How Smart Will You Make Your Home?
The Digital Age is here, and it is here to stay. Forget about that robot butler that Paulie from the Rocky movies had. In 2019, we’ve made some real headway in regards to smart/convenience technology with IoT devices, and it is almost staggering.
IoT, or internet of things (hokey name I know), devices offer up numerous services for the technically inclined homeowner. Whether you are in need of assistance, or simply wish to take a load off and delegate some of your duties to a smart device, you can do that.
Looking at the smart device statistics, the future of this industry is looking very bright. 58% of millennials and 50% of Gen Xers have smart devices with voice control already in their homes. The majority of smart device owners plan on getting more smart devices in the future. A recent survey has indicated that 71% of consumers expect at least one smart device to be found in every home by the year 2025. These smart devices save consumers both time and money.
Some of these smart devices are relatively simple and inexpensive whereas others, such as advanced surveillance cameras, are much costlier. Many smart devices have been on the market for quite some time, and others have become available more recently. But what are some of the specific functions IoT devices are capable of? I’m glad you asked! Let’s fill you in.
Control Your Energy Consumption
You’re in the car on your way home on a hot midsummer day. Once you get into the house, it feels like a sauna inside. You turn on the air conditioner but have to wait a few minutes before it kicks in. That’s how it used to be.
With a smart device such as the Nest Learning Thermostat this scenario is a thing of the past. The Nest Learning Thermostat adapts to your lifestyle and the changing of the seasons, and automatically adjusts itself accordingly. You only need to program it once a week, and it will take care of the rest. And this can all be done from your smartphone.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is also a major energy saver, thanks to it being able to figure out your optimal temperature settings. This can save consumers a lot of money on heating and cooling bills. A leaf on the display indicates when you are saving energy and you can view your savings in a monthly report on your phone.
Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night to change the thermostat and found yourself clawing around in the dark to find it? Unlike the thermostats of old that are white and blend in with the walls and are nigh-impossible to see at night, the Nest Learning Thermostat lights up and displays the time whenever you get near it. So if you ever decide to make some manual adjustments to the temperature in your home during the night, you won’t bump into walls anymore.
The thermostat also has a furnace monitor and geofencing support. This thermostat is pricey, but Nest does have another thermostat with most of the smart features at a lower price if you are looking to save a few bucks.
Control Various Smart Home Devices
With devices such as the Google Nest Hub Max and Echo Show, consumers can control the vast majority of their smart devices all from a single device. That’s convenience that cannot be beaten.
Both the Google Nest Hub Max and Echo Show are compatible with thousands of smart devices, and this number is sure to keep increasing as we get deeper into the Digital Age.
Both devices act as central hubs that allow you to control many of the smart gadgets in your home simply by using your voice. You can’t go wrong with either one, but Android and technology neophytes are likely better off with Google Nest Hub. If you’re an active Amazon Prime user, the Echo Show is your best bet.
Clean Your Home
Hate cleaning? Now you can get a robot vacuum to help stay on top of the mess. Some of them are quite extensive, with interactive cleaning maps, laser navigation, intuitive apps, excellent battery life and superior cleaning ability.
Roomba is a series of iRobot vacuum cleaners that have been on the market since 2002 and iRobot launched several new models earlier this year. While expensive and not without their drawbacks, robot vacuums can help get in those hard-to-reach places and cut down on the amount of time you spend dragging a vacuum around the house. If you’re a dog owner with a breed that sheds a lot, you will definitely appreciate this.
If you have kids who leave small toys lying around, just remember that robot vacuum cleaners don't have the ability to discriminate between Legos and dirt. They'll suck up those toys along with anything else you may have accidentally dropped on the floor like hair clips and screws.
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Improve Your Baking
Being known for your delicious home-cooked meals is one thing. But being known for your superb baked goods? That's a whole other level of merit. If you're a good cook, though, this doesn't always transfer over to the art of baking. Don't worry — there's an IoT device that can help you with that too.
Perfect Bake Pro claims to make baking a cinch with easy-to-follow instructions and no need for different measuring cups or spoons. A Smart Scale connected to a recipe app is all you need to become a master chef.
Once you have selected a recipe on the app, it will prompt you to add different ingredients to a bowl on the scale. The scale will tell you when to stop pouring, ensuring you are adding the proper amounts.
You won’t have any more flops from adding incorrect quantities of ingredients together. It’ll take some time, but with a bit of assistance from this device, you’ll be a regular Duff Goldman in no time!
Control Your Lighting
Want the lighting in your house to look a bit fancy and be energy-efficient at the same time? Then take a look at Phillip Hue.
