The Nest — A Way to Build a Connected Home
What is the Nest?
The Nest. They are products that you may have seen already. They are located at homes, school buildings, and even at work. These products have been around for almost a decade.
Ever since the brand released its smart thermostat, the product has been appearing everywhere due to being one of the first of its kind and functionality. The smart thermostat was able to take the image of a common home thermostat to the next level. With no buttons, a sleek design, and a touchable screen, Nest showed what innovation could do for the future of thermostats and other products.
The device’s software is the main factor that differentiates itself from a normal thermostat. It can learn and manage one’s home heating routine. To add, the device is made to run energy and cost-efficient for the owner, helping both the buyer and the environment. Using technology, the Nest thermostat can solve issues many people wouldn’t prioritize or even think about.
Nest Takes a Turn
Everything changed in 2014 when Google bought Nest. Since then, Google has integrated its program and software into its products and even expanded the Nest product line.
Once only a thermostat is now surrounded by other products such as a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, indoor and outdoor cameras, smart displays, speaker, Wi-Fi, temperature sensor, lock, and is compatible with Google products.
Creating an entire line of home smart devices was a clever idea from Google. By creating various smart home devices, it gives the option for someone to buy many smart home devices in addition to the thermostat.
This allows for a seamless system where the devices can easily be integrated. Having a system where devices can interact with one another makes it more effective and lets users access information more easily because information can be relayed with one another. As a result, information on one device can now be seen on multiple.
The Technology Behind Google Nest
Nest devices can communicate with the user and each other in a variety of ways. They are not only limited to Wi-Fi, but use Bluetooth, NFC, and Thread, which is a low-power wireless mesh network for device-to-device communications.
Most people would assume that nest products connect through a Wi-Fi router, however, they usually use it only to send their status to Nest which then sends that information back to the user’s location and the app. Through Thread, the devices can directly connect.
Nest and User Interactions
For example, if a family has a Nest branded learning thermostat, temperature sensor, alarm, smoke detector, doorbell, and a NEST hub (smart display) in their house, they would be allowed to access all these devices all from one app using their smartphones. This is extremely convenient because smart devices have apps created from their own companies. These apps usually require user authentication and login for their own device. Having different devices from different brands makes it irritating to check every device and wastes time, especially if that person owns many devices.
Benefits of Google Nest
The Nest device interactions are seamless and make sure that information is always updated. Once the user inputs new information into one device, every connected Nest device will be updated with the new information.
One place that users can access this information is the Nest app. The app has everything that a user needs to both see information in real-time of the devices and to input changes. Some features of the app are battery life of devices, a live feed from cameras, current temperatures of both indoors and outdoors, and much more. The app will show information based on what Nest device the user has connected to the app.
The app has many features that truly make a home a “smart home.” The user can access and monitor all devices remotely, no matter how far away from the house. The only thing necessary is a connection from the app to Nest which can then relay that information back to the user’s home.
One amazing feature of the nest is how it’s able to save the user money on energy and electricity due to reduced energy use. This is because of the program inside the Nest thermostat. As opposed to setting temperatures and a schedule on a manual thermostat, Nest’s thermostat adapts and learns what the user inputs. It can create a schedule based on the user’s likings and adjustments to the thermostat only a few days after being set up. Also, it continues to learn from the user’s home and figures out how it heats and cools.
As a result, the nest thermostat is beneficial for both the price and the user. Temperature lowers when there is nobody in the house, and increases when people come home. It adapts on its own, meaning there is no need for adjustments. If adjustments are needed, the temperature can be changed on the go through the app. The user doesn’t need to be at the thermostat to change the temperature.
Energy history can be found on the app as well. It shows statistics of when energy is being used throughout the day hourly and records energy consumption weekly. Based on the statistics, the user knows whether to maintain or lower energy use at home.
The nest adds additional features such as being able to communicate with devices around the house with voice. A user can turn off turns lights anywhere in the house without having to turn the switch off. They can do it through a google speaker or tablet. The Nest makes accessing one’s home easy with technology. With additional Nest devices, additional energy costs can be saved. Tasks can be done in the user’s homes through technology without having to physically be there shows the power of a smart home.
A Product Can’t Have Its Positives without its Negatives
Even though there are many benefits of owning Google Nest products, there are some negatives and weaknesses of the Google Nest. One of the biggest drawbacks to the Nest is the initial cost. The Nest thermostat values around $250, which is much more expensive than a normal thermostat and around $100 more than other smart thermostats. Even though this is the case, research shows that Nest saves the average user around $130 to $145 each year, meaning it pays the cost of itself within two years. Next, the thermostat has a three-degree temperature swing, meaning that if the temperature is set at 65, the temperature could be anywhere between 62 and 68. This is due to the Nest trying to save money by working efficiently. As one can see, the Nest thermostat may not be for everyone.
The high price tags also translate to other Nest products. For a Nest Secure starter kit which includes key fobs, keypad, motion sensor, and smart alarm, it cost around $500. Even though it is pricey, technology isn’t going to be cheap and “smart home” will be more costly than a house without smart devices.
Lastly, users will have to rely completely on Google if they buy Nest products such as locks, cameras, and other smart devices. If an error occurs or Nest encounters a breach to their company, users who own Nest devices could be in danger. Unless a family is ready to turn their house into a Google smart home, people still have options to choose what they want to be “smart” or not.
Smart devices have just started becoming popular at the beginning of the last decade and are slowly being integrated into most buildings, replacing old and manual devices. Soon, manual devices will be a thing of the past and smart devices will become the norm. It is exciting to see how technology is being used in so many ways and making people’s lives easier.
Works Cited
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Molla, Rani. “What It’s Really like to Live with so-Called Smart Devices.” Vox, Vox, 2 May 2019, www.vox.com/recode/2019/5/2/18511551/living-smart-apartment-alexa-google-assistant-nest-furbo.
