Smart Home 101 - Your smart home glossary

Your smart home glossary

Unless you’re a techie, chances are there are many smart home words you don’t know or don’t use to avoid looking like a fool. Well, these times are over. With this smart home glossary, you will (finally!) understand all the complicated words of this not-so-complex universe.

2.4 GHz

Wireless band commonly used by wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee.

 

Alexa

Alexa is a voice assistant powered by artificial intelligence and developed by Amazon.

Application Programming Interface (API)

Interface containing the functionalities necessary for the development of applications and by which software can offer services to other software.

 

Automations

Management tool used to program its devices according to a routine. To create an automation, you need to determine the condition and the reaction it will trigger.

 

Bluetooth

Wireless communication tool allowing electronic devices to communicate over a short distance.

 

Communication protocol

A set of established rules used for a type of communication.

 

Connectivity session

Procedure to enable the connection of a device to a network.

 

Connected home

Applies to any use of smart objects or devices within the home. Synonym: smart home.

 

Connected device

Any device or object that can communicate with other objects over an Internet connection. Also called a smart device.

 

Control4

Name that was given to the high-end home automation system commercialized by Control4 Corporation.

 

Driver

A program that translates software commands to allow the computer to communicate with a device. For example, a driver designed to control Zigbee devices in the SmartThings management platform ensures the conversion of commands and data transmitted to the computer into clear messages for the Zigbee device so that it can operate.

Dynamic pricing

Dynamic pricing allows savings to be realized by reducing a household's energy consumption during peak events specified by the electricity supplier.

 

Éco Sinopé

Functionality developed by Sinopé Technologies that ties in to the dynamic pricing programs of the electricity suppliers to reduce the energy consumption and generate savings.

 

Energy consumption graphs

Consumption graphs give you the correct time on the energy your connected devices are using.

Gateway

A device that can communicate and send commands to smart devices using a phone, tablet or computer. The gateway often looks like a small black or white box that connects to the router. Also called a hub.

 

Geofencing

Geofencing allows actions to be triggered based on your location. This feature uses your mobile device’s position to detect when you leave the delimited perimeter and send instructions to your devices.

Geolocation

A set of techniques that make it possible to determine by satellites the geographical position of a mobile device from the radio waves that it emits.

 

Google Assistant

The Google Assistant is a voice assistant powered by artificial intelligence and developed by Google.

 

Home automation

Combines both hardware and software solutions to control and manage devices, peripherals, and electronic components in the context of the home to maximize comfort and efficiency.

HomeKit

Management platform for smart devices designed by Apple.

 

Hub

A device that can communicate and send commands to smart devices using a phone, tablet or computer. The gateway often looks like a small black or white box that connects to the router. Also called a gateway.

Hubitat

Smart device management platform compatible with a wide variety of devices (Zigbee, Z-Wave, Lutron, LAN, etc.).

 

 

Internet of Things (IoT)

The interconnection between various objects, equipped with detectors, software and electronic components, and the Internet to enable them to communicate, interact and exchange data.

 

Light-emitting diode (LED)

A diode that emits light radiation without emitting heat. Infrared LEDs are found in many consumer electronic products.

 

Low-power devices

Electronic devices requiring less electricity to operate than traditional devices. These devices can be running for longer periods without maintenance and without risk of information loss.

 

Management platform

A user interface used for the control of smart devices. The management platform often takes the form of an iOS or Android application, or of a Website.

 

Meshing

Wireless network architecture where each connected device acts as a signal repeater to relay information received from a terminal (the hub/gateway) to its final destination (the furthest smart device).

 

Mi-Wi

Name that was given by Sinopé Technologies to its exclusive communication protocol used in its Web programmable devices for the smart home.

 

Mobile app

A program designed to meet a set of specific needs that can be downloaded to a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.

 

Modem

A device that retrieves the signals provided by your Internet service provider and translates them into an Internet connection. It is then connected to the router to broadcast the Internet connection.

 

Network

A set of devices, such as thermostats or smart switches, that are connected so that they can exchange, distribute or disseminate information.

 

Neviweb

Neviweb is a management platform designed by Sinopé Technologies to control all compatible smart devices.

 

Smart device

Any device or object that can communicate with other objects over an Internet connection.

 

Smart home

Any device or object that can communicate with other objects over an Internet connection. Synonym: connected home.

 

RF

Abbreviation for radiofrequency. This term refers to wireless communication when used in the context of the smart home or the Internet of Things.

 

Router

A device that is plugged into the modem to broadcast the Internet connection over the Wi-Fi network.

 

Routine

A word used by Samsung in its management platform called SmartThings to designate a set of custom actions that can be performed automatically or at a given time by smart devices.

 

Scene

Name given by Sinopé Technologies in its Neviweb management platform to designate a set of actions coordinated and accomplished by smart devices at a given time.

Schedules

Schedules allow smart devices to follow your lifestyle habits, creating a comfortable environment at all times.

SmartThings

Management platform for smart devices designed by Samsung.

 

Thread

Wireless low-power mesh communication protocol allowing to connect more than 250 devices.

 

Web interface

Intermediary between the user and his smart devices. In the context of Sinopé Technologies, Neviweb is the Web interface, which is also called a management platform.

 

Web Programmable

Name that was given by Sinopé Technologies to its first product line designed for the smart home.

 

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi commonly refers to two things. It is used to designate wireless access to the Internet, as in the context of a Wi-Fi connection. It is also a widely used and standard communication protocol that allows communication between devices.

 

Wireless connection

Wireless access to the Internet.

 

Zigbee

A standard and widely used communication protocol that allows communication between devices. The Zigbee protocol uses a secure mesh network architecture that requires little energy. It needs a hub or gateway to create a network of connected devices.

 

Z-wave

A standard and widely used communication protocol that allows communication between devices. The Z-wave protocol uses a secure mesh network architecture that requires little energy. It needs a hub or gateway to create a network of connected devices.