What if all the devices in your life could connect to the internet? Not just computers and smartphones, but everything: clocks, speakers, lights, door bells, cameras, windows, window blinds, hot water heaters, appliances, cooking utensils, you name it. And what if those devices could all communicate, send you information, and take your commands? It's not science fiction; it's the Internet of Things (IoT), and it's a key component of home automation and smart homes.
Smart devices are electronic devices equipped with wireless protocols that allow them to be controlled and activated by voice command, or more commonly, through mobile app technology that can be accessed through a smartphone or tablet.
Wouldn't it be great to know what's happening at home, anytime, from anywhere? It's easy to do with a smart video camera. Just take out your phone, open your app, and you have an instant view of activity inside or outside your home.
While lock technology has always evolved, only recently did it become smart enough to ditch those keys altogether. Thanks to smart home security technology, we can now enjoy keyless convenience with better awareness and control of who enters our homes.
Smart temperature-control devices — such as thermostats that learn and adjust to pre-programmed temperatures — are poised to increase comfort and save energy in homes.
When we talk about a smart light bulb, we’re referring to an internet-capable LED light bulb that allows lighting to be customized, scheduled and controlled remotely using a smart phone, tablet, or smart home automation system via an app. The app enables you to change the brightness of the bulbs, and if the bulbs have colored LEDs you can change their colors, too.
A week and a half ago, I was the first to write about Amazon's new smart home consultations
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Take your home into the future with the Nanoleaf Aurora Smart Lighting Kits. This technology lets you interact with light like never before. This set comes with nine different light panels which you can arrange and rearrange as you wish.... Continue Reading
Light up your property whenever you need with the Netgear Arlo Smart Home Security Light. Completely wire-free, you can easily place this light anywhere you want to illuminate when it’s dark. You can use it to light up your driveway,... Continue Reading
Streamline your life at home with the Google Home Hub Smart Display. Exclusively designed for your time at home, the dashboard lets you control and manage your entire smart home. It also provides access to each of your devices. With... Continue Reading
Video calling has never been more fun and interactive thanks to the Facebook Portal+ Video Calling Device. Complete with a versatile design, you can easily set this system in the portrait or landscape mode to capture the scene. The speakers, as... Continue Reading
Make video calls even more interactive with the Facebook Portal Video Calling Device. This smart video calling system comes with Amazon Alexa built-in for total ease of use. Additionally, the smart camera and smart sound features ensure you’re always in frame... Continue Reading
Safely get into your home without using a key with the Lockly Secure Smart Lock. Powered by PIN Genie, this device offers advanced keyless entry for your home or office. Lockly allows you to unlock your door using the digital... Continue Reading
Print from any of your devices no matter where you are with the HP Tango Smart Home Printer. Designed to be used with its accompanying app, this device makes it easy for you to print anything from documents to photos.... Continue Reading
Enjoy a cuppa the smarter way with the Smarter 3rd Gen iKettle Smart Electric Kettle. Connecting via Wi-Fi or 4G, this intelligent kitchen gadget has multiple modes so you can live smarter. It’s compatible with both Amazon Alexa and IFTTT... Continue Reading
Upgrade your Arlo system and keep watch over your home with the Arlo Pro 2 Smart HD Security Camera by NETGEAR. This tiny camera adds another eye to your security setup. The Arlo Pro 2 records continuously, day and night,... Continue Reading
Effortlessly control your appliances with the CANNY Multifunctional Smart Plug. This device offers smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, PC and TV remote control, allowing you to regulate your appliances in numerous ways. Thanks to user-friendly graphical application programming, you can easily configure... Continue Reading
Keeping your home neat and tidy will now be easy with this Smart Robotic Vacuum Cleaner. This cleaner has a wireless design. Additionally, there’s an ultra fine air filter. In fact, with this vacuum cleaner at home, you can make sure... Continue Reading
Add extra security wherever you need it with the Ring Stick Up Wired Smart Security Camera. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, this device allows you to monitor any environment. Providing 1080p HD video, the Stick Up Cam Wired lets... Continue Reading
Keep an eye on your home without battery worries with the VAVA Wireless Home Security Camera. This 100% wire-free device comes with one-year battery life, offering an anxiety-free security experience for 365 days on a single charge. Additionally, you don’t... Continue Reading
Transform your iPhone into a personal video editing suite with the Mevo HD Live Event Video Camera. Complete with a 150-degree wide-angle lens, this device can be set anywhere around you to record your adventures, shows, or even live-stream directly... Continue Reading
Secure your preemies with confidence when you use the D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD Security Camera. Complete with an 180-degree wide-angle lens, this device gives you the full picture every time. Connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi network, the Omna Camera... Continue Reading
Step up the safety of your house with the Wink Lookout Smart Home Security Suite. Complete with a variety of devices, the entire system communicates to keep your family and belongings safe. The Wink Lookout comes with a motion sensor,... Continue Reading
Introducing the all-new Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation. As the latest Echo Dot speaker, it comes with a delightful aesthetic. Coming in three colors, the Echo Dot is complete with a stunning fabric covering. It fits in beautifully whether it’s... Continue Reading
