If you’ve got even a slight interest in technology, there’s a very good chance you’ve heard the phrase ‘internet of things’ (IoT) thrown around.
What is the IoT? According to Forbes, it’s essentially the idea that everyday objects, from alarm clocks to toasters and everything in between, will be able to send and receive data via a network. Although it already has many useful applications in both the residential and commercial sector, we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of the IoT’s potential.
What does this have to do with building luxury houses? Well, many forward-thinking companies – Apple and Google, among others – have developed a range of smart products that are designed to be used in the home, and they could very well revolutionise the way you live your life. Here are four of our favourite IoT devices that every new home should have:
1. Nest Learning Thermostat
The developers at tech giant Google have taken it upon themselves to revitalise regular household items and prepare them for the modern world. This has culminated in one of the finest smart home devices we’ve seen so far: The Nest Thermostat.
Nest automatically learns about your preferred climate and can build a schedule based around your lifestyle. It can turn itself off when you leave the house, adjusts the temperature while you’re sleeping and is controlled wirelessly from your phone. These convenient features could also help you save on your energy bill.
2. Philips Hue personal wireless lighting
In the past, we’ve discussed the importance of choosing the right type of lighting. You can really take this concept to the next level with this smart lighting offering from Philips.
These intelligent LED bulbs open up a world of lighting possibilities. Using your phone, you can manipulate their tone, brightness and hue to create an ambience tailor-made to the occasion. Select the ‘Relax’ option and lights will dim to a gentle radiance, or change the colour of the lights to complement your furniture’s design. You can also set a schedule to automatically adjust the lights depending on the time of day.
3. Amazon Echo
What luxury home in Perth would be complete without a high-quality speaker system? There are many smart options on the market, but our pick of the bunch has to be Amazon Echo.
The speaker connects to a cloud-based service known as Alexa, where it can access the news, weather, sports results and so on, and relay this information back to you instantly. With 360-degree audio output, it’s also great at performing its more traditional role of producing great sound.
4. August Smart Lock
Security will naturally be high on the list of priorities for anyone building a new home. Keep your family safe with the August Smart Lock.
This intelligent lock system offers a higher degree of safety. In addition to keyless entry, it also gives you greater control over who can and can’t enter your home. For instance, if a guest arrives while you’re stuck in traffic, you might send them a ‘key’ that expires after one hour, allowing them temporary access without compromising security.
The August Security Lock also keeps a record of who’s passed through the door, which you can access from your phone.
Smart home devices have the potential to change the world we live in. Those who are ready to adopt the technology now will be able to create an intelligent and efficient home that’s ready for the future.
