What is smart bulb (smart light bulb)? | Definition from TechTarget (2024)

FAQs

What is smart bulb (smart light bulb)? | Definition from TechTarget? ›

With the integration of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee or a proprietary connection for a home automation systems, smart bulbs can be controlled through a mobile app or a home/building automation hub and individual bulbs can be programmed to change output in a specific manner.

Smart lights have a chip inside them so that they can communicate with other devices wirelessly. Every light can connect to an app, smart home assistant, or other smart accessory, so you can automate your lights, change their color, or control them remotely.

Smart bulbs are best when you want to control bulbs individually or want to adjust the color of your home's light. Since they come in different shapes and sizes, there's a smart bulb for almost any lamp or fixture, indoors and outdoors (so long as your fixture is weather-tight).

Light Emitting Diode (LED) Light Bulbs

LED bulbs use a semiconductor technology and were originally just used for indicator lamps emitting a low intensity red light. Technology advancement now mean that LED's can be made which emit light with high brightness across the visible, ultraviolet and infrared spectrums.

Alexa smart bulbs let you control brightness, activate certain lighting presets and scenes, power the lights on/off, and adjust color temperature through Alexa voice commands.

A smart bulb is an internet-capable LED light bulb that allows lighting to be customized, scheduled and controlled remotely. Smart bulbs are among the most immediately successful offerings in the growing category of home automation and Internet of Things (IoT) products.

The biggest disadvantage of smart light bulbs is that they're much more expensive than regular lightbulbs. As of this writing, a standard incandescent bulb costs about a dollar, while a non-smart LED light bulb costs around $5. A smart bulb costs around $15 each, and that's not counting additional hub expenses.

They connect directly to the Wi-Fi network in your home or office. When controlling them from your phone, tablet or smart speaker, you're sending instructions to the lights over the internet. Some smart lights don't completely rely on wireless communication for all their smart features.

Typical Smart Home Bandwidth Usage Examples

To give you a better sense of real-world smart home connectivity needs, here are some examples that demonstrate typical bandwidth requirements: Smart speaker: 1-3 Mbps. Smart light bulb system: 2-5 Mbps. Wi-Fi enabled door locks: 2-4 Mbps.

The answer is yes. If you want an always connected bulb that can be controlled remotely then it will need to use power to maintain that connection.

Do smart lights have cameras? ›

Smart lights can have an inbuilt 4K camera with high-quality video recording. The video can be simultaneously streamed live(on a smartphone app) and seamlessly recorded for several hours.

They are energy-saving as LEDs produce more brightness with less energy and last much longer than a regular light. LED SMART LIGHTS are developed with improved efficiency and a wonderful controlled system that allows an automated single-touch operation via an app or can be controlled by simple voice command.

An incandescent light bulb is an electric light source in which a thin metal wire filament, usually made of tungsten, is heated until it glows. In order to avoid oxidation, the filament is enclosed in a bulb. Because of its shape, the incandescent lamp is also called a light bulb.

Do I Need a Smart Switch for a Smart Bulb? No. While you do not need a smart switch for a smart bulb, having one helps with interconnectivity throughout your household. Because even if you are using traditional or non-smart bulbs,the smart switch has the power to make any product smart.

There are potentially endless benefits of Alexa for seniors. The smart home assistant does so much more than control an Amazon Echo device or play music. The incredible voice technology can also assist an older person with life alert tasks, list-making, captioning, and video calling with loved ones.

Once your smart lights are connected to Alexa, you can use simple voice commands to turn them on or off. Just say "Alexa, turn on the living room light," or "Alexa, turn off the bedroom light."

Smart light bulbs offer advanced features and flexibility compared to normal bulbs. While normal bulbs provide basic illumination, smart light bulbs allow multiple brightness/color settings, remote control, automation, and integration with smart home systems.

Smart lighting connects to your smartphone with Bluetooth or via a hub attached to your Wi-Fi router. Their color, brightness, and temperature can be controlled by a phone app, but also via smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.

Intelligent lighting refers to lighting that has automated or mechanical abilities beyond those of conventional, stationary illumination.