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Smart House…a TV movie from 1999 featuring a completely computerized home controlled by a cyber-maid named PAT. This movie was depicted as a fantasy of the future but that fantasy is now becoming reality! Technology has come a long way in the last decade and even more so over the past couple of years. So what more could technology still give us? Here are six innovations that will help make your house a smart home.

Home Cleaning

Every time you turn around, a new home maintenance bot comes on the market. Smart lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, and sprinklers all exists. Now, what is arguably the worst cleaning job in your house can be done with the help of a robot. With the push of a button, the robotic arm on the SpinX drops down and cleans the inside of your toilet in 90 seconds. Click here to find out more, including release date.

Cooking

Many people love their slow cookers or instant pots for the simple convenience of being able to throw everything in and leaving it to cook while you’re away or creating a last minute meal in a jiffy. The June Intelligent Oven takes away all of the guess work and stress over a perfectly cooked meal. Just pop your food item into this countertop oven and it will scan to determine what you are cooking. Simply tell it how you want the meal cooked and let the device handle the rest! Wifi compatibility as well as a camera allow you to keep an eye on your food if you step away. Click here to find out more.

Home Security

Wifi-enabled devices are making it simple to wirelessly control items and keep watch on your home. Smart thermostats like those from Nest or EcoBee allow for digital or voice command temperature controlling. Nest Protect provides digital smoke and carbon monoxide detection. Cameras like the Amazon Cloud or Nest security can provide indoor or outdoor video surveillance. Similarly, video doorbells allow you to see who is at your front door. Forgot to lock the door? Have no fear! Smart locks work in conjunction with a deadbolt system and wifi to allow the user to ensure their home is locked and secure. Or forget fumbling with keys to unlock the door when your hands are full! A wifi water sensor plugged into an outlet signals the home owner of a flood, allowing for immediate action to be taken. And never worry again if you left the coffee maker on or your flat iron plugged in. Smart plugs installed between a device and the outlet make the outlet wifi-enabled for turning items on or off from your mobile device. Home security tech is available in stores across Canada.

Smart Bulbs

Who would have thought that something as simple as a light bulb could be considered “smart”? A little pricier than a standard light bulb, these smart bulbs offer a much more unique experience. The LifX, Philips Hue or BeOn all change colour or can be dimmed at the touch of a button or on command to your central hub. Bulbs like that from Ion or Playbulb incorporate a mini speaker to play music through Bluetooth from any device. No more tearing the drywall apart to run ceiling speaker wires! These handy gadgets are available in stores across Canada.

Remote Pet-sitter

Wondering if Charlie is at home chewing on your slipper again? Now you don’t have to. Furbo is a an app-connected device that allows you to check up on your pet while you’re away. It has a camera, microphone and speaker so you can see your pet and speak to them throughout the day. Fill the device with treats before you take off for the day and you can release one for your pet via your app whenever you wish. You can even get alerts when your dog is barking. Click here to find out more.

Micro-Generation Systems

Generation systems are already in full effect primarily by way of rooftop solar panel systems. The technology related to these systems is constantly evolving and improving. Adding more electronic gadgets to your home could mean more electricity use. What if the power were to go out and some of your wifi enabled items couldn’t operate? More and more people are jumping on the band-wagon to become self-reliant in an effort to reduce their utility costs. Installing a micro-generation system can aid in reducing costs by feeding off of a renewable resource as well as store electricity in a battery pack for use off the electricity grid. For more information on solar incentive programs available in Ontario, click here and check out our other blogs on solar energy projects.

Advances in technology are being made every day. Before you know it, our homes will be cyber-controlled for many of life’s most common tasks. Technology is truly changing the way we live!

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