Many of us already have a smartphone and smart speaker that we rely on to help us go about our daily lives. But technology can be useful in more ways around the house, turning it into a truly smart home.
Away from the gadgets and gizmos that are more amusing than useful, clever technology is being utilized to make life easier and more comfortable. Here are some of the ways in which smart appliances and tech are transforming our home life.
Smart heating and air conditioning
Better controllability of air conditioning units and heating systems can not only make our homes more comfortable, but they can also be more efficient too. Most technology connects to your wi-fi and is controllable via an app, allowing you to adjust heating or cooling even when you’re not there. So, when you get home from work, your home can be just the right temperature.
Smart blinds and shutters
With climate change having a negative impact on our homes and working from home becoming more common, installing smart blinds and shutters could become just as useful as our heating and cooling systems. These motorised blinds and shutters also use apps and voice control to open and close them. So, they’re handy for letting in the morning sunshine without needing to get out of bed. And because they’re so easy to control, you’re more likely to adjust them during the day to maximise your natural light. Or to keep out the hot sun, reducing reliance on air conditioning units.
Photo by Mike Cox on Unsplash
Doorbells with added benefits
Imagine, it’s the weekend and you’re having a lie-in. Then the doorbell goes. Wouldn’t it be great to see who it is and whether it’s worth getting up for? Well, with a smart doorbell you can. These handy devices usually feature a camera so you can see from your phone who’s at your door. Not simply for lazy mornings, they’re a practical security feature too, with many recording and storing camera footage for you. Some will allow you to communicate with the person on your doorstep too, so it’s handy for dealing with callers when you’re out.
Adjustable lighting
Smart lighting can be used inside or outside the home, for creating mood lighting or increasing security. Again, the controllability of using smart lighting can save you money by only using lights when and where you need them. And if you forget to switch a light off, you don’t need to pop back home to switch it off. But smart lighting also has other benefits. You can adjust the strength and color of your lighting with the right smart tech too. For multi-functional rooms this can be especially beneficial, allowing you to tailor the lighting to your changing needs. And of course, you don’t need to keep getting up out of your chair.
Photo by Im3rd Media on Unsplash
Smart home vacuum cleaners
Smart vacuum cleaners are handy for homes where time is precious, or you don’t have enough time to haul out your regular vacuum on a daily basis. These devices are small, so they don’t take up much space and are programmable to run when you’re at work. But they do have their shortcomings. For starters, they can’t climb stairs and they work better on smooth, solid surfaces. But if you want your floor to be kept nicely swept, this can save you a lot of effort.
Things to be wary of
Whilst smart homes can be efficient and add to your comfort, they can come with added risks. If you’re running appliances while you’re out, then you need to keep them well-maintained and serviced to reduce the risk of electrical faults causing a fire. And you need to be on top of your tech’s security. Most cases of smart gadgets being hacked are due to default passwords not being changed or a lack of internet security.
Photo by Jeff Sheldon on Unsplash
Cover photo by R ARCHITECTURE on Unsplash
Where is the tray holding the ipad in the final photo from? Thank you.
I think it is from Ikea.