Get Smart About Today’s Devices

Get equipped for easier and more comfortable living

Did you know that 60.4 million households are now using smart home devices? That’s double the number from 2018, and one that’s expected to keep rising in the coming years.

There are good reasons for the increase. These internet-connected solutions can help reduce energy consumption and costs (smart thermostats), keep household members safer (smart security systems), help you make dinner (smart cooking appliances), and much more.

Making your home a smart home is becoming easier all the time, thanks to products from trusted manufacturers like Amazon, Google, and Apple. Once you have a strong internet connection and a smart speaker/home hub, the possibilities are nearly endless. You can start with practical items like door locks or jump right into something fun like a voice-activated shower.

In the following pages, we take you through options for nearly every room in your home. Each section provides an overview of the solutions available for that space, describes the specific devices to consider, and offers suggestions for what to keep in mind as you shop. We also share some of the latest smart home trends, highlight the benefits for parents and kids, and explore whether you need to worry about your smart home spying on you.

Get ready to get smarter about today’s smart homes!

Enjoy the Great (and Smart) Outdoors

These smart home solutions are useful for your home’s exterior doors, yard, garage, and other outbuildings.

Solutions
Smart home solutions available for outdoor areas are generally focused on security. They include things like video cameras, smart locks, and home security systems. Together, these devices help you know what’s happening around your home at all times and send alerts for unusual situations, such as someone attempting to access an entrance at a time of day when occupants are usually away.

Devices
The following devices are available to create these solutions:

• Video cameras that record images of activity in outdoor areas
• Smart locks that are accessible through smartphone controls
• Home security systems that include a combination of devices to monitor a home for signs of intrusion
• Floodlights that can be programmed to turn on when someone enters a set perimeter
• Combination devices that serve dual purposes, such as alerting you to a visitor at the front door and enabling you to see who it is

Considerations
These devices are meant to keep your home more secure. However, you need to ensure the devices themselves are secure as well. Look for products with strong encryption, two-factor authentication, and automatic firmware updates. Additionally, buy devices that are compatible with existing home automation products, such as buying Google products to work well with Google Home.

Another concern is privacy. Video cameras and other surveillance devices are meant to capture images of possible intruders, but they can also capture potentially sensitive images of family members, visitors, and neighbors. So, choose devices with strong privacy features such as encryption, cloud storage, and user-defined access controls.

Smart Choices for Living Rooms

Smart home solutions for living rooms include products for gathering spaces as well as home entertainment areas.’

Solutions
These solutions are generally focused on convenience, comfort, and entertainment. They include TVs, soundbars, smart speakers, smart lighting, and connected thermostats — designed to help you have a cozy evening at home watching a movie with your family. It’s easy to get the temperature and lighting just right, and you can effortlessly control the movie and sound.

Devices
The following devices are available to create these solutions:

• Smart TVs with big screens capable of displaying multiple entertainment sources, including many streaming services
• Soundbars that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a shelf near the TV or other audio source
• Smart speakers that are activated with voice commands
• Smart lighting that can be controlled with a smartphone or other smart device
• Connected thermostats that can “learn” occupant habits and take over temperature management in the home

Considerations
As with all smart home devices, you should ensure any new equipment is compatible with the other devices and systems already in use. Additionally, a strong internet connection is essential to ensure your entertainment system and other devices work reliably. Before setting up any smart home products, check with your internet provider and let them know your plans to make sure you have the right connection. Finally, consider ease of use when selecting devices, especially if children will be operating them.

It’s Smart to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Bedrooms and bathrooms get lots of use in your home, so it makes sense to take advantage of what smart home solutions can do to improve these spaces.

Solutions

Smart home solutions available for bedrooms and bathrooms are generally focused on helping you sleep better and starting your day more efficiently. They include smart beds and bedding, air quality units, smart toilets, smart showers, and smart scales. These devices can ensure that two partners can each adjust a bed to their comfort, then have luxury experiences as they perform their personal care routines in the morning.

Devices
The following devices are available to create these solutions:

• Smart beds and bedding that increase your comfort and track your sleep
• Air quality units including air conditioners and air purifiers to adjust the environment
• Smart toilets with features like automatic opening and closing, heated seats, and deodorization
• Smart showers with systems that use voice commands to turn on the water and set it to your preferred temperature
• Smart scales that can track your BMI, heart rate, and muscle mass, in addition to your weight

Considerations
Since bedrooms and bathrooms are personal areas of the home, pay attention to privacy in devices used here. Choose those that prioritize it and have strong data encryption features. Also be aware of how manufacturers are using and sharing your data.

Additionally, air conditioners and air purifiers can be noisy and disrupt sleep, even when they’re designed to help it. Look for products that are quiet or serve as white noise that won’t disturb you. Finally, understand that smart devices, especially those used frequently, may require regular maintenance — such as replacing filters for air purifiers — which involve additional costs.

Cook Up Something Smart

When purchasing smart home solutions for your kitchen, there’s a lot to consider. Be sure to pay attention to functionality, safety, and price.

Solutions
Smart home solutions available for kitchens are generally focused on helping you find information about food and beverages and prepare them as efficiently as possible. They include smart displays and appliances such as ovens, air fryers, fast cookers, and microwaves. These devices can help with every step of the cooking process – from meal planning and grocery shopping to playing your favorite music while you prepare food.

Devices
The following devices are available to create these solutions:

• Smart displays are voice-activated devices with small screens that can sit on a kitchen counter
• Ovens including app-controlled countertop machines that enable all common cooking functions
• Air fryers that are app-controlled cookers to fry food without using oil
• Coffee makers that are managed by an app and voice control
• Refrigerators with smart features such as automatically adding items to a grocery list

Considerations
In addition to compatibility with other smart home devices, sufficient internet bandwidth, and maintenance (which we mentioned in previous sections), make sure smart home devices for your kitchen offer the functionality you need. This might be harder than it sounds, given that different types of cooking appliances perform a lot of the same functions.

Another important consideration is safety. Some smart kitchen devices, such as ovens and air fryers, can get very hot and pose a fire hazard if not used properly. Choose devices with prominent safety features, such as automatic shutoff.

Get Smart About Your Workout Routine

A home gym may include a whole room, or simply a corner with space for one reliable exercise machine.

Solutions
Smart home solutions available for home gyms are focused on one thing — helping you stay fit. They include stationary bikes, rowing machines, strength training machines, treadmills, and fitness mirrors. So, whether you love running, stationary biking, rowing, or strength training, you can find the right equipment to help you stay motivated.

Devices
The following devices are available to create these solutions:

• Stationary bikes that simulate bike riding, often with online instruction
  and customizable adjustments
• Rowing machines that include a variety of live streaming workouts for
  beginning, intermediate, and advanced rowers
• Strength training machines which are all-in-one equipment to mimic
  working out with a personal trainer, sometimes with sophisticated features like rep counting
• Treadmills that enable users to walk or run, with streaming live or on-demand instructions
• Fitness mirrors with immersive touch screens that allow you to choose from thousands of classes led by real fitness instructors

Considerations
Home gym equipment, like many of the other devices mentioned in previous sections, requires strong internet connectivity, compatibility with other devices in the home, and considerations for user safety. Additionally, you should look for devices that not only enable you to work out but also offer additional features like professional instruction and fitness tracking (such as heart rate monitoring, distance traveled, or calories burned). These features can help you see your progress and achieve your fitness goals.