Electric cars, voice-activated appliances, and wireless connections from anywhere in the world. These are just some of the many innovations that technology has given people today. The future holds so much potential for what more people can achieve. It’s only a matter of time.
Smart homes are no longer limited to what you see in futuristic movies — technology has turned this into reality. With a few gadgets and mobile applications, you can be controlling your whole house without needing to lift a finger.
This is all made possible through Alexa, a virtual assistant powered by AI technology. Alexa was developed in 2014 and was initially accessible through the Amazon Echo speakers. To date, almost everything has been adapted to be compatible with the voice-activated system.
You don’t have to break your bank to turn your house into a smart home. Here are a few appliances that you can invest in so that you can control them from an app on your phone or with your voice through Alexa.
Doorbells
Have you ever imagined seeing who’s ringing your doorbell without having to get up and actually check? With smart doorbells, you can immediately be notified when someone approaches your porch and see who they are with the camera installed in this device.
You will also be able to communicate with whoever’s at your door through the smart doorbell because it has a video feed and microphone that can be connected to your phone app. Some variations are designed to have old-fashioned peepholes, too, so you can manually see who’s on the other side.
Heat Control
Don’t you wish you can control your house’s temperature without having to go back and forth to your thermostat? Or program the thermostat to adjust with the hours so that you can be comfortable at all times? Imagine how warm you can be, especially during winter.
With a remote heating control Wi-Fi device, you can control your thermostat from an app on your phone or let Alexa do the work for you. You’ll never have to worry about being frazzled because the temperature suddenly dropped when you have a remote device to control it.
LED Bulbs
Before, there are lighting systems that can be activated by claps and motion sensors. Now you don’t even have to lift a finger because all Alexa needs is your command to open, dim, or completely turn off your lights.
With smart LED bulbs, you can control your lights through an app. If you want to set a mood through lighting for whatever occasion you can think of, then you can purchase colored light bulbs that can also be voice-activated.
Vacuums
Say goodbye to sweeping the floors manually because robot vacuums can now do the menial work for you. Continuous developments in robotics have allowed vacuums to be automated and controlled through Alexa.
Some models even have laser-mapping technology so that they won’t bump into your furniture and create more mess than when they began. You can also let Alexa control the vacuum even when you’re not home so that you can get some chores done while outside.
Door Locks
Do you get anxious about whether you’ve locked your door at the most random times? You’d have to get up from bed several times to check and double-check the door but still worry that you left it open, leaving you defenseless against thieves.
With a smart lock that you can place on your doors, you will no longer have to lie awake at night or be out and dripping with anxiety. You can ask Alexa if you’ve locked the door or not, and it can assure you with a definite answer. You can also lock or unlock the door with voice control.
Socket Plugs
Not all home appliances have been developed to be automated or voice-controlled, which is a bummer because daily tasks would be made so much easier if you can tell Alexa to power up your coffee maker even before you get up from your bed.
But with a smart plug that you can attach to your wall sockets, you can turn any regular electric appliance into one that Alexa can control. This is made possible because the smart plugs can cut off or restore the power connection from your appliances.
With the power of technology, nothing seems impossible anymore. By programming a schedule through the Alexa app, you can automate all the menial and routine tasks in your house, leaving you with more time to focus on important things.