The Philips Hue line enables you to control the hue and intensity of your lights. You can control your smart lighting via the Phillips Hue Bridge, which serves as a smart hub for your lighting, or via the Hue app. Phillip Hue also has functionality with external smart devices and can work with Amazon Echo and Siri.
Another smart device lighting option is the Ecobee Switch+. It has Amazon Alexa embedded into it, making it not only a smart light switch that can both connect to your WiFi and be controlled with a mobile app, but also capable of doing everything the Amazon Echo does – play music, get sports scores and current news, and control other home devices.
Smart Refrigeration
A smart fridge can tell you when you are running out of milk! You may have to spend some time setting it up properly, but it can improve your daily life in many ways. You'll be able to find recipes using the touchscreen, create grocery lists, set expiry dates for foods, coordinate schedules for family members and much more.
How many times have you stood in front of the fridge with the door wide open as you search for something to eat? Some smart refrigerators allow you to view the contents of your fridge without even having to open the door. Simply knock twice and the door will turn transparent, meaning you won't lose cold air and your food will stay fresher for longer.
WiFi connectivity means you’ll also be able to get new software updates for your fridge as they’re developed and released. There are several brands and models of smart fridges on the market now such as those by LG and Samsung, so be sure to do some research to see which is best for your lifestyle. And don’t forget about the wonderful time of year that is Black Friday/Cyber Monday, as these are the best times to make technology purchases.
Control Your Sprinklers
A smart watering system acts as your personal watering assistant. Many IoT sprinkler controllers even adjust schedules to account for changes in weather. You can control watering with voice commands or other smart home platforms.
For instance, you can ask Alexa to tell your Rachio Sprinkler Controller to start watering the lawn. You can start, stop, pause, skip zones and create a custom-run schedule for your sprinklers, all from your remote. Plus depending on where you live you may even be eligible for rebates for using a smart sprinkler system!
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Keep Your Home Secure
Maybe you want to identify those annoying kids who keep ringing your doorbell and then running away. Or perhaps you want to be able to catch a package thief who steals your packages off your front porch. Or maybe you just want to keep an eye on the dog you just adopted to make sure their separation anxiety doesn’t cause them to destroy everything.
Whatever the case may be, there are plenty of reasons to invest in security cameras and, luckily, you have a number of good options.
Some options include the Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor and Indoor smart devices. 4K HDR sensors and 12x digital zoom and enhance let you see everything inside and outside your house.
Other options include the Ring doorbell, which alerts you through a mobile device when people are at your door. You can communicate with them through a built-in microphone as well as capture video footage of visitors who are not the kind you want prowling around your home.
Another good option is Netgear’s Arlo Pro outdoor security camera. While expensive, it's highly recommended for its superior video quality, ease of use and myriad of features. These include sound and motion detection, geofencing and rechargeable batteries.
Control Your Pool Cleaning
A backyard pool is a lot of work, which seems to defeat the purpose of having one since they're meant for relaxing and having fun! You might feel like you spend more time trying to keep your pool clean than actually enjoying it.
If you’d rather spend your time swimming than cleaning your pool, you will appreciate robotic pool cleaners. The best ones offer superb cleaning performance, multiple programming options and the ability to control them from your smartphone.
I’m sure your kids will enjoy this piece of convenience technology, since it means more time in the pool, and less time cleaning it.
Upgrade Your Smoke Detector
Your antiquated smoke detector could sure use an overhaul! That’s where a smart device like the Nest Protect comes into play. The Nest Protect accurately assesses what’s causing the disturbance and if it’s a threat. If you just accidentally burn some popcorn or are taking an extra steamy shower, the Nest Protect won't wake the neighborhood over it.
Along with telling you what is burning, Nest Protect also tells you where it is burning, which will be extremely useful in knowing what place in your house you want to go to or avoid. Nest Protect also uses an advanced sensor for carbon monoxide detection. You'll get all these alerts straight to your phone as well, in case you aren't home.
Much like the smart thermostat, the Nest Protect lights up at night when you walk underneath it, helping you find your way through the dark house.
Did we also mention that the Nest Protect does regular tests on itself? That’s another thing you’ll no longer need to do.
Conclusion
As IoT device prices begin to drop and people starting grasping the benefits of the devices, business is likely to boom. From smart homes, the next logical step is smart communities, which would take things to another level entirely.
The IoT is becoming bigger and better every day, and everything from your refrigerator to your sprinkler system is likely to be influenced by this technological revolution. A smart home may still seem like a futuristic idea to many, but with the number of tech companies launching products, changes may come more quickly than we imagine.