Technology has been growing at an incredibly rapid pace since the turn of the 21st century. In fact, “y2k” was the exact opposite of what it was predicted to be. The technological boom of the early aughts and onward has been a fascinating change to witness. Some were winners, like our beloved smartphones. And some were not such winners, like Google Glass, if anyone can remember it. But hey, who knows, maybe we just didn’t have the vision for it yet!
Whatever failures may have crossed the technosphere, we can all agree that it has come leaps and bounds in the last twenty plus years. Especially when it comes to the way that we operate in our homes.
We’ve seen the “smart home” often painted as the villain in film and television throughout the years, but despite its bad name, people have really begun to open up to it. According to Digitized House, in the United States alone, approximately 70% of consumers own at least one smart home device, and that number just keeps growing.
So you have your smart speaker, you have your smart tv— what other options are out there?
Kitchen Appliances
One of the latest booms in smart home technology came with the onset of the covid-19 pandemic. With restaurants closed and some folks back in the kitchen for the first time in a while, smart appliances were given their moment to shine.
It’s hard to believe there’s a world in which you check what’s in your refrigerator from your smartphone. You forgot to make a shopping list before you went to the grocery store? No problem! Both Samsung and LG offer refrigerators powered by an artificial-intelligence that can recognize food. So no matter where you may be, you can always take a peek inside your refrigerator. Maybe even keep a close eye on that cheesecake that’s meant just for you.
If you’re looking for a smaller option to make your kitchen a smart one, consider a multi-use countertop appliance such as the Anova Precision Oven or the Ninja Foodi. The Anova Precision Oven has seemingly endless functions. It can bake, broil, dehydrate, sous vide and more. And it does all of this intuitively, so you can spend less time cooking and more time doing absolutely anything else.
When it comes to the Ninja Foodi, it does have fewer functions than the Anova, but it costs hundreds less and takes up much less space on your counter. It can do everything an average air fryer can do, as well as broil and dehydrate. On top of that, it has what they’re calling a “Smart Cook System.” With the integration of a smart thermometer, you can cook your food to the perfect temperature everytime without the guesswork.
Okay, so now that we have the kitchen covered, what about the rest of your house?
Occupancy Sensors
Well we’ve all heard of motion sensors– from lights to alarm systems, they have been around much longer than any smart technology we have today. The latest sensor that is getting the “smart” rebrand is the occupancy sensor. You can use these to make daily life easier and more affordable. These sensors will detect when a space in your home is occupied, and act accordingly. They can do things like turning lights on and off to save power, controlling the temperature, and switching off other gadgets you elect to program.
What makes the reinvented smart occupancy sensors so intuitive is the ability to program them to fit your exact needs. Better yet, you can do all of this from the comfort and ease of your smartphone. No more frustration from lights turning off with you still in the room. Smart occupancy sensors are constantly learning your behaviors and routine to make life easier. Popular smart home brands like Google Nest and Alexa, have all kinds of options for you to choose from.
Outdoor Devices
Some people aren’t quite yet comfortable with smart devices inside the home, and that’s perfectly understandable. However, there are still plenty of ways for you to take advantage of everything that this technology has to offer, all from the outside of your home.
Amazon’s Ring doorbells and the like have been growing in popularity and it’s easy to see why. With simple battery powered installation options, set up is a breeze. Not only that, but it allows you to monitor the comings and goings of your home from anywhere in the world. You can talk to visitors in real time through the app or even leave a pre-recorded message that’s motion activated. What really gives consumers peace of mind, is the motion activated recordings. If someone or something triggers the sensor, your ring will automatically start recording.
What’s Next?
We’ve got the latest scoop on home technology, but what’s coming next? Rumor has it that sometime this year, companies like the ones listed above will start selling their products with a new connectivity standard that allows them to communicate with each other. That’s right! Your Amazon, Google, and Apple devices will all be able to work together seamlessly. This new standard is called Matter.
Matter is an IP-based connectivity tool that will simplify the lives of smart device users everywhere. Though the technical specs have not yet been released, it is expected that there will be a central Matter system that you can connect your smart devices to. You will then be able to control all of these smart devices from this singular system. There’s still more to learn about this new technology, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
Even if you don’t quite want a “smart house,” it’s safe to say that the evolution of home technology over the years has only simplified our everyday lives. From modern plumbing to “Alexa, who’s at the front door?” Technology is a fascinating and ever growing thing.
