The Ultimate Smart Homes Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Ultimate Smart Homes Quiz
Image: Photo courtesy of Duke Smart Home Program

About This Quiz

If you're so smart, why would you need a smart home? The answer is for a variety of reasons, including saving energy costs, personal safety, even greater comfort. Take this quiz and see the smartest things in homes.
When you're at work, how does a smart home relieve your concern about whether you left the TV on?
You can check it out online.
It is smart enough to turn the TV off in your absence.
An automated voice calls you to soothe away your problems.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're not sure whether you left your TV on, just connect online to your smart home gadgetry and check it out.

What is another term for a smart home?
robotic home
home automation
a wise home
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A smart home is a home run by means of home automation.

Which appliances can be connected to the home automation system?
the ones that run on solar energy
the ones that run on gas
the ones that run on electricity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Any appliance that runs on electricity can be connected to the system.

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How can you connect to your smart home and give commands?
using your voice
using remote control or a computer
both of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are actually three ways: voice, remote and computer.

What was the prototype smart home developed in 1975 in Scotland called?
Wiseguy 007
X10
ScotSmart
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was called X10.

Under the home automation system, appliances and devices are called _____, whereas the controlling mechanisms are called:
receivers … transmitters
transmitters … receivers
drones … commanders
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The devices are the receivers and the controlling mechanisms are the transmitters.

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A transmitted message will be in numerical code. What will it contain?
a code for the receiver and a code for the online record-keeping system that tracks your messages
a code of your present location and a code for the information you wish to convey
a code with the actual command and a code for both the receiver and transmitter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The numerical code will contain at least these things: a code with the actual command and a code for both the receiver and transmitter.

Why is communicating via electrical wires not always reliable?
because the wires can get entangled
because the wires can sometimes fray from overload
because the wires can be "noisy" from other devices
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The electrical wires can sometimes be "noisy" from powering other devices.

The two prominent radio networks that operate home automation systems, ZigBee and Z-Wave, are what is called:
noise-free networks
mesh networks
messaging systems
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

ZigBee and Z-Wave are mesh networks that might use different ways to send messages.

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How do smart home door handles usually admit entry?
by means of electronic sensors
by means of voice recognition
by means of fingerprints or a code
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Instead of using a key and door handle to open the door, the smart home reads your scanned fingerprint or a four-digit code.

If you wanted to join an X10 system with a Z-Wave product, what would you need?
a dongle
a bridging device
a modulator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You'd need a bridging device.

Why is appropriate placement of the wireless network nodes important?
in order that they connect correctly
in order that they have a good routing range
in order that they are compatible with your home gadgets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The reason is to do with the routing range. If they are placed appropriately, they maximize the routing range.

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Why does the cost to install a smart home vary widely?
because it depends on the degree of "smartness" you install
because it depends on the company you use
because it depends on the currency exchange rate for any given date
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It depends how "smart" you want your home to be. A simple lighting system is relatively cheap, whereas a smart home theater system can run into the thousands.

What can a fire alarm system in a smart home do?
extinguish the fire and treat burns
unlock doors, call the fire department and light up the path to safety
predict the outbreak of a fire and even prevent fires
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A smart fire alarm can unlock doors, call emergency services and light up a path to safety. It can even wake you up if you're sleeping.

Suppose you're lying in bed in your upstairs bedroom and you want a hot cup of coffee from the kitchen downstairs. With a smart home, can you boil the water on command?
Yes, certainly.
No, that system is yet to be developed.
Yes, but only from the same floor. From upstairs to downstairs, it would be a problem.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of course you can! You need just say the word, and the coffee maker will be activated.

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How would your energy bill be reduced in a smart home?
The lights and heating turn off when the room is not in use, so you'd save energy.
It wouldn't.
The smart home uses lots of solar energy so you save on electricity.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The smart home turns off certain devices when the room is not in use so, for example, you could never leave lights on by mistake for hours. They would simply turn off, saving energy.

What might a smart dog house do?
turn off lights when the kennel is not in use
alert the dog in case of fire or burglary
give the dog a preset amount of food at selected times
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A smart dog house could give the dog a preset amount of food at selected times of the day.

When choosing a home automation system, what question should you ask?
How easy will it be to make changes to the interface if need be?
What will my friends think of it?
How can I make it hacker-free?
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You should address many pertinent questions when deciding what system will work best for you. Among them: How easy would it be to make changes to the interface?

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What security concerns are there with a smart home?
that it might not recognize you or let you in
that it could be hacked into
that it may release radioactive waves into the air
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A smart home system could be hacked into, which might may it vulnerable to an intruder.

Some smart home features may raise ________ questions about invading privacy.
nonsensical
moot
ethical
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A smart home's ability to monitor behavior may be fine for looking in on a toddler, but be resented by a teenager.

You Got:
/20
Photo courtesy of Duke Smart Home Program