Technology enters homes providing practical and at the same time aesthetic solutions to achieve an intelligent and more functional space.
The futuristic image of a completely connected house in which the user controls everything from their phone or through touch screens scattered throughout the home, is already real. But having a fully automated house is not within the reach of every pocket and, at the moment, it is more common in luxury homes. What is certain is that for years more or less affordable solutions have abounded that are allowing homes to be transformed and connected to facilitate day-to-day living in the home.
A device that has entered with force has been smart speakers, and more recently, smart display speakers. A few weeks ago Amazon launched the new Echo Show 15 with a 15.6-inch full HD panel. This device allows you to interact with your voice to ask for recipes, turn on the lights, know the news of the day or the agenda of family members with just a glance (or listening to Amazon’s assistant, Alexa). It is sold for 250 euros.
More striking is the screen integrated into the refrigerator door of the Samsung Family Hub, a connected refrigerator that will not allow you to run out of eggs or yogurt to expire. In addition, it serves as a speaker to listen to music while cooking or even watch a series on its touch screen, have the whole family’s schedule at hand and leave messages. The price is around 2,100 euros.
If the thing is about screens, we must mention the originality of the LG ArtCool Gallery, a mixture of an appliance and a work of art. This connected device acts as an air conditioner but with a screen where you can show whatever you want, from family photos from the last summer trip to a museum painting. It costs 1,759 euros.
Despite the great advantages of robot vacuum cleaners, which allow you to sweep or mop the floor of the home remotely, broom-type vacuum cleaners now have their moment of glory, and it is not surprising. Robots continue to cause occasional problems with snagging on cables or eating socks, while this type of wirelessly connected brooms make cleaning easier and reach any corner. Dyson has just launched a cheaper version of the V15, the V12 Slim, with laser technology to detect hidden dust and a very light and versatile format. It is sold for 649 euros.
If what you are looking for is intelligent lighting, Philips Hue proposals are perfect to get started in this world of infinite possibilities. Controlling the light by voice, from the mobile or simply programming it, will make you forget about traditional switches. The initiation packs are around 100 euros.
Another of the technologies that are increasingly present in homes are smart thermostats, such as those of the Tado brand, which allow the temperature of the home to be regulated from the telephone and create programs to make the house comfortable for the consumer before reaching she. It can be purchased for about 200 euros.
And for those concerned about security, the brand belonging to Amazon, Ring, offers perfect solutions to have the home under video surveillance from anywhere. Thanks to the motion sensors of the Ring Alarm 2, the user will receive an alert to the phone if there is something unexpected in your home and with the Ring Video Doorbell 4 smart doorbell, you will be able to know what happens behind the door and even receive notifications in real time whenever someone rings the doorbell or motion is detected. It has a price of 200 euros.
Just as practical to avoid unpleasantness is Yale’s intelligent lock, Linus Smart, thief-proof and ready to make anyone’s day-to-day life easier since it does not require keys to open it. It is sold for 223 euros.