Home automation products and appliances can make life simpler. By connecting to your WiFi network and being controlled remotely or voice command via a device like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, they make life more convenient.
Smart devices work with intelligent hubs like Apple HomeKit and Android Home to provide a centralized control panel for connected devices. Discover the ideal smart devices to help streamline everyday tasks:
Smart speakers
Smart speakers give you access to calls, music, podcasts, audiobooks and news without lifting a finger. In addition, they enable voice command of home devices like lights, plugs, thermostats and cameras in your home – such as lighting off when leaving work or dimming lights to set an ambience at dinner parties – as well as reminders about appointments or ingredients needed for recipes – plus can control other linked devices including intelligent security cameras or video doorbells.
Many smart speakers feature digital assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice-activated control of linked smart devices and TV shows, such as light bulbs and plugs, temperature settings or TV schedules. Furthermore, these voice assistants can inform users about weather forecasting, traffic conditions and show times, as well as control linked smart devices like light bulbs or plugs to preset times on television shows or set temperatures in an empty room. Finally, these voice-activated devices can even inform on how much energy certain appliances use – prompting power hogs to use less.
Home automation begins with smart speakers. Over time, more sophisticated smart devices may be added, but it’s best to start with simple systems first. To maximize the potential of your smart home system, ensure good WiFi signal strength and compatible apps – like Siemens Home Connect App, which seamlessly integrates smart home appliances and many other brands of products.
Smart bulbs
Bright lighting is one of the most sought-after smart home devices. LED bulbs are highly energy efficient and last much longer than their incandescent counterparts. Many also come equipped with motion detectors that turn on/off when someone enters or leaves a room; others can be programmed from any device remotely, letting you brighten gradually in the morning to help wake you up, turn red when an important email from work arrives or change colour depending on party-goer mood or events – or even feature colour changing capabilities!
No matter which smart light bulb you select, all can ultimately save money over time. By opting for an ENERGY STAR labelled bulb, energy use is reduced both during operation and standby – saving both money and resources! Plus, you can schedule or geofence them remotely to control them so you will remember to switch them off before leaving!
Smart home lighting with bulbs works well for fixtures that don’t feature switches; if you want to automate something more complex, such as floor lamps or decorative string lights, however, a plug could be more suitable as it can work in conjunction with voice assistants and other smart home tech to automate more complex functions.
Smart plugs
No matter where your interests lie – from someone looking to introduce smart tech into their home to those starting with just one piece and becoming hooked, to knowing AI will change our world, smart plugs will undoubtedly enhance your lifestyle and lifestyle choices.
An intelligent plug allows you to control appliances and devices remotely through your smartphone, as well as set schedules and programs for them. Some even feature energy monitoring features that show how much electricity each device uses daily – including its standby mode usage!
Smart plugs can be combined to control multiple devices at the same time, with some models offering dimmable lights plugged into them. Some smart plugs are intended for indoor use, while others can withstand rain and other forms of weather for outdoor usage.
Consider features such as voice assistant compatibility – so you can manage devices using just your voice – and power surge protection, which protects against spikes and irregularities that could damage sensitive electronics. Furthermore, please take into account how many outlets and USB ports a smart plug offers, as well as whether its design will suit your outlet space and electrical setup. Furthermore, ensure it supports your preferred wireless protocol – most work via WiFi, while some have adopted Matter. This alternative low-power mesh network eliminates the need for hubs while offering more excellent reliability.
Smart monitors
Smart appliances can add comfort and security to your home, whether you are building it from the ground up, renovating existing structures, or upgrading them. From lighting controls and door lock buttons to security systems and smoke detectors – smart home devices provide convenient ways for homeowners to monitor their dwellings.
Smart devices can also make life simpler for us, whether we’re cooking or not. An intelligent oven allows us to monitor our food from a distance and preheat quickly and conveniently, while a smart fridge helps us decide what we’ll have for dinner while keeping tabs on weekly grocery needs; while smart video doorbells let us answer the door or catch burglars remotely from work.
Are You Looking to Cut Back Energy Costs? An intelligent energy monitor can help illuminate your habits so you can alter them; plus it can show where electricity is going to waste by tracking how much your appliances use and show where your power bills may have increased due to wasteful practices.
Smart monitors make an ideal addition to your computer when used in conjunction with intelligent televisions, providing an extension of your workspace and making it easy to work from home or join video calls with family. Some models come equipped with built-in voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant; others can recognize your voice using far-field technology and respond without the need for additional devices, making working from the couch or starting video calls simple!
Smart kitchen appliances
Intelligent kitchen appliances connect to the internet for ease of control and convenience. They allow users to monitor performance, assess usage history, and receive reports or suggestions for optimizing them. Furthermore, intelligent appliances often offer greater security while being less costly than non-connected versions.
Smart ovens enable you to start the cooking cycle directly from your phone and come preloaded with recipes for new dinner ideas. They’re quieter and feature auto-release for better drying and linear wash for deeper cleans. Meanwhile, smart fridges alert you when your food supplies run low while connecting voice assistants for more straightforward navigation.
Other intelligent appliances include washers and dryers that can be controlled remotely, offering quieter performance with features like automatic cycle selection and energy-saving settings. Smart dishwashers even alert you when they’re done as well as being controlled via voice assistants for added convenience.
One common criticism of smart home devices is their reliance on apps and inability to communicate with each other. Matter and the Home Connectivity Alliance have attempted to address this problem; you can prevent this issue by buying appliances from one brand that can all be controlled from one app, making your house look modern while adding value resale-wise.
Smart hub
If your smart home consists of multiple devices, a smart hub is essential to its smooth functioning. By unifying networks like WiFi, Zigbee or Z-Wave and providing control via one app to you from all sources, as well as integrating each smart device’s settings into one automated system, smart hubs also offer advanced security measures against cyber criminals hacking their device and disrupting its operation.
The smart home market features many brands, and each brand tends to create its ecosystem of compatible devices, which is great for users but can require purchasing multiple smart devices from different manufacturers. Luckily, many smart device and appliance makers have begun cooperating – most new devices are compatible with popular hub brands, and some even come equipped with built-in bridge or gateway capabilities.
Smart hubs also integrate devices with utility software that enables them to communicate over various radio waves, simplifying how your devices connect while also decreasing power usage and cutting overall utility bills and environmental impact. Some smart hubs allow for voice assistant-based control over multiple devices for a futuristic touch-free control experience; this feature is convenient if hands-free functionality and convenience are essential to you.