How to make yours a smart home: The devices that people are using to automate their spaces
YOU DON'T NEED to be a tech expert to reap the benefits of smart devices in your home.
Running the house can often be a time-consuming job, so why not get as much help as you can? A 'smart home' is a home where many of the appliances can be activated, commanded and deactivated remotely through one of your smart devices (like your phone or your tablet), or through voice command devices like an Amazon Alexa. By making your home a smart home you can save yourself time, stress and energy.
Read on to discover which smart devices could make your home a more comfortable, more efficient, and in some cases, more fun place to live.
Light it up
One of the most common smart appliances you'll see in homes across Ireland these days is lighting fixtures. Smart lighting has become very popular.
Take for example the
AiDot Linkind Matter Smart Light Bulb
. You screw it into place just like a regular lightbulb, but it can pair with your Alexa, your Google Nest, or whatever other central smart home device you've got. Through your phone or via voice command, you'll be able to turn the lights on and off, or even have them change intensity or colour, so your home will always fit your mood.
Outsourcing the tough tasks
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Shutterstock
Perhaps one of the most astounding advances in smart technology is appliances such as smart dishwashers, washing machines and dryers. The Samsung 9KG 1400 Spin Series 5+ AddWash™ Freestanding Washing Machine, for example, can connect with your devices, recognise your washing patterns, and suggest the perfect cycle for you, as well as sending you a notification to remind you that a cycle is done.
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There is also a range of smart dishwashers that offer equivalent connectivity, allowing you to monitor and control your appliance from any room in the house or beyond — as well as further features such as Hygiene Plus, Intensive Zone and Silence on Demand.
Home entertainment
Previous generations dreamed about being able to turn the TV off and on simply by speaking the words out loud. For our generation, all this and more is a reality. Some televisions, such as the
LG Evo C4 65″ 4K Smart TV
, even come with an Amazon Alexa built-in, so you can use the television as a means to dim your lights or turn on your speakers via voice control.
This product also comes with smartphone remote capability, family settings, a full web browser, intelligent voice recognition and hands-free voice control.
Security
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Shutterstock
When it comes to making your home as secure as possible and giving yourself peace of mind, there are several smart options available to you. If you really want to take your smart home to the next level, the next big thing is smart locks.
Unlike traditional locks, smart locks typically forego keys and use the home's Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to lock or unlock the door. Smart lock tech has come a long way in recent years, and many options will allow you to marry security with convenience. With a smart lock, you can unlock your front door from bed using your phone or lock the front door while you're out and about.
No longer will you have to worry about whether you locked the door after you've left for the day. Instead, you're in control of your front door at all times, no matter where you are.
Whichever improvements you're seeking to make to your home, there are a range of smart devices that can help you take your house to the next level, available at a range of price points. Do some research to discover exactly which smart products fit the bill for your home, and before long you'll be wondering how you got along without them.
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