary Terms

Last fall, we published a post listing five important home automation vocabulary terms that homeowners should know. That post was so well received that we decided to add a few more essential terms in another post. We understand that home automation and security technology is moving ahead at such a fast pace that it can be hard to keep up. We certainly want our customers to stay abreast of what’s going on, but we also know they need a proper grasp of the terms in order to do so.

We hope the terms and definitions listed below will help you better understand what home automation and security is all about. As always, when in doubt, pick up the phone and contact Uxari with your questions about our devices or pricing packages. We are here to help you make your home more efficient and secure.

Geo-Fencing/Geolocation

Geo-fencing and geolocation are two terms that are often used together. Sometimes they are used interchangeably, though their definitions are slightly different.

Geolocation is a more generic term used to describe technology that can locate a person or device using GPS satellite technology. Your smartphone is a good example. If your smartphone is GPS-enabled, and most are, it is equipped with geolocation technology by default. This technology is that which enables mapping apps to help you find your way around town.

Geo-fencing is an extension of geolocation for the purposes of establishing simulated boundaries for a particular purpose. In the world of home automation, we can use geo-fencing to control how your home automation system works. For example, create your geo-fencing boundary and save it in your home automation system’s control center. Then you can program your thermostat and lighting to respond accordingly. They will make adjustments based on whether you are inside or outside your geo-fencing border.

Home Automation Scalability

Scalability within home automation has the same meaning as it does in computer systems. Scalability is simply the ability to seamlessly increase or decrease the size or power of a home automation system without affecting functionality. You may want to add extra window sensors to a security portion of your system at some point down the road. A system that is scalable accommodates those new sensors without interrupting the functionality you already enjoy.

Lighting Scenes

Lighting scenes are one of the most exciting ways to use home automation. Lighting scenes are simply programs that tell your system when to turn lights on or off, how and when to dim the lights, and so on. A scene can be limited to a single room or encompass the entire house. Lighting scenes can also be applied to exterior lighting.

Smart Thermostat

The smart home automation thermostat is not the same thing as a programmable thermostat. The latter is simply a thermostat that can be programmed to adjust the temperature at different times of the day. A smart thermostat goes beyond simple programming to actually ‘learn’ your normal routine so it can self-adjust as needed. Smart thermostats are made smart through advanced programming and artificial intelligence.

Device Connectivity

Device connectivity is the ability of all the devices in a home automation system to communicate seamlessly over a single network. Connectivity is that which makes it possible for a smart thermostat to communicate with lighting devices and security control panels in order to learn how to self-adjust. Without connectivity, modern home automation would not be nearly as automated as we can now make it.

The more familiar you are with the terms of home automation and security, the better you will understand what we are all about. Here it Uxari, we want you to be as informed as possible.