Did I lock the front door? How is the dog sitter going to get in? Does the house look abandoned? These are all common thoughts of homeowners while on vacation. Nagging questions that can’t be answered remotely take away from the enjoyment and relaxation of a getaway; however, modern technology offers a solution to the worries and more: smart home automation.
Ask anyone what the number one frustration of trying to live, work, and play with technology is, and most people will tell you it’s the quality of their home internet. Network speed and reliability are vitally important factors in making the most of time spent at home. Several factors can inhibit your internet experience, including the number of devices connected, bandwidth caps and your router’s location.
If you feel like your internet connection has slowed or performance is compromised, the following are some steps you can take to improve the network’s speed and reliability.
It’s hard to believe, but there was supposedly a time when Steve Jobs was not keen on the idea of allowing third-party apps to run on the iPhone. Obviously, he ended up warming to the idea. These days, the phrase “there’s an app” for that — first coined in a 2009 Apple TV commercial — has become true for a myriad of things. One of those things is the control of smart devices.
While not yet as popular and as ubiquitous as mobile devices like iPhones and iPads, smart home technology is gaining ground and becoming more mainstream every day. Smart lights, thermostats, and cameras are no longer only seen in the homes of the rich and famous. You and your neighbors probably have a smart device or three in your house right now.
When designing a new home, it’s fairly common for technology to be an afterthought rather than a primary focus in the process. TVs, speakers, and electronics are often only thought about after all the design elements (paint colors, flooring, trim work, furniture, window treatments, etc.) have been carefully selected or even installed. The idea of ruining a room’s thoughtful aesthetic by introducing wires and a stack of black boxes can test even the best of marriages.
But technology and design can coexist without drastically compromising system performance or interior design. It simply takes a little creativity, careful planning and a partnership between your technology integrator and design professionals.
When people think of security cameras, they picture the grainy, almost unusable footage from a convenience store robbery. Today’s surveillance cameras have improved exponentially, with resolutions at high-definition or even 4K. Some high-tech security cameras can reach a resolution as high as 12 megapixels and offer multiple lenses with panoramic views from 180- to 360-degree coverage. Today's current crop of security cameras can capture the incredible detail of whatever is in their field of view. While we generally see cameras as a way to ward off or catch intruders, a well-planned security surveillance system can provide peace of mind in several other ways.
Smart thermostats are popular in WiFi-connected homes, allowing you to adjust the temperature of your home from your smartphone or other digital device and, more importantly, to save money on utility costs. The demand for smart thermostats is growing due to their WiFi connectivity, allowing homeowners the ability to adjust the temperature from anywhere in the world with their smart device, and more importantly, generating substantial cost savings on their utility bills. Below we go into more detail on the primary benefits of using a smart thermostat:
Technology solutions in your home or office can help you complete day-to-day tasks in many ways. If your systems stop working one day and you didn't know who to contact, you will end up spending time and money just to get your electronics functioning again. That's why preventive maintenance and service contracts are so important.
Smart door locks are one of the new technological advancements smart homes are starting to utilize more often. If you’re tired of losing your house key, looking for added security, want your kids to be able to access the home when you’re not home or want to let guests in remotely, smart door locks are what you need.
A smart door lock is just one more advantageous feature to add to your smart home — here’s why:
One of the big misconceptions about smart home technology is that you’ll only find it in huge, high-tech properties with a modern design style. That couldn’t be further from the truth!
The reality is that smart technology is affordable, unobtrusive, and rapidly growing in the Alpharetta, GA area.
There are thousands of different smart devices out there – each one doing something to make life easier, more energy efficient, or comfortable. Fortunately, you don’t have to sift through all the options yourself, and you certainly don’t have to start with all of them in order to have a “smart home.”
Below, we’ve listed out the three most popular smart technologies to include as you begin branching out into smart home automation.
If you dream of one day living in a “smart home,” we have good news: smart home technology exists today that can make life much easier and more comfortable for you. The biggest roadblock to upgrading your Buckhead area home probably isn’t a lack of effective technology. Rather, it’s figuring out which areas of your home are most worth upgrading. That’s why we’ve listed out the top three technologies that you should consider starting with.
SEE ALSO: WHAT IS SMART HOME AUTOMATION? LEARN THE MODERN DEFINITION
