Smart Homes
Smart homes feature appliances and devices that can talk to each other and create a unique ecosystem that can make our lives easier.
Devices that can work together include appliances, lighting, climate control, shades, security features, televisions and more.
INTEGRATION
For a smart home to function, it needs a system to run all the devices through. This can be a digital personal assistant such as Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa and others. Or you can run them through your home security or cable systems if they allow it. Once you decide on a platform, you’ll need to look devices that work with that platform. If you use a digital assistant, you’ll need appliances that you can control with your voice, such as asking Google or
Alexa to turn the temperature down or turn the bedroom lights off.
APPLIANCES
One of the hottest trends in smart homes are smart appliances. Fridges, ranges and more now have features that allow for control via Wifi. Some of these appliances feature things like checking the ice level in the freezer or cameras and touch screens that allow you to see if there’s enough milk in the fridge. Other appliances serve as a communications center for the home, like a GE range hood that features an integrated touchscreen where you can store favorite family recipes and allow you to manage other smart devices through your range hood. Yes, really.
LIGHTS
Automating your lights is one of the easiest ways to turn your home into a smart home. You start with smart LED bulbs and, depending on the system you choose, a hub. Once you connect those, you can set lights to turn on and off with your voice, or even change color depending on the kind of bulbs you get. Many lighting systems also include more than bulbs for your lamps – you can get strip lighting, fixtures and more to customize your smart home lighting to your liking.
THERMOSTATS
Thermostats are another smart home feature that’s popular for people just getting started. Smart thermostats work with your digital assistants to raise and lower temperatures at your beck and call, but they can also work with other devices, such as your smartphone, to allow it to learn your habits and adjust your climate control systems accordingly.