Did you think that smart homes were decades away? Think again.
According to last month's study by CNET and Coldwell Banker, 28% of Americans already have at least one smart home device. Many Americans are turning their entire house into a smart home.
The survey found that over 80% of smart home owners feel they made the right decision. They also expect the value of their homes to rise over time as well.
If you are considering the benefits of owning a smart home, there are a number of devices that you can use. Here are a few that you may want to invest in.
Amazon Echo
Many people use Siri on their iPhone. Amazon built on that concept by releasing the Echo.
The Amazon echo is a voice activated smart speaker. It comes with a virtual assistant known as "Alexa. "
You can use Alexa to:
- Play your favorite songs
- Research the weather or other questions you have
- Tell you a joke
- Activate other smart home appliances
I encourage you to read Engadget's previous review of the Echo. Here is an excerpt:
"The big draw of Echo is how it can serve as a personal assistant, letting you tap into news, weather, information, music, alarms and other services. CNET says it's actually "one of the better voice-controlled devices" when it comes to understanding the commands you bark at it."
iGrill2
Do you enjoy grilling during the summer? You may want to purchase the iGrill2 from Weber.
This is a smart thermometer that can sync with your laptop or tablet device. You can monitor the temperature of your grill and meat from anywhere in your home, so you don't have to keep going to your grill to check.
A drone
Drones were originally built for war. Today, they have much more constructive purposes. Amazon and other companies have started using drones to deliver products, but there are a number of ways every day consumers can use them as well.
Here are some cool ways to use a drone in your home:
- If there any birds or squirrels that keep getting into your garden, you can use your drone to scare them away.
- You can use your drone to transport small objects from lower levels of your home to the windows of upper levels. This is a good teacher for disabled parents that can't keep bringing things up to their kids.
- They're probably ways you can customize your drone to do simple tasks at high heights, such as trimming trees.
There are tons of great drones on the market. Make sure you do your due diligence to find the right one.
August Smart Lock
Many people aren't keen on using a smart lock. They fear that they will be locked out of their home if the WiFi signal is disrupted or the battery to your smartphone goes out.
Fortunately, the August Smart Lock provides the best of both worlds. As a smart lock, it allows you to use your smartphone to get into your home. You don't have to worry about losing your keys. Fortunately, you can also access it with your keys, so you won't be left out in the cold if the signal is disrupted.