Gearfuse Technology, Science, Culture & More
Looking for inspiration on how to modernise your home? Here are current ideas and trends worth looking into, and that you might be currently missing out on.
Voice Control
To many, controlling the electronics and inner workings in your home via voice control might seem like a farfetched idea from a science fiction film, but not only is it quickly becoming more of a mainstream, it’s much more accessible and available than you might think.
Smart speakers, such as the Google home (containing the Google assistant) and the Amazon Echo (containing the Alexa AI), are already incredibly popular. They are consistently flying off shelves in Christmas sales and inhabiting many homes across the country. These devices do much more than just play your favourite music, however, as they can be used to set reminders, answer your questions and queries, set alarms, and even control an abundance of other contraptions in your home.
Top-Tip: Have one of these smart speakers lying around somewhere, or bought a new television/piece of kit recently? Doing your homework on the ins and outs of your tech and what it can actually do will ensure that you get the most out of it. For example, a far cry from teletext, modern smart televisions can do much more than just show you the news. Many have internet connectivity, built-in streaming services, and even voice control integration.
Smart Lighting
One of the many additions controllable by smartphone and even voice control (as mentioned above), smart lighting installations are incredibly easy to setup and use, and they’re also one of the most popular additions to a modern home at the moment.
If you’re looking for inspiration, or perhaps that ‘lightbulb’ moment, student housing is a good indicator of what the homes of tomorrow will look like. Not only are young people among the first to adopt and use technology, but luxury features and facilities are becoming a growing demand in student accommodation. RW Invest state that apartments and studio flats with features such as smart lighting and high-speed internet integration are high in demand, and they use many of these features in their buy-to-let properties across the country.
Streaming
Running out of room in your home, or feel like your living room is too cluttered by whirring black boxes, tangling wires and CD/DVD cases? Streaming your music and films can be an incredible way of keeping your home looking minimalist, sleek and modern.
Top-Tip: It might sound like a no brainer, but linking all of your smart devices to your many accounts is an excellent step. You’ll be able to sync all of your activities no matter where you go, and continue from where you left off when home.
Security
Modern security methods that again integrate with your internet and smartphone have advanced leaps and bound in recent years, and are a lot safer than what your current home might have.
As an example, wireless motion sensors are a piece of kit that you could install throughout the home, giving you peace of mind from afar via WI-FI connectivity. They’re cheap and easy to set up, and allow you to check up on your home even if you’re not there. Taking this one step further, some of the high end smart home security systems even have facial recognition software built into them, differentiating family members who live in your home from unwanted visitors.
Monitors and sensors can be used to record every aspect of your house, from individual windows and doors, to even tracking leaks from pipes. There are no limits on how many of these devices you can have linked up, and you can go as crazy as you want with it, spending as much as you want, too.
