We hear a lot about smart phones and smart watches, which serve to make our daily lives easier and more productive. However, there is a growing world of products which attempt to help us streamline our domestic lives as well. With the proliferation of smart phones, it has never been easier or more affordable to automate our homes and bring them into the 21st century. This list of products can make your home do things you never thought possible.
iSmartAlarm
The iSmartAlarm provides home protection for those who want to add a bit more security to their homes, perhaps to protect their other smart possessions. The premium package comes with a camera, motion sensor, contact sensor and sends notifications and phone calls to an owner’s smart phone in the case of a breach. You can also purchase a smart switch with it, which allows remote control of appliances and electronics, as well as the ability to schedule lights to go on to give the illusion of occupancy.
Belkin WeMo Insight Switch
The Belkin WeMo Insight Switch enables the user to power on or power off their home electronics remotely, and monitor their usage through WeMo’s smart phone app. It also enables the user to create rules around the use of any electronic to which it is applied. For those who like to exercise complete control over their power usage, this is a great item.
Philips Hue Connected Bulb Starter Pack
The Philips Hue Connected Bulb Starter Pack is the next step in smart home lighting technology. With three WiFi connected, color changing bulbs, Hue can give any room the right vibe, all with a few swipes on a smart phone. You can use an app to create presets to make the lighting the exact right color to suit your mood and even set a timer if you would like to wake up to a nice shade of whatever color you choose. This is perfect for those who live in an underground bunker with a need to simulate day and night cycles, or just people who like color therapy and a finely customized atmosphere.
Nest Thermostat
The Nest Thermostat attempts to make your life easier and your energy bills more affordable by learning what temperature you prefer at a given time of day by paying attention to how you use it. After a short calibration period, the Nest Thermostat should be able to predict how hot or cold you would like it to be and adjust the temperature accordingly. It even pays attention to when you leave the house, and the Nest App allows you to interface with the thermostat while you are out, so you can make the house nice and toasty upon your arrival.
Withings Smart Baby Monitor
The Withings Smart Baby Monitor wants to be the answer to every new parent’s dreams. Far beyond the listening capabilities of traditional baby monitors, this one comes with a crib mounted camera, and temperature/humidity monitoring. Perhaps best of all, this baby monitor enables the user to interact with the baby from a remote location. It can enable you to talk back to the baby, turn on a light for comfort, and play a selection of lullabies to send the baby back to dream land.
