IoT Tech for the Home: Your Guide
The modern world demands technological innovation to improve the way we live our lives. Connected cars and readily-available Wi-Fi are making our cities smarter for us to use. Now, the technology—also known as The Internet of Things—is expanding into our homes.
With the latest in this technology, we can now order our groceries, adjust the thermostat, switch off lights or check the water pressure all at the touch of a button or a voice command.
These smart gadgets, powered by AI assistants, are streamlining our lives, allowing us to carry out simple household and everyday tasks with ease. It is estimated that 71% of people expect to own at least one smart-home device by 2025 and so these IoT devices are likely to become as popular as smartphones in the very near future.
With different devices currently on the market, we evaluate the top five IoT smart home technologies on offer for consumers today.
Amazon Echo
Amazon was one of the first to penetrate the smart home market. Their product, the Amazon Echo, was released in summer 2015 and uses voice activation to respond and carry out tasks. Its persona “Alexa” can connect users to their Spotify playlists or to Pandora, order the weekly shop and provide updates on the weather. It can also read the news, or provide the latest cinema showings. For control over household appliances, users will need to purchase additional IoT technology, which the Echo connects with.
Google Home
Google’s smart home assistant is a hands free smart speaker, like the Amazon Echo. The smart gadget will communicate with and recognise up to six users, and can provide quick answers to questions about flight information, the commute to work or the latest news. Google Home is designed to bring the power of Google to the home, finding real-time answers to a variety of questions. Like the Amazon Echo, Google Home can support smart home devices to control lights, the thermostat and switches.
Apple Home Kit
Apple’s Home Kit is compatible with a range of IoT devices, allowing users to switch off lights, lock doors, adjust air purifiers and turn off power points. Users will find that Apple groups the equipment by room, making each IoT device easily accessible. Similar to Amazon Echo, Apple uses “Siri” as the personal assistant, helping users complete their task.
Nest
Nest produces a variety of specific smart home products. From IoT thermostats, cameras, doorbells and alarms, Nest wants to improve efficiency and save users money. The thermostat learns how your home heats up and can adjust energy usage accordingly and can turn itself off while you are away. While, the smoke alarm informs users of problems and can be switched off by a smartphone. It will also automatically test itself, meaning you don’t have to. The camera and doorbell provide users with the latest in IoT security technology, including live feeds and connectivity to smartphones.
Phillips Hue
Phillips Hue is a personal, connected lighting system which can be controlled by smart devices. Offering a range of different settings and colors, users can adjust the lighting according to their mood or time of day. Phillips Hue can be connected with a range of other smart home devices, including Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple Home Kit.
For additional information, why not check out our top tips on how to build a smart home.
What is your view on smart home devices? Let us know in the comment section below or tweet us @JustAskGemalto.
