It seems that everytime you turn around, there’s another “must have” technology available for your home. If you’re thinking about building a new home in the Poconos, you’re probably also thinking about which technological advanatages you’ll want to incorporate.

You should know, however, that there’s a difference between having a “smart home” and having a home full of gadgets. If you’re really into technology, you may enjoy checking out all the different applications and technological enhancements. But what if you’re more interested in comfort and convenience? How smart does your home need to be—and do the apps and gadgets really deliver what they promise?

There’s a great article from Tom Goodwin (SVP, Strategy and Innovation, Havas Media & Marketing) entitled, “What’s missing in the smart home is the smarts.” You can read the article here, but perhaps the main point is that sometimes we get so wrapped up in cool new technology that we don’t even consider if it’s making our lives any better. He described a recent stay in a hotel that had every new technological advantage available:

Little to none of it worked. Turning on a light took seven key taps and a four-second wait, changing the temperature crashed the tablet. Every time. The TV bypassed broadcast technology allowing me to stream any global TV channel, with massive buffering delays and awful resolution. The smartphone to call the front desk had poor reception. Worst of all, the bedside iPads, even on their black home screen, emitted enough ambient light to make sleeping impossible. This may have been a sophisticated home, but it sure wasn’t smart.

By the way, Tom Goodwin is someone who likes technology. He’s not ranting against new things. But he points out that the real goal of technology should be to give people what they really want—to make their lives better and more comfortable.

The same is true when building your home. Interior design trends will come and go. Colors will go in and out of popularity. Smart new technology will be replaced by smarter, newer technology (that actually does what you want it to do!).

There are some great things about smart homes. They can be more energy efficient. They can make things more convenient. But the goal isn’t to build a “smart” home—it’s to build a comfortable home that meets your needs. That begins with a floor plan that matches your lifestyle. It also means building in a location that makes you feel comfortable and at home.

A home that meets those requirements is a smart home!