There was a time not so long ago when smart rooms, voice commands, and AI were reserved only for Sci-Fi shows like Start Trek: TNG. Well, it turns out the 24th century came by much faster than we hoped for. These days, the smart tech has become so affordable and so widely accessible any house can be home can be easily turned into your very own USS Enterprise.
Well, sans the FTL speed of course.
So, if you have always dreamed of turning your house smart and getting the taste of the futuristic life you were promised as a kid, now’s the time to do it. Here are a couple of tips to help you along the way.
Start with the smart lighting
Putting aside the smart lighting fixtures are incredibly cool, useful, and can work independently from other home systems, this upgrade can also produce considerable energy savings so it makes a very good foundation for all of your future efforts. Another perk that comes to mind is the ability to turn the lights on and off while you are away from home which creates the illusion the house isn't vacant and sends away curious burglars. All you need now is a couple of motion-activated outdoor lights and you’re good to go.
Pick your go-to personal assistant
At the moment the three main options you have to choose from are Google, Alexa, and Siri all of which come with some pros and cons. In terms of general knowledge, making reservations and similar chores Google represents the most versatile solution. On the other hand, being tied to Amazon's online empire makes Alexa the best pick for entertainment and online shopping. Finally, although it doesn't perform these tasks on the same level, Siri is best integrated with Apple's services so if you are a loyal user that's the obvious pick for you.
Get yourself a smart life kit
Some people like to build their smart homes from the ground up and pick all of the IoT components they are going to use. But honestly getting a smart home system kit is so much easier. These bundles usually come with top-tier devices like smart cameras, smart plugs, alarms, and door and window sensors, so they pack all you need to get your smart home get off the ground. However, if you are going to use these components with some third-party or preexisting hub be sure to check are all the devices compatible.
Connect to a smart hub
Speaking of the hub these components are incredibly useful so it’s more than recommended to get one in your living room. Essentially smart hubs put all of your IoT devices and virtual assistants under the same roof and allow you to control all of them without having to switch between dozens of different apps. What’s even better, smart hubs also allow you to create customized, automated routines (e.g. turning the music on whenever you use the kitchen) so your life is made as streamlined as you can possibly get.
Replace the old appliances
Smart capabilities have long since strayed from the world of gadgets and found a way into our kitchens so why wouldn't you bring some of that AI in your kitchen as well? Like always the choices are plentiful and you can find some cheaper entries like smart trash cans for less than $100. Installing some of the biggest appliances like vacuums and refrigerators will, naturally, cost more but all these new devices also come with a killer ENERGY STAR rating so if you have already thought of canning your old appliances this is a perfectly good way to go.
Make use of solar energy
Yeah, is there anything more futuristic and smart than ditching the traditional energy sources and doing something good for the environment? Solar technology is the tech of the future and hooking up your house to this renewable source will solve most of the energy problems that are expected in the near future. Granted, although the tech has become more affordable it still entails considerable upfront costs but the investment more than pays off, and government rebates and incentives should make a purchase at least a bit easier.
In the end, we have to point out that these few mentions are only the tip of the iceberg – smart tech is evolving too fast to make putting all the smart home upgrades in one article possible. But, they do offer a good place to start. The tech world is working 24/7 to make our lives more enjoyable and simpler, and faster so there’s no point in waiting to jump on the bandwagon. The future is finally here and you only need to reach out and take it.