Fill your space with smarter sound with the Amazon Echo Plus 2nd Generation Smart Home Hub. Featuring an upgrade both inside and out, this smart speaker is complete with a built-in Zigbee hub. With this, you can effortlessly set up... Continue Reading
It’s time to rethink the way you check the time with the Amazon Echo Wall Clock. Impressively simple, this Alexa clock does so much more than what’s hanging on your wall. The Echo Wall Clock is complete with a ring... Continue Reading
Stylishly protect your home with the igloohome Slim Smart Deadbolt 2S. Offering three modes of access, this sleek home gadget lets you choose who you allow in your home. Using the igloohome app, you can create PIN codes and send... Continue Reading
Safely store your valuables and bring them with you anywhere with the Nebula Star Portable Safe Box. This device offers infinite storage space and keeps your valuable belongings locked up until you want to access them. Lightweight and portable, with... Continue Reading
Feed your pet from anywhere using your smartphone with the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeder. This pet feeding solution connects to your Wi-Fi, enabling you to make sure your pet has food no matter where you are. The app... Continue Reading
Quickly turn your key into a smart one with the Locky Smart Key Overlay. Compatible with almost every key, this device combines the features of smart locks and key trackers. You don’t have to replace your lock and virtualize the... Continue Reading
Effortlessly take care of your garden with the Elgato Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller. This garden gadget turns your outdoor faucet into a smart water outlet, making it easy to keep your yard looking its best. You can control Eve... Continue Reading
People lead such busy lives that they should all have somewhere that is peaceful and tranquil. Your home is the obvious place.
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Winter is coming. Before it comes, it can pay to take care of some very important home improvements and maintenance responsibilities.
The post Maintenance Tips: Your Winter Opportunities appeared first on At Home in the Future.
Now that we have left the warm climate behind and look forward to a cozy winter season, there will be some changes happening in the outside world as well as with our own houses.
The post Home Projects to Complete Before Winter appeared first on At Home in the Future.
No one wants to have a leaky or unstable roof, and as we venture into the colder months it becomes even more important for us to be able to protect our homes and make sure they are secure for the winter.
The post Fixing Your Own Roof Before Winter appeared first on At Home in the Future.
One of the most difficult choices we have when it comes to home planning is picking out colors.
The post The Power of Choosing Neutral Colors for Your Home appeared first on At Home in the Future.
Since the dawn of computers, people have been working to create home automation systems which can handle tasks ranging from basic actions, like turning on lights, to things which are much more complicated, like cooking entire meals.
The post Clever Clean: Finding Devices to Do Your Chores appeared first on At Home in the Future.
Making your home relaxing is something that can be achieved in numerous ways, but when you've got a place that is either in the middle of being renovated, or there is just so much junk dotted around, it can be a struggle to evoke that relaxing atmosphere.
The post Playing the Percentages: Making Your House 80% More Relaxing appeared first on At Home in the Future.
When configuring a smart home, it’s tempting to spend most of your time on smart devices themselves. With new releases seemingly every day and additional functionality constantly being added, a focus on exploring the options available is entirely natural.
The post Non-Device Smart Home Essentials appeared first on At Home in the Future.
There are so many different aspects that go into choosing a property, it’s a wonder how anyone is able to sift through all the options and make a decision that they’ll need to live with for years to come.
The post How to Get the Property That’s Right for You appeared first on At Home in the Future.
Home design trends come and go, but green living is one that needs to stay. After all, while making eco-savvy choices will help you keep up with the Joneses and home decor magazines, it also protects your health and helps to better the world around you.
The post Interior Design Tips for an Eco-Friendly Home appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. If you are finding it hard to relax at night or if you know that you just can’t seem to sleep right away, then you need to know that you are not alone. The main reason why a lot of people can’t sleep at night is because they are constantly having to tidy up, or they even find that the room is just not spacious enough. Once you get everything organized, you will soon find that you sleep way better at night and this can make all the difference to your routine.
The post How to Make Your Bedroom Feel Way More Spacious appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. We live in such a disposable culture nowadays. For example, hospitality businesses tend to throw out any and all unused food at the end of the working day, new phones and cars can often be obsolete within a few years of being released, and people will throw things away without even giving the repair job a chance. And when disaster strikes, homes and lives can be swept away in seconds, and there’s a lot of debate over whether the materials are to blame. But none of these are sustainable practices, so now’s
The post Designing a Home That’s Meant to Last appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. What an exciting time! You’ve been handed the keys for your new residence, and you arrive at the property only to have your mood a little dampened to find stains, debris, and marks you never knew were there. You never quite realize how much cleaning your house needs until you move all of the furniture out of it. You’ll recover some great things like remotes and coins, but also the not so great stuff like old cookies, tea stains, and tissues. The person who sold you the house is under no obligation
The post 4 Tips For Spring Cleaning Your New Home On A Budget appeared first on At Home in the Future.
Always ready for the worst. Uncharted Supply Co kindly supplied a SEVENTY2 and other equipment for this review. As always, our opinions are our own. Being a parent makes you think different about a lot of different things. Your prioritize your budget differently, go to different places for vacation, and develop strong opinions on animated movies. It also changes the way you plan for emergencies. Although we’ve always kept a first-aid kit and maybe a flashlight in a drawer, I recently began stocking up on other supplies that could keep our family safe in the event of an emergency. Whether
The post REVIEW: Uncharted Supply Co SEVENTY2 Survival System appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. Your kitchen is arguably the place in the home where everybody spends the most time. Whether you’re cooking, making a dessert, or socializing after a long week at work, there is always fun to be had in the kitchen. Transforming your kitchen from bland to bold is a lot easier than you think, as long as you know how. The following clever kitchen hacks will not only make your kitchen look sleek, stylish and sophisticated, but they will also make your home life a whole lot more practical. Grab some inspiration here
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The following is a contribution from another author. Seeing as you’ve clicked on this article, I’m going to make a fairly bold prediction in saying you have a living room that’s devoid of space. It’s too small, or at least that’s what you think! The reality is that even the smallest living rooms can be opened up and made to feel a lot bigger. All you need to do is try out some space-saving hacks to get the desired effect. Play around with your sofa placement Sofas tend to take up most of the room in a lounge area, and
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This entertainment piece is a contribution from another author. Do you need something new to watch at the minute? Ready for your next big TV binge? Well, you are in luck as 2018 has been a fantastic year for shows. Over the past few years, streaming services have really come into their own and many now even have the budgets to create their own shows. As a result, there are so many great TV shows coming onto our screens pretty much every month. So, are you ready to get sucked in to some of 2018’s best shows so far? Here’s
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The following contribution is from another author. We only have one planet. Unless we somehow learn to colonize the moon (which NASA believe is surprisingly probable and cost effective), it’s up to us to take the best care we can of this little blue marble floating through space. At present, however, we’re really not doing that good of a job. Every minute a garbage truck’s worth of landfill waste gets dumped in our oceans. We constantly pillage our rainforests for their land and resources, pump toxins into the atmosphere and accelerate ever faster to using up the finite resources we
The post 4 Ways to Make Your Weekly Shopping More Ethical and Sustainable appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. A home isn’t just a series of rooms we sleep in… It’s far more than just that. What makes a home special is that it’s a place where we can rest, eat, feel comfortable, and most of all, have a good time. Homes are far too often bland, and lack personality. Why come home to a drib and drab setting, when you work hard and want to put your feet up in the one place on earth that you can truly make your own? You should be intent on making your home
The post What Could Really Entertain Your Guests? appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. Flipping through home magazines and scouring Pinterest can really give you an itch for wanting to switch up your home! It might be just fine as it is, but if it’s a little bland and boring you might be craving some interest and drama. Our homes are so personal, and so it’s always worth creating a space that feels like ‘you’. If yours is bland and generic with no sense of your own style or personality, here are a few ways you could liven it up. Add colour Maybe you’re renting, or
The post From Bland to Bold: Fun Design Features to Add Drama to Your Home appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. If you would like to turn your home into a natural sophisticated paradise, it is important that you focus on the quality of materials when you are renovating. Whether you are planning a party or would like to feel better in the house surrounded by nature, use the below tips on how to make the most out of the space you have. Stone Features Whether you have an old cottage with beams or a modern home, you can add stone features that will make your house look more sophisticated. Use rough stones
The post How to Give Your Home a More Natural Feel appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. Smart homes are gaining popularity and there are new products coming out all of the time that can make our lives easier in so many different ways. You can use them to manage all of your entertainment systems, control things remotely when you’re out of the house, make your property more secure, and even save yourself money by making your home more energy efficient. But why stop there? Once you’ve fitted your house out with all of the smart gadgets you can find, you should head out into the garden and start
The post How to Create Your Own Smart Garden appeared first on At Home in the Future.
The following is a contribution from another author. Nobody wants to get their home to be robbed, and yet many of us advertise our homes to thieves without knowing. Here are a few ways that you can prevent your home being a future burglary target. Don’t show off your valuables Be careful of putting your valuables on display to the world. Placing a large TV in front of a window is practically asking to get it stolen. In fact, when it comes to front facing rooms, you should be very careful of what you allow passers by to see. Hanging
The post Are You Advertising Your Home to Burglars? appeared first on At Home in the Future.