An Analysis of Internet of Things (IoT) Devices for Smart Homes

This report provides an in-depth analysis of ten Internet of Things (IoT) devices designed to enhance home automation and security. The devices covered include Amazon Alexa and Echo Dot, Wink Hub 2, Logitech Harmony Elite, Smart Lock Home Kit, ADT Pulse, Tend secure Lynx Indoor, Nest Cam outdoor, LG Smart Wireless Security Camera, Adobe Home Security Starter Kit, and Netgear Arlo Pro. The report examines each device's functionality, control mechanisms, connectivity options, security features, and privacy considerations. Each device is evaluated in terms of its role in creating a smart home environment, including how it can enhance security, ease daily tasks, and improve overall lifestyle. The report highlights both the benefits and potential issues associated with each device, such as connectivity problems, compatibility issues, and privacy concerns. The floor design of the IoT is shown using smart devices like Smart Lock Home Kit, smart television, Amazon Echo Dot, LG Wireless Camera which can make the home really smart. The report concludes with a discussion on the overall impact of IoT devices on modern living and the importance of addressing potential challenges to maximize their benefits. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current IoT landscape, offering insights into how these technologies can be integrated to create more secure, convenient, and intelligent homes.

Running head: INTERNET OF THINGS
Internet of Things
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s note

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Home Network...........................................................................................................................3
Internet of Things Devices.........................................................................................................4
1. Amazon Alexa and Amazon Echo Dot..............................................................................4
2. Wink Hub 2........................................................................................................................5
3. Logitech harmony Elite......................................................................................................6
4. Smart Lock Home Kit........................................................................................................7
5. ADT Pulse..........................................................................................................................7
6. Tend secure Lynx Indoor...................................................................................................8
7. Nest Cam outdoor..............................................................................................................9
8. LG Smart Wireless Security Camera.................................................................................9
9. Adobe Home Security Starter Kit....................................................................................10
10. Netgear Arlo Pro............................................................................................................11
Conclusion................................................................................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................13
Appendix..................................................................................................................................15

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Introduction
The Internet of Things (IoT) can make a home smart enough with smart appliances
and can ease individual's life. The IoT devices connected to the network can enhance the
security of the home; the privacy of the family can be assured with the aid of IoT.
The report will highlight ten IoT devices which can ease one’s lifestyle; it has the
capability to provide advanced security along with that.
Home Network
Fig 1: Floor Design of Internet of Things
(Source: Created by author)

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The floor design of IOT shows the usage of smart devices like Smart Lock Home Kit,
smart television, Amazon Echo Dot, LG Wireless Camera which can make the home really
smart.
Internet of Things Devices
1. Amazon Alexa and Amazon Echo Dot
Alexa Smart home from Amazon brings in various innovative features that have the
ability to make home smart. The Alexa incorporating with smart devices can really ease one's
life and lifestyle. The Alexa incorporating with various smart devices can enhance the
capability of various devices like-Starter kits, Lighting and Fans, outlets, locks, cameras and
home entertainment.
The Amazon Echo is the listener. It captures the human voice and the response
accordingly. If multiple Alexas is installed at home, then the nearby Alexa will detect and
identify the voice and works as per command (Edwards, Edwards & Dot, 2016). Amazon
Alexa helps to stream music, it also helps in adding products to the to-do list and has the
ability to generate shopping list as well, it also assists in setting up of kitchen timers and also
setting up alarms.
Issue
The device faces issues while trying to understand the users’ language or users’
commands.
a. Usage: Amazon has a built-in speaker and it can be operated only on the voice
command. It also contains a touch screen which provides the search outcomes.

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b. Control: The Echo Dot basically connects the smart devices at home and those
devices can be controlled via voice.
c. Connectivity: The Echo Dot can be connected via wireless network connections. It
has also the ability to connect with devices via Bluetooth connectivity.
d. Security: Echo Dot has the facility. The users have the opportunity what they want
to listen and they have also the opportunity not to listen to those which they never want and
this facility is provided by Echo Dot.
e. Privacy: Echo Dot can be turned off whenever the user does not want to listen to.
The device emits a red light when it is inactive or is not listening to anybody. Basically,
during the private talk, the Echo Dot can be turned off. The users can also delete the
conversation recorded thus Echo dot ensures privacy.
2. Wink Hub 2
The device mainly works with Z-Wave, ZigBee, Kidde, Bluetooth, Lutron Clear
Connect. This hub is trustworthy and is popular among the masses. This device is the robust
one. The hub involves all the innovative products that are capable of making a home smart
(Fuenmayor & Wink, 2016). The wink Hub 2 can really innovate the home with the Netgear
Arlo Camera and Philips Hue.
Issue
The issue residing within the Wink hub and it faces difficulty to implement and
configure a connection with Z-Link.
a. Usage: The automation hub incorporated within Wink Hub 2 basically operates
with Z-Wave, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, Lutron Clear Connect and Kidde.

