Basically when it comes to IoT, the two main communication methods which come to my mind are either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. I know that there are others as well like ZigBee, Z-Wave but I would like to stay at either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth as they are supported by smart phones and tablets by default.
Application overview, system specifications:
- No HD cameras in any device.
- Purpose is to have connected all the locks, both windows and entrance doors and even dog doors.
- All light switches should be connected with feedback information about the current state of the particular lamp. (Switches can be controlled remotely and manually as well.)
- Be able to handle proximity sensors several ones per room.
- I want the system to be able to handle smart air conditioners (these should be controlled remotely and be able to give feedback about temperature and humidity values.)
In general, I have a lot of devices with low bandwidth requirements and the main goal is to have a system that is as scalable as possible. So if I move to a twice as big house which needs almost twice as much sensors, I want it to be the easiest to install the additional ones.
Now I know the basic advantages and disadvantages of the two compared. It is listed at this site Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi (the image is taken from here as well).
To highlight: Some Bluetooth is cheap and easier to use. However, Wi-Fi is more secure, has a higher range and bandwidth but, of course, costs more.
So the question is: At the dawn of a project, how can one decide which one will be the more suitable for the task? I consider the scalability as the most important spec.