The concept of the smart home has been with us for decades but it’s only now we’re starting to see it become a reality (and affordable!) with an increasing array of devices in the home that can connect to your home network and streamline the way you live your life.
Turn on lights remotely
You could be forgiven for thinking installing an automated home lighting system would be complex and costly but with the Phillips Hue system it’s as simple as screwing in a light bulb and setting up the small control unit via an app. In minutes, you’ll have a fully customisable lighting system that’s as easy to use as it was to set up. Philips – Hue White Ambiance – Starter Kit
A virtual assistant
The centre of your smart home is a smart speaker that can act as a virtual assistant and help control the other devices connected to your network. The Echo series from Amazon comes in a range of sizes and options and are driven by Amazon’s smart assistant Alexa. Echo’s price point and ease of use makes it a market leader alongside Google’s Home. Amazon Echo
An automatic pet feeder
A must for cat owners on the move is this Wi-Fi connected cat feeder that allows for scheduled or manual feeding. Back-up batteries mean that puss will still get a feed even if the power goes down and best of all you can watch and listen to your furry friend as they gulp their kibble via the on-board camera and microphone. Catevolution Pet Feeder
A robot vacuum cleaner
Robot Vacuum Cleaners (or more accurately robot brush and dust pans) have been around for a while and iRobot are pioneers in the field and each new model gets better. These discreet, mobile cleaning units are perfect for areas of hard flooring and starting with the IRobot Roomba 670 can connect to your home wifi and be controlled by an app that will not only let you schedule cleaning when everyone’s out for the day but also tell you vital information about your robot’s performance. iRobot Roomba 670
See who is at the door
A fantastic, cheap security device for your home that’s really easy to use. The Ring Video doorbell comes with a high-resolution camera and is easily mounted at your front door. The doorbell is controlled with an app on your phone (or your choice of smart hub) allowing you to detect motion, watch video of who is at your door in real time and even communicate with them. There are two models in the range and the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is packed with enough features to make it worth spending a bit more. Ring Video Doorbell
Home control for everyone
Imagine automating your home with facial recognition, fingerprint security, voice activated showers and coffee machines, electronic privacy glass, and much more. This isn’t the smart home of the future. It’s right here, right now. Push Controls brings you an exciting new world of smart home technologies designed to work seamlessly together for the ultimate home automation experience. They connect everything including lighting, audio visual, security, automated blinds, climate control, and more, in one simple, intuitive app. See Clipsal for more