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b. Control: The Wink Hub 2 involves all the smart innovative components ranging
from Philips Hue to Netgear Arlo Camera that has the capability to make home smarter than
before.
c. Connectivity: The Wink Hub 2 has the capability to work without any network
connectivity.
d. Security: Wink Hub 2 provides enhanced security features to 1 Motion Detector, 3
Door-Window Sensors and 1 flashing Light accompanied with Siren.
e. Privacy: The privacy for Wink Hub 2 by assuring security for the window.
3. Logitech harmony Elite
This remote is responsible to connect one or more remote-controlled devices. It
basically helps to connect and control devices such as stereo and TV. It is basically a new
way to switch remote-controlled devices like stereo, TV and other similar devices (Corcoran,
2016). This remote device is way ahead of the traditional remote-controlled devices. Logitech
harmony Elite provides the facility to connect harmony home Hub to all the infrared devices,
Z-Wave and Bluetooth device.
Issue
Logitech Harmony Elite does not work or does not configure with the Amazon Instant
Video App.
a. Usage: Logitech Harmony Elite is the smart remote device that is capable to
control or switch the remote-controlled devices. It is applicable to all smart devices which are
remote controlled.

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b. Control: Logitech Harmony Elite can control all the IoT devices or the smart
devices.
c. Connectivity: Logitech Harmony Elite has inbuilt Bluetooth connectivity.
d. Security: It provides security to all the infrared devices.
e. Privacy: Logitech Harmony Elite offers privacy alongside security as well so it is
beneficial for the smart home.
4. Smart Lock Home Kit
The Smart Lock Home Kit incorporated with deadbolt switch is capable to lock doors.
The Apple Smart Lock is simple to implement and configure and it speaks via Bluetooth
connectivity over the smartphone and allows access to the authorized users and the verified
guests (Fernandes et al., 2017).
Issue
Often the application program of the smartphone does not comply with the smart lock
home kit.
a. Usage: The smart lock home kit is utilized to lock the door and this locking
technology works on the deadbolt switch.
b. Control: The smart lock home kit only controls the door lock.
c. Connectivity: The smart lock home kit requires the network connection to operate.
d. Security: This smart lock kit is responsible for providing security at the doorstep.
e. Privacy: Privacy can be ensured as via this smart lock kit the unauthorized users
can be restricted.

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5. ADT Pulse
An ADT Pulse device is one of the best security locks and is based on IOT. They are
very expensive and offer functionalities that are best compared to another system (Asgari et
al., 2017). The ADT Pulse device is known to offer advanced security solutions to a full-
featured computerized platform.
Issue
It sometimes receives messages that are unreadable and inaccessible.
a. Usage: ADT pulse provides the best solutions to secure the home locks.
b. Control: It is basically used to control the thermostat.
c. Connectivity: ADT Pulse is connected via sensor control.
d. Security: ADT Pulse is capable to offer security services to all IoT devices.
e. Privacy: Privacy can be assured with the ADT Pulse as this provides overall
security by locking doors.
6. Tend secure Lynx Indoor
Tend secure Lynx Indoor is a smart IoT device. It is basically a surveillance camera
and it can capture video of 1080 pixel and this camera also works in the night that means it
capture video even at night too. It has also the video recording facility and also the triggering
facility, this application also uses the cloud technology (Zhang, Chen & Wang, 2016). The
camera is also responsible for face recognition and it has also the capability to recognize
audio as well.
Issue
It has problems connecting to the Internet.

