How To Create A Smart Connected Living Room
8 Ways To Create A Smart Connected Living Room
We are increasingly living in an age in which the internet rules; for better or worse it’s a fact of life, one which will either end up ruling you or perhaps allowing you to harness it for your own benefit. Here are some areas in which you can put some ‘smart’ ideas into practice in order to make the best out of the constantly emerging situation.
1. Router