All homes now have at least some level of “smartness.” With appliances, security systems, HVAC, and entertainment devices all becoming interconnected through the Internet of Things, it is helpful to know about these “analog” gadgets that can complement your smart home.
These “low-tech” devices are designed to help your smart home be more energy-efficient, easier to clean, and conveniently easy to make or purchase. These low-tech gadgets and hacks will save you time and money. We have compiled a list of them below for your convenience!
1. Windows With Internal Blinds
This analog gadget is so simple, it's genius! Windows with internal blinds are an excellent analog addition to your high-tech smart home. These prefabricated windows contain a pair of magnetically controlled blinds sealed between the two panes of glass. This means your blinds stay dust-free and cannot be damaged by pets or adventurous children.
Many manufacturers also create glass doors and large windows that have blinds sealed within. This low-tech, low-maintenance addition to your home can help you regulate heating and cooling costs.
2. Thermal Insulation Paint
This paint technology was developed by NASA and has been commercially available since the late ’90s! The paint itself contains tiny honeycomb-like ceramic structures that help to trap heat inside the room it is painted onto. This technology can help you save money on your heating costs. There are both interior and exterior options and options for boats, RVs, and other alternative living spaces.
3. Japanese Bidet (or Washlet)
Japan has taken the simple toilet to a whole new level. Toilets in the USA are acceptable if they can flush adequately, but that doesn’t cut it for our friends across the Pacific. Japanese toilets come with a male and female adapted bidet spray nozzle, comforting sounds and scents to help ease the process of using the restroom (especially in public), self-cleaning modes, and a dazzling control panel to adjust the experience to the user’s needs.
More advanced models have built-in AC, heated seats, and room controls. If you don’t want to drop $4,000 on an advanced toilet, then you can purchase a low-tech bidet add-on to bring the Japanese washlet into your home.
4. Making a Home “Tech Drawer”
If your kitchen or living room is cluttered with wires, devices, and charging stations, consider making a “tech drawer!” You can use velcro or double-sided tape to mount a power strip with great outlets and USB jacks. The DIY tech drawer is perfect for charging your family’s devices during a device-free dinner or movie night and has the added benefit of decluttering your living space.
You can expand the concept of the tech drawer and bring it into your home office or bedroom. It’s a great, low-tech way to sort and manage your high-tech devices.
5. Magnetize Your Kitchen!
Save on storage space by strategically placing magnets around your kitchen. For example, consider magnetic knife holders and magnetic strips to store knives, pots, and pans along vertical surfaces in your kitchen.
You can even purchase magnetic racks for the inside of your refrigerator to hang bottles from its ceiling magnetically. Low-tech magnets can help improve the quality of your daily life, bringing extra storage space and a quick-grab convenience to your kitchen.
Low-Tech Hacks and Gadgets Can Compliment Our Modern High-Tech Lifestyles
The gadgets and hacks listed here are only a mere introduction to all the cool, low-tech ways you can help boost the quality of your life, save money on energy costs and help to manage our high-tech, device-driven world. Sometimes it's good to remember that a simple magnet can work wonders where the highest-of-tech gadgetry cannot.
About the Author
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey. She frequently works with a number of Kuhlman Electrical Services, a respected electrician in Boston.
