Just 20 years ago, the only people that had cell phones or other mobile devices had them for business purposes. Now, it’s hard to find someone without a phone, tablet, or laptop. From the way that phones and other technology have impacted our personal lives, the technology is quickly becoming more and more apparent in our houses and apartments.
The 2016 U.S. Houzz Smart Home Trends Study shows that 45% of homeowners had planned to install some form of new technology into their homes during remodeling projects. This could range anywhere from voice activated lights to surveillance equipment or wireless speakers. People like the idea of being able to use their voice, mobile device, or tablet to turn off lights when they aren’t home, for instance.
Many people turn to smart home devices as a form of entertainment, too. This isn’t just referring to speakers which a person can use to play music through. It’s referring to smart televisions, gaming devices, and other products like Google Home or Amazon Echo.
Homeowners are leaning toward the world of smart technology as of late since most of it allows for voice control. It’s easy to walk into a home and say, “Alexa, turn on my lights,” instead of having to fumble for your cell phone light after digging around in your bag. Coldwell Banker’s 2017 Smart Home Marketplace Survey found that 72% of those who have smart devices actually want ones that can be controlled by their voice.
Below we will detail some of the latest smart-home innovations and describe how they are transforming residential living.
Prioritizing Safety & Security FIRST!
Your home should be your castle — and the latest home gadgets can help it stay that way. Home security innovations such as Wi-Fi-powered security cameras have lowered the price point for residential safety, allowing a greater number of homeowners to effectively and inconspicuously safeguard their property. In addition to minimizing or eliminating the need to drill holes, affix concrete anchors, and run lines, such systems also stream video directly to users’ preferred mobile devices.
However, these are far from the only developments in the field of residential security. Doorbells with embedded cameras offer an ongoing visual feed that both allows you to know who is at your front door and provides a legal record of any criminal action after the fact. Older systems used to protect windows with fragile wired screens or used motion-detecting cameras prone to false alarms. Wireless window alarms eliminate the need for this older, cumbersome home technology.
Finally, wireless driveway alarms take security out of the home and onto a property’s premises, offering alerts even before an interloper tries to gain access to a home. And homeowners never need to worry about forgetting to lock their doors when they leave. Smart locks allow you to bolt your door from anywhere via phone. (Read more about the benefits of always-on connectivity below.)
Staying Connected at All Times
Time management remains a challenge for most people, and few things frustrate quite like failing to perform some simple task that is utterly essential. The smart lock reference above is a good example, but have you ever forgotten to program your oven, adjust your thermostat, turn on your alarm, or set the coffee maker to brew? With a fully connected home, you won’t have to worry about that again. Once dubbed the “internet of things,” multiple smart appliances take the trials out of common tasks. Thanks to in-home interconnectivity, you can start your dishwasher, turn on or off the clothes dryer, and start your robotic vacuum cleaner. The best part? Some specific devices will even communicate with each other and on the same software platform.
Constant connectivity offers additional advantages. For instance, residents can often set up contingent actions through interconnected appliances and devices. Want to listen to music when a stove timer goes off? How about automatically raising the temperature when you leave for the day? Fancy a coffee after a certain amount of computer time? An interconnected home can do all that. What’s more, remaining online means that dedicated technicians can easily diagnose any errors prior to sending personnel to your property.
Improving Communication (In-House Calls & Alerts)
When we mentioned above the many security innovations that help protect homes from thefts and break-ins, we only alluded to one of their most important features. Because they connect to specially developed apps or have cloud functionality that’s accessible to any device with a web browser, they greatly improve communication. Instead of having to wait for a phone call when an alarm gets tripped, you receive an instant message on your phone. And the always-on connectivity we discussed above? It’s directly facilitated by smartphone communication.
Don’t think that improved communication only relates to security systems. Smart home technology can help you find frequently lost items that you tag with coded transmitters. It also allows you to communicate with various home systems and vice versa, no matter where you may happen to be. When your furnace, air conditioner, and multiple appliances can talk with you about their settings, you have more than an energy efficient home. You also have an incredibly convenient one. Finally, many smart homes can tell you if they detect a water leak or the presence of smoke.
Endless Customization Possibilities to Every Aspect of Your Home
Just as people usually don’t neatly fit into demographic boxes, so houses aren’t assortments of identical rooms. For instance, a property’s location on a specific plot might cause it to have interior microclimates that shift throughout the day. Different individuals’ schedules could put varying energy demands on a residence. And owners’ varying habits might lead one to want to listen to classical music while doing the dishes and another to have late-night television on while exercising in a workout room.
A smart home easily accommodates all of these desires. Program your thermostats to account for temperature fluctuations or adjust them yourself whenever (and wherever) you want. Set lights to turn on, dim, or cut off altogether depending on your schedule. Let web-enabled virtual assistants provide you with productivity-enhancing programming or prearranged entertainment. The sky truly is the limit when it comes to smart-home technology.
For homeowners, sometimes convenience is the ultimate concern. As a person that owns a home is likely to lead a busy lifestyle, it’s easy to make sure that your doors are locked while you’re out of town a business trip with the touch of a button. The introduction of cellphones and other smart electronic devices into our society has kickstarted a world where you can see who is at your front door without ever leaving your room.
