Smart lighting: what can I do with it?

Smart lighting can be found in more and more homes. For example, one or more lamps that switch on automatically at a set time, without the resident having to get out of his chair. Or a lamp that changes color while watching a movie. And all this at the touch of a remote control or via an app on the smartphone or tablet. Everything is possible with modern, smart lamps. Not only nice things, but also useful ones. For example, consider someone who goes away for a few days. Without further action, the lights will turn on in turn when it gets dark. They give the impression that someone is home. That’s a safe idea.

At first glance there is little difference between the ‘traditional’ lamps and smart ones. Both variants come in all kinds of shapes, colors, sizes and designs. But there is a big difference in use. A traditional lamp works simply. Someone turns it into a fixture and turns the lamp on via a switch. Sometimes the lamp can be dimmed or switched on or off automatically with a separate timer.

A smart lamp also goes into a fixture and is also turned on and off with a switch or light button. But that’s where the comparison ends. Smart lamps can do much more. They use the internet or bluetooth to ‘talk’ to each other, a special remote control or an app. This way you can turn them on and off without having to walk there, or activate preset ‘scenes’. These are a kind of programs in which someone determines which lights should be on or off and how bright they should shine. For example, while watching a movie, a scene may become active with dim lighting, while while reading, the lights may shine brighter.

As mentioned, smart bulbs are connected to each other so that they can ‘talk’. There are all kinds of techniques to allow the lamps to communicate with each other. You may know wifi and bluetooth. Another way is via the so-called Zigbee protocol. That protocol is popular with makers of smart bulbs. How it works is a technical story. What is good to know is that connected lamps with the Zigbee protocol not only have contact with the internet router, but also with each other. This increases the range of the network. The lamps can pass on the signal to other lamps, if they are close enough to each other.

A smart lamp only really comes to life when it is linked to the accompanying app. Everything can be set with this. This way you can group lighting with it. This means that, for example, all lamps in a room, such as the kitchen or living room, are controlled jointly. Or use the app to set color lights to change color to the beat of music. Fun to play with a bit!

In addition to fun applications, smart lamps also have practical uses. So-called routines are useful for this. Routines are certain actions at certain times. For example, all lights turn on automatically at a specific time. Then you will never come home to a dark room again. Should the lamp stay on a little longer during the weekend? It is entirely up to you how the routine is set up. Simply put it in the app and switch it off again here if you wish.

More and more companies are offering smart bulbs. The most famous of these is Philips Hue (pronounced: heyow). This is a whole range of high-quality smart lamps, but unfortunately also with a hefty price tag. They work with the Zigbee described above. Lamps from other brands that also use Zigbee can be used together with those from Philips.

That’s a good thing, because more and more companies are making cheap(er) smart lighting. For example, Ikea has TRÅDFRIA, smart bulbs that can also handle Hue. The Swedish furniture giant is now Philips’ main competitor. The Ikea lighting has fewer functions, but the system is user-friendly and the lamps themselves are a lot more affordable.

Hue’s parent company, Signify, previously owned the company Wiz taken over. It now also offers cheaper lamps. They do have fewer options than Hue and do not work with it either. Smart lamps are also on the shelves of chains such as Action and Hema.

Many smart bulbs require an additional device; a so-called hub or bridge. That is a kind of node for the entire lamp system. The device is often connected to the router with a cable. All lamps can then be added and set via the accompanying app. Hue’s device is called the Hue Bridge. To make things more confusing, that Bridge isn’t always necessary anymore. A new range of lamps from Hue can also be controlled via Bluetooth. Again, there are limitations. If you want to buy smart bulbs, you need to look carefully at what exactly is needed for each brand and bulb.

A fairly new application of smart lamps is the connection with other devices. For example, a smart doorbell or a modern security system. Have a certain lamp light up when someone is at the door. Or make a kind of flashing lights from the lamps when the fire detector goes off. This can be a godsend for people with impaired hearing. Smart voice assistants are also increasingly able to link to the lamps. The Google Nest Hub smart speaker, for example, turns on the lights in a room if you give it a voice command.

All in all, smart bulbs have a number of advantages. We list a few of them:

• They can be controlled remotely and optionally by voice.
• By creating routines, it is never dark at awkward moments.
• They can increase (the feeling of) security. For example, because they are switched on when you are away from home.
• They have fun features like changing color when reading or watching a movie.

There are also disadvantages to smart lamps. For example, think about this before purchasing:

• Smart lighting is (a lot) more expensive than regular bulbs, spots and other lamps.
• In many cases, a separate device, a hub, is required to use the lamps.
• It takes time to get to know and use the products. Especially because everyone in the house should be able to deal with it.

Whether smart lighting is an asset to the home or not, depends on everyone’s wishes and of course also the budget. It is always smart to compare the brands, just like the options and the pros and cons.