TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- One of the newest tech trends is home automation.
More and more companies are coming up with ways to let customers control their home life right from their smartphones.
Take automated thermostats. Products like Nest are doing much more than just turning on the AC.
"Through machine language, it learns your habits, it learns when you're inside the house, when you're outside the house... so it cools and heats your house accordingly," said Garret Lucas of Aegis Business Technologies.
And perfect mood lighting? Just a swipe away.
Technology can tell your lights when to turn on or off. Some options let you change color and brightness, even when you're miles away.
"The end goal of making a more efficient in what they do, especially when it comes to saving energy," said Lucas.
Now when it comes to protecting what's inside your house, surveillance systems can give you eyes in every room.
"Taking wireless cameras and placing them throughout the house, and they can control it through an app on their iPhone or the iPad to see what's going on," said Lucas.
But there are some things you need to check before buying these new gadgets.
Most home automation devices work by connecting to your home's WiFi system, and that can pose some big security risks.
"You have to have a password and your username in place. If you don't, if you're just entering on your iPhone and getting connected to your air-conditioning, someone else can get in to it as well. It could be a hacker next-door or it could be a hacker in China," said Blake Dowling of Aegis Business Technologies.
Local tech experts say when it comes to security concerns, don't be the guinea pig.
"Wait until something's tested. Ask for references if you're buying a product, a new service or new app. That way you can know someone has taken that first step before you did," said Dowling.
Also be sure any new system you're looking at is compatible with your smartphone or tablet. Certain gadgets are made specifically for Android or iOS software and will only work with those programs.
