With innovation and technology on the rise, new home automation products are being developed every day. Smart technology allows people to control a wide range of items around the home, such as lighting, window blinds, and security systems. If you are new to home automation, these innovative products can provide a budget-friendly and simple way to experiment with smart technology and learn how it can be used to improve your life.
Smart Power Outlets
If you are new to home automation, a smart power outlet would be a great place to start. This device works like an extension cord or outlet adaptor in that it plugs into an existing electrical socket and provides new sockets for electrical items to plug into. To complete the setup, you’ll need to install an app on your phone and connect the smart outlet to your home Wi-Fi.
Unlike ordinary outlets, these smart plugs allow users to remotely control anything plugged into them through the touch of a button. For example, if you have a kitchen appliance plugged into a smart outlet, you can check to make sure you turned it off even when you are out of the house. You can also turn the appliance on or off from a remote location or set up the device to operate according to a schedule.
An added bonus to these outlets is that they save you money on electricity. When appliances or other electrical devices are plugged into ordinary outlets, they consume electricity even when off. On the other hand, a smart outlet completely stops the flow of electricity when it is turned off, saving you money and reducing the chances of an accidental fire.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is another budget-friendly and easy way to add automation to your home. Smart lights allow you to control lighting through an app on your smartphone, through a smart speaker, or sometimes through direct voice commands. While standard smart bulbs can be remotely controlled to turn on, turn off, or dim, there are also color-changing bulbs available that allow you to use colored lighting to set a mood or provide an alert.
When smart lighting was first developed, it almost always required a hub to allow communication between the bulbs and the app. However, hubless bulbs are now becoming more and more common. Not only are hubless smart bulbs cheaper than their hub counterparts, but they don’t require any extra hardware or equipment. Best of all, they provide everyone the opportunity to try out smart technology without a large investment.
Smart Speakers
Smart speakers are voice-activated digital helpers that can play music, make phone calls, set timers, tell a joke, shop for an item, answer questions, and operate smart devices throughout your home. They are triggered when you use the device’s specified wake word, such as “Alexa” for Amazon’s Echo products or “Hey, Google” for the Google Nest products.
You can use the speakers as a command center, instructing the smart device to turn off the lights in an adjacent room, turn up the heat, or activate the security system. Additionally, you can set up multi-step routines so that one command, such as “I’m going to bed,” can activate a number of steps to prepare your house for that event.
Smart Doorbells
There is a wide range of smart doorbells to fit your needs and your budget. While there are low-cost systems that provide a range of sounds that can be controlled from the convenience of your phone, consumer demand is shifting from audio doorbells to systems that provide video and enhanced security.
Top-end smart doorbells can provide HD video, video storage, voice-activated controls, and two-way communication. You can answer your door remotely or screen visitors without letting them know you aren’t home. You can also tell a visitor that you will be home in five minutes or that they can leave the package by the back door. The convenience and security provided by smart doorbells make them a wise investment.
Smart devices add convenience and efficiency to everyday life by enabling the remote control of devices through the touch of a button or via voice command. Smart outlets, lighting, speakers, and doorbells offer you the opportunity to experience smart technology first-hand to see whether automation deserves a place in your home and life.
