Tech Love: 5 Home Upgrades Every Tech-Savvy Person Should Look Into

 Home Automation  

If 2014 was the year when home integration and automation was born, then 2015 may be the year when they take off. Home automation technology will continue to evolve and adapt to our ever changing desires.

History might see 2014 as the year when the Internet of Things was born. Automation is in full swing, and although most of us don't have access to more expensive, high-tech devices, these days you can do a lot with a little. Here are four home upgrades for the tech savvy, and one more that can tie them all together.

Amazon Echo

The newly-announced Amazon Echo takes an information-based technology similar to Siri, Google Now, or Cortana, and puts it on kitchen tables. The Echo can play music, answer questions, and respond to various other requests. Initial reviews of the software are extremely positive. Gone is the electronic voice of Siri, replaced by the much more conversational tone of the Echo. Expect competitors to release their own versions of the Echo within the next year or two, and expect them to pair with other Bluetooth-enabled devices around the home.

Fibaro Home Security 

This is one of the tiniest, most advanced home security systems that you'll find on the market—and one of the coolest. Not only can the Fibaro system detect motion, but it can inform you of the exact number of people who passed through any given room while you weren't paying attention. It can also detect temperature, lighting, and tampering. It can control your other home devices as well. Too many people in the room? The device can be set to automatically open windows for better ventilation. Amazing.

The Norm

The Quirky Norm wall-mounted sensor pairs with your smartphone to provide you with extremely nuanced and accurate information about temperature, scheduling, and usage. If you'd like the temperature automatically reduced when it's time for work, Norm will accommodate you. Is the humidity too high? Norm, a competitor to the Nest Learning Thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature based on your preferences. You can see all the stats and control everything from your mobile device.

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Pulse Wi-Fi Light Bulbs

These intelligent bulbs come paired with Wi-Fi chips that allow Bluetooth communication with other smart devices. You can control the level of lighting through the corresponding device, but you can also turn on the music—because the Pulse Wi-Fi light bulb comes with a speaker. The Pulse bulbs turn pretty much any lamp into a makeshift radio. How much longer before your toaster is Bluetooth-enabled?

Home Integration

For a price, the Internet of Things can already be yours. Companies like Cielo WiGle and CEPro are already transforming the way people interact with their homes. From your television, home computer, or even a smartphone, you can control various elements of your home such as heat, sound systems, home theaters, security systems, appliances, and pretty much anything else—including the aforementioned light bulbs. Home integration is becoming much more popular in new Hamilton Custom Homes and can be directly related with the desire for automation in our lives. Expect to see more home integration in 2015, and for a lot less.

If 2014 was the year when home integration and automation was born, then 2015 will be the year when they take off. Expect competition to monopolize networks of Bluetooth-enabled devices around the home. Home technology will continue to evolve and adapt to our ever changing desires.

By Meghan Belnap

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