Gadgets  

When choosing technological gadgets for your home technology the choices and functionality are vast. A contemporary, fully integrated, high tech home can make you the envy of your neighborhood, and may actually save you money.

There are more options for home technology and automation that ever before. You want the ability to monitor your home from another country? You can get that. Do you want to be able to control your thermostat from your bed? No problem, you can do that. If you want to control your home's surround sound from your phone without getting up from bed, that is possible too. You can get elaborate systems or you can get simple components that you can buy at a big box store. Consider the following options for upgrading your home's technology.

Bluetooth Sound System

Wireless entertainment systems and Bluetooth sound systems have become hugely popular in recent years and are essential for any household that wants up-to-date technology. These are not just user-friendly, they are installer-friendly as well. When you install a Bluetooth sound system, you will be able to control your speakers from multiple devices like your smartphone or tablet. Even better, Bluetooth speakers are portable and you can take them with you inside the house as well as outside it.

Learning Thermostat

Using a learning thermostat can help to make your home more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This type of thermostat is controlled via Wi-Fi so that you are able to manage your home's heating and cooling remotely. You can set a personalized schedule so that your thermostat will also recognize your preferences and adjust itself to your schedule. In addition to the thermostat, there are other compatible products like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as cameras so that you can have a sense of security even when you are away.

Robot Vacuum

These are state-of-the-art machines that can clean your home and that have been available for a while. Despite the fact that this is established technology, developers are constantly innovating. These days, you can buy a robotic vacuum that will mop as well as suck up dust. In addition, you can also control them remotely via smartphone.

Related articles

• Consumer Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Company ANKI Debuts 
• Device Will Let You Hack Almost Anything 
• Use Gesture Interfaces Throughout Your Home Using Only a WiFi Signal 

Smart Lighting

The term "smart lighting" refers to lighting technology that is designed for energy efficiency and for adjustability. With a smart lighting system, you can dim or adjust the color of your light from your phone or tablet. You can get smart lighting for your home on its own or as a part of a larger platform like Control4. This type of platform will allow you to control all aspects of your home ranging from your security system to your heating and air conditioning.

Smart Lock

The locks on your doors are arguably the most important components in your home's security. Smart locks are the latest evolution in lock technology and allow you to control entry to your home via a smartphone. You can get smart locks that replace your deadbolt or that go over them so that there is no need for a replacement. You can open and lock your doors without touching anything. With the right setup, you can even let someone into your home when you are away.

Electricity Monitor

Determining exactly how much energy your home uses is difficult; however, when you install an electricity use monitor you can find out home much it costs to run any of your home’s appliances and devices. You can get data for a specific period and this will help you to measure your use. You plug your device or appliance into the monitor, which then gets plugged into the outlet. It will assess the usage and tell you how much it costs to run that device per month. Use the monitor for a few weeks and you will have a much better understanding of what is happening with your home's energy usage and the steps that you can take to lower it.

When choosing home technology the key is to start with a budget and then determine your priorities. Note that a fully integrated, high tech home can cost you six figures and that you may need a professional technician to install some items.

By Lizzie Weakley

Embed

Home Automation  

Whether saving you a few minutes of sleep in the morning or helping you multitask while cooking dinner, home automation gadgets can make help make your life a little easier. Here are a few great examples from our friends at Modernize.

Home automation technology can help keep our families and valuables safe from intruders, save us money on energy expenses, and even alert us of potentially disastrous flukes like water or carbon monoxide leaks. But it also just makes some tasks more convenient. Whether saving you a few minutes of sleep in the morning or helping you multitask while cooking dinner, home automation gadgets can make help make your life a little easier. Check out these five routine-revolutionizing gadgets, then head over to Modernize for more tips on updating your home.

Robotic Vacuum

In the midst of our busy lives, mundane domestic chores can fall by the wayside. Vacuuming is one that seems to never truly be done, especially for those with pets and kids. Robotic vacuums are certainly not a new solution, but the models are getting more and more sophisticated every day. Take the Dyson 360 Eye for example. It uses a triangulation technique in order to tell where it has been, where it is, and where it still needs to go. It functions at the same level on any type of flooring and can be programmed through your smartphone. No more rushing home to tidy up for surprise guests!

Related articles Use Gesture Interfaces Throughout Your Home Using Only a WiFi Signal  Exponentially Shrinking Electronic Components  The Future of the Smart House Movement

Smart Coffee Maker

If you wake up early for work each weekday, every minute of extra sleep is precious. Save yourself some time by setting your coffeemaker to get your caffeine ready to go before you even wake up. The Smarter Coffee coffeemaker can brew a whole pot or just a cup, depending on your preference. Not only can you program it to brew whenever you need it, you can also get in touch with it through your smartphone and adjust the strength to accommodate your palate.

Automated Locks

How many times have you driven home on the way to work because you weren’t sure whether you locked the door? Even if you’re almost sure you did, that nagging feeling in the back of your mind won’t just let you get on with your day. The Bolt by Lockitron app can be controlled remotely through your smartphone, will send you alerts if your door is unlocked, and can even unlock the door for you when you approximate it with your phone on hand.

Smart Countertop Oven

The June Intelligent Oven is a countertop cooker that helps you make the perfect meal. Depending on the preferences you set when you put a dish into the oven, it can sense what you’re making and even give you tips on how to cook it optimally. It can send you notifications that will update you on the temperature in the oven and how the food is coming along. This smart oven will allow you to better multitask in the kitchen by allowing you to focus on other things while it monitors your main dish.

Smart Plant Pot 

If you aren’t really sure what your plants need and when in order to stay alive, the Parrot Flower Power has your back. This gadget tracks your plants’ nutrition needs, including sunlight, water, temperature, and fertilizer. It pushes reminders to your smartphone or Tablet so that you can keep track of your plants’ daily demands.

By Kelsey Meyers

Embed