Stop overlooking the biggest smart home device you own
What is the biggest smart home device you own? For many of us, the answer may come as a surprise, even though this device’s smart capabilities are explicitly included in its name.
Your Smart TV is already part of your smart home
It’s easy to forget the fact that a smart TV is a smart home device, even if the word “smart” is front and center. When we talk about smart home devices, smart TVs aren’t usually the first thing that comes to mind.
The fact is, a smart TV can be an integral part of your smart home, even if you don’t currently use it that way. A smart TV can serve two main purposes.
First, a smart TV can be the endpoint of your automations. You can create automations that turn on your TV, change channels or inputs, or launch streaming apps. You can even use a TV to display notifications or to show who’s at the front door.
Second, a smart TV can act as a smart home sensor. The status of your TV can provide useful signals that you can use in your smart home automation. For example, if your TV is on, this is a reasonable indication that at least one person is still home. In combination with other indicators, it can be part of a reliable method of determining when everyone is out.
Even if your TV itself isn’t smart, it can be connected to something that is, like a streaming stick, soundbar, or gaming console. You may be able to integrate your dumb TV into your smart home using these devices.
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Simple automations can make your TV more useful
There are several ways to use your Smart TV in your smart home automation. For example, you can use the state of your TV as a trigger to run an automation using apps like Apple Home or more powerful solutions like Home Assistant. In Apple Home, you can create an automation that automatically dims the lights when you turn on the TV, so you don’t need to touch the lights yourself.
You can also create automations that control your TV. Using a motion sensor, for example, you can create an automation that will automatically turn on your TV when you enter the living room after 7 p.m. When it gets to 9 p.m., you can automatically lower the volume on your TV so it doesn’t wake the kids.
You can also use a smart button or voice command to activate different display modes. For example, with just one button you can turn on your TV and select the correct input for your games console.
Turn your TV into a living room notification screen
Your TV can also be very useful in your home as a notification center. For example, I have an automation in Home Assistant that describes the person at the front door when my video doorbell detects a person. This notification is usually sent to my phone, but if my smart TV is detected as being on, it is also sent to my TV screen, so I can see the notification without having to pick up my phone.
With some smart TVs or streaming devices, you can even use your smart TV to display videos. For example, some Amazon Fire TVs can display the feed from your Ring video doorbell when someone rings the bell. The same is possible with a Google TV or via any TV connected to an Apple TV 4K.
You don’t want your smart TV constantly switching to your video doorbell feed or being spammed with notifications, but if you set things up right, it can be a useful way to get instant information while you watch your favorite shows.
Integrate your Smart TV into your smart home
Using your TV as a smart home trigger or smart home endpoint makes it much more useful. For example, dimming the lights when you turn on the TV can seem a little magical. However, the real power comes when you use your smart TV in combination with the rest of your smart home.
For example, using Home Assistant, when you turn on your TV, in addition to dimming the lights, you can trigger a whole series of actions. You can have your phone go into Do Not Disturb mode so your viewing isn’t interrupted. You can turn on your surround sound system, turn down your air conditioning so as not to muffle the sound, close the blinds and much more.
When you turn off your TV after a set time, you can trigger an automation that waits a few minutes, then turns off all the lights downstairs, turns off all the appliances downstairs, locks the front door, and does whatever else you need before going to bed.
It’s easy to overlook your smart TV as part of your smart home. However, used correctly, it can be a very useful addition to your smart home arsenal. If you haven’t yet integrated your smart TV into your automations or routines, why not try it?