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a. Usage: Tend secure Lynx Indoor is a surveillance camera and it can capture video
of 1080 pixel and this camera also works in the night that means it is capable to capture video
even at night too.
b. Control: The camera monitors the persons those who are entering home and those
who are going out.
c. Security: The camera provides the security inside the home and outside as well.
d. Connectivity: This camera gets connected via an Internet connection and Bluetooth
connection.
e. Privacy: The camera can provide the privacy features as the individuals who install
this camera within their houses or office premises can monitor always who is coming in and
going out of the home.
7. Nest Cam outdoor
The indoor model camera is an effective IoT device and on the top, they are
weatherproof facility (Ott & Hagedorn, 2016). This camera can be installed outdoors as well.
It requires just a power cord. The Nest Cam Outdoor utilizes a wireless Wi-Fi connection to
transmit video as well. It has the capability to transmit audio as well. It too gives the
notification alert as well.
Issue
It has some issues with regards to wireless net connectivity, basically, it has a
connectivity problem with Wi-Fi.
a. Usage: The indoor model camera works similarly in both in outdoor and indoor
premises.

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b. Control: It captures images, videos and even audio, can send alerts as well.
c. Connectivity: It requires a network connectivity to work.
d. Security: It provides overall security to the family residence.
e. Privacy: It provides privacy to all the family members.
8. LG Smart Wireless Security Camera
The LG Smart Wireless Security Camera is used to monitor inside the house when the
house owners are out of his house. The camera is utilized by the house owners to safeguard
their homes from the thieves and robbers. The individuals basically install this camera within
the office premises to monitor the activities of the employees (Gharaibeh et al., 2017). The
camera requires maintenance and the individuals who are the owners of this camera usually
take care of this fact, if any mishaps or issues incur then it is the responsibility of the house
owners to fix those problems.
Issue
The IP security camera often does not comply with LG Smart Wireless Security
Camera.
a. Usage: This camera can be used both inside and outside of the house to keep an eye
on the strangers or anyone who is suspicious and the one who conducts illegal activities in the
office premises.
b. Control: It can be controlled by the remote.
c. Connectivity: It requires the Wi-Fi connection within the home premises.

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d. Security: The camera provides security within the home premises. It also provides
security in the office premises as well. In the office premises, it can help in offering security,
so the management team can remain in peace.
e. Privacy: The privacy can be ensured via Security Camera.
9. Adobe Home Security Starter Kit
The Adobe Security Kit is a sort of do-it-yourself protection system and it provides
the facility of self-monitoring. It caters excellent services to the third-party gadgets (Kor et
al., 2016). The Adobe Starter Kit can be paired with ZigBee and Z-Wave products to make
one’s home smart enough, it basically connects with lights, switches, door locks of a smart
home to enhance the smart home. It also responds to Amazon Alexa.
Issue
The Adobe Security Kit is a heavy device and sometimes it does not comply with the
mobile applications.
a. Usage: The Adobe Security Key paired with ZigBee and Z-Wave provides the best
security solutions for a smart home, it connects door locks, switches and lights to enhance the
smart home in the best way possible, provides support for IFTTT recipes and responds well
to Alexa commands. Thus it can be utilized for complete protection of a house.
b. Control: The Adobe Security Kit can control the lights, the switches and door locks
as well, thus can all round security to the smart home.
c. Connectivity: The system works even without network connectivity. It is known as
one of the superb powerful hubs.
d. Security: Provides security to the entire smart home.

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e. Privacy: The Adobe Security provides security and privacy both at the same time
for the entire house.
10. Netgear Arlo Pro
Netgear Arlo Pro is another notable mention that is manufactured incorporating some
best features like it is weatherproof. Netgear Arlo Pro is quite simple to install and to
configure; moreover, it consists of wireless features as well. Initially, this device faced the
problem related to audio capturing (Habibi et al., 20117). Now it has the capability to utilize
a two-way audio and along with that it provides the recordings of sound triggered. The latest
innovative features added to the product are-USB connectivity for storing video, the batteries
which can be recharged and aloud siren.
Issue
The Netgear Arlo Pro has a certain disadvantage; it cannot process or capture at long
distance.
a. Usage: The device is utilised to capture the neighbouring of the house.
b. Control: The device can be controlled with a remote device; the device can also be
controlled via voice commands.
c. Connectivity: The device uses wireless Wi-Fi connectivity and can be connected to
Wi-Fi router as well.
d. Security: The ones who are coming in and the ones who are going out can be traced
by this device so that is the security feature of this device.
e. Privacy: The privacy can be ensured; nobody will be allowed to get in the house
without the owner’s concession.