What is a smart home?

A smart home links together home comfort, entertainment, appliances, thermostats, lighting, and other electronic devices in a home together such that they can be controlled by voice, gesture, computer, or phone. Apple, Amazon, and other companies are trying to bring myriad smart home products from different manufacturers together through the Echo and HomeKit, respectively.

• What is a smart home? from Smart Home USA
• How Smart Homes Work from HowStuffWorks.com
• How your home will know what you need before you do from CES 2016
• The Smartest Connected Home Products at CES 2016 from PC Magazine

Where can I find databases of smart home devices?

• Smart Home Database from smarthomedb.com
• Connected Home devices cataloged by Postscapes
• OpenHomeAutomation.net
• Smart Irrigation Controllers on the market from Postscapes
• Ari jay comet home automation blog

Where can I find manufacturers of smart home devices?

• Green Bean Maker Module for GE Appliances
• Harmony TV Remotes from Logitech
• Nest - makes thermostats, smoke + CO2 alarms, and wifi security cameras
  • Products that work with Nest
• OpenSprinkler - open-source, web-based sprinkler controller
• Phillips Hue lighting products
• Samsung SmartThings appliances