There's no question that the pandemic has changed things, and living as we know it will never be the same.
People with home technology find that the constraints of staying home are easily more bearable with smart devices and apps. Homeowners are creating home offices so that they can work from home. Classrooms are being implemented into the house so that children can attend school at home. The smart home can deliver many features to make staying at home less monotonous.
One of the essential features of home technology is security.
Video doorbells, smart locks, security cameras, motion sensors, alarms for smoke, carbon monoxide & intrusion, motorized shades/blinds, and automated gates and garage doors play an important role in keeping you and your family safe.
Video doorbells have several functions that help with security.
Receive alerts for when people are at the door.
See, hear, and speak to anyone at the door.
View and use your video doorbell from anywhere with your phone or smart device.
Leave instructions for deliveries.
Scare off potential package thieves or undesirable people.
Smart locks can work in conjunction with your video doorbell.
Set long or short term codes for entry into your home
Let unexpected guests in if you're away from home with your phone or smart device.
Set automatic locking and unlocking times.
Smart locks come in a variety of looks and methods.
touchless
keypad
facial recognition
fingerprint access
proximity recognition
Security cameras see everything.
View your property with your smartphone or device from anywhere.
Remotely record activity in and around your home.
Most camera options come with night-vision.
Motion sensors do a variety of tasks.
Use as triggers for automation like turning on lights or music when someone enters a room.
Detect intrusion movement, even when the room is dark.
Turn home features of when inactivity is detected.
Alarms keep us safe.
Smoke alarms for fire.
Carbon monoxide detectors for air poisoning.
Burglar alarms for intrusions.
Motorized shades and blinds are also multifunctional.
For privacy.
Helps with HVAC climate control.
Automated gates and garage doors are a convenience no home should be without.
Ensures perimeter security.
Great for securing deliveries and property.
Whole-house WiFi keeps you connected in and around your home.
As mentioned earlier, some homes now require a home office or classroom, and it essential that these rooms have access to WiFi to keep earning money and learning. However, those aren't the only rooms that require WiFi.
Much of home technology needs access to WiFi for entertainment, ordering groceries, controlling automation. For those expansive homes, WiFi expanders make it available everywhere on your property. You never have to worry about a dead signal spot.
Stream videos in your home theater or have your fridge inventory and order groceries for you. Voice assistants like Alexa need access to the network. WiFi is becoming more of a necessity in any home, even the simplest of homes. It also keeps us connected socially.
Home theaters and media rooms entertain and keep us informed.
There's nothing like family time at the end of the day, and a home media room is just the ticket for some relaxation. A home theater gives an actual theater experience, and many homes deck theirs out to be state of the art theaters. Both are great for streaming movies, playing video games, and the occasional family zoom meeting with loved ones near and far.
Have a presentation to give for clients? Do it right from home, interactively standing in front of the large screen. If you're a teacher and you want to interact with the whole class, tile all of those young, eager faces upon your big screen. Host family karaoke night at home and stream it with family and friends. Just because we're staying at home doesn't mean that we can't have fun.
Home automation takes the work out of chores and gives you more free time.
Take the hard work out of everyday living and let home technology manage the home while freeing up your time. There are many products on the market that help us do this. Automated irrigation systems such as Rachio help us keep our lawns and foliage looking great by automating the sprinkler system.
Irrigation systems can monitor the moisture in the ground and even regulate moisture for specific plant types. They conserve water by not watering when it isn't needed and watering more when natural moisture is not enough.
Monitor and regulate energy, shutting off those high power items like water heaters and unneeded heat and AC. Get realtime energy usage information on your phone or smart device. Smart thermostats such as ecobee are essential for regulating the home climate, adjusting temperatures by preprogramming to your comfortability needs.
Don't worry about the expense of hiring a caretaker for your pool and spa; with Jandy, you can automate cleaning and heating the pool or hot tub. Automatically test the water and add the correct amount of treatment to keep your pool or spa ready for use anytime.
Smart appliances, laundry becomes somewhat automated; the fridge can keep tabs on what it needs to order and add to your grocery list on its built-in screen. It can even automatically order from many of your favorite places to shop, such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
The important things to remember are that your home is your refuge, and that couldn't be more true, now more than ever.
Smart home technology is even more helpful during times like these because many issues are solved remotely. No need for a technician to show up at your door. Professional services take extra precautions to ensure that you and your family are safe, limiting the time they need to spend in your home and other measures, including distancing and rescheduling for later.
Still, having a home with technological advantages has made isolating at home easier, providing security, entertainment, and comfort. Please write to us and let us know if you have ideas to share about using home technology during our current situation.