What Is an Example of Home Automation? Start With a Light

Home automation is when a device responds to a schedule, sensor, or command instead of requiring you to operate it by hand every time. For example, you can set a smart lamp to turn on each evening before you walk through a dim hallway, then turn off at bedtime.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating a simple example of home automation.

Start with one lamp in a place you use regularly, choose the times you want it on, and try the schedule for a few days to see whether it matches your routine. Keep the lamp’s ordinary switch easy to reach so you can still turn it on when you need light outside the scheduled hours.

A motion-activated light is another example: it turns on when you enter an area and turns off after a set period without movement. This can be convenient near an entryway or in a hallway, but position the sensor and test it at night so you know whether the light comes on soon enough for you.

A schedule fits an activity that happens at roughly the same time each day, while a sensor fits a space you use at unpredictable times. If you are setting up automation for an older adult, ask which routine they want help with first and make sure they know how to use the light manually, too.

You do not need to automate an entire home to get started; one predictable lighting routine is a practical way to learn what works for you. Our guide to smart home setup for seniors takes this one-routine-at-a-time approach, and our Smart Home Automation for Seniors Checklist is a digital download you can use as you plan your setup.