At Friendly PC, you may have noticed we’re big fans of upgrading. We’ve talked about hardware upgrades, software updates, and even ways to automate your life with IFTTT recipes. In this post, we’re going to talk about a few exciting ways you can upgrade your living space with smart home devices.
If you’ve thought about diving into the smart home life, but haven’t known where to start, we’re here to help! These are the classic smart home applications that can fundamentally change the way you experience your home:
Smart Home Lighting
Smart lighting is a classic starting point for the smart home. People whose homes are lit with lamps will rejoice the first time they turn them all off at once. And, it gets better from there. If you have a regular routine, you can schedule lights to power on or off at certain times (a feature that’s also very useful when you’re on vacation). You can also adjust the color and brightness of many smart lights for ultimate customization.
Installation is usually as simple as screwing in your smart bulbs, plugging in a control hub, and downloading an app. Smart lights can be fairly simple, making them a great way to get familiar with how smart home systems work.
Smart Temperature Control
A connected thermostat is probably the second most popular device in the smart home. Programmable thermostats have been around a long time, but these new intelligent systems take the benefits to the next level. Not only can they learn the intricacies of your schedule, you can also adjust them on the fly from anywhere. Smart thermostats can also track how much your heating or air conditioning system has been running to let you know how you could save energy.
Smart Home Safety and Security
Applications in this category may not make you feel all-powerful, but knowing you can always have an eye on your home is awesome for your peace of mind (and knowledge is power, right?). Devices like connected doorbells (some with cameras), motion detectors, and cameras let you know who is in and around your house. Meanwhile, smart CO2/smoke and flood detectors keep you informed when something’s wrong with the house, itself. Whether you are at home, in the office, or on vacation, a smart home helps keep you and your family safe.
Have you tried any of these systems in your home? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter.
And, if you’re having trouble with your PC, give us a call at (402) 965-3300 – we’d love to help!
