8 Innovations To Make Your Home Smarter

Rising costs and demand for energy has led many companies to find new ways to track, control and save energy. To make the most efficient use of resources, smart home innovations have the power to monitor energy use while communicating with the energy grid. They will collect and store power when it’s most economical and distribute it only where and when needed.

Smart home technology is becoming more convenient and all-encompassing than ever. From security cameras to Wi-Fi locks, smart homes consist of wireless connected devices and technologies that leverage the power of cloud computing and the Internet of Things to intelligently monitor and control a myriad of daily functions. Instead of constantly wondering, “Did I close the garage?” or “Is the oven still on?” Smart home innovations tackle these daily concerns head on with the goal of delivering efficiency, comfort and ultimately, making our lives a little easier. Let’s take a look at how this exciting industry is improving our way of life.

Smartphone Apps

At one point, we had to rotate the dials to change the channels on our television screens. Then with the advent of remote controls, we thought, “there’s no way it could get better than this!” Today, the hub of most connected home systems has become the smartphone. With smart home apps, you can easily send and receive updates and alerts, program functions remotely, tell the oven to get dinner ready and see who’s delivering a package at your door when you’re not home.

Environmental Controls

Smart home technology makes it possible to manage everything from lighting and air quality to room temperature. Using touch or switch controls, you can adjust comfort levels to your liking with a higher level of sophistication than in years past. This provides an avenue for individuals to actively participate in controlling their own environments hands-free. Not to mention, smart home automation provides a tangible means of energy saving and data access to its users, thus saving them both time and money.

AI Home Assistants

Smart home innovations like Amazon Alexa and Google Home have become a growing presence in many of our daily activities. Whether your top concern is portability or music quality, voice-activated home assistants connect full-time to cloud-based services.  These devices work to not only answer your queries and order groceries, but in many cases, anticipate your needs before you ask—no screen, keyboard or touch necessary.

Smart Lighting

If you’re interested in building a smart home, smart lighting serves as an excellent starting point. Lighting can be adjusted for energy savings, to accentuate the mood of your favorite background music or even dim slowly to signal that it’s time for bed. The best part is that many smart lighting systems integrate seamlessly with many other existing smart home elements. 

Remote Control Appliances

One of the most important and useful features of any smart home technology device is the capacity to control nearly everything in your house when you’re miles away. Just arriving home from a long trip? Send a message to your house and a hot cup of espresso will be waiting for you when you walk in the door.

Energy Management

Rising costs and demand for energy has led many companies to find new ways to track, control and save energy. To make the most efficient use of resources, smart home innovations have the power to monitor energy use while communicating with the energy grid. They will collect and store power when it’s most economical and distribute it only where and when needed.

Live Video Feeds

By integrating live video feeds into your smart home, you can simultaneously see who’s ringing your doorbell and check in on your children upstairs—all without having to get up from the couch. Door sentries, smart locks and CCTV cameras provide peace of mind, letting you remotely unlock your door for visiting guests or facilitating repair work inside your home.

Automated Monitoring

Sensors around your smart home can alert you if a door or window is open, if the power goes out, if a pipe springs leaks or even if you forgot to arm the system, allowing you to call for assistance no matter where you are.

Star Rapid has helped many product developers just like you to evolve their designs from rapid prototyping to volume production. We even provide a range of finishing and inspection services to ensure your manufactured prototypes and products meet your expectations. Check out this award-winning smart home lock we manufactured in partnership with Gate Labs. We will bring this same personal attention to you when you upload your design files for a free quotation today!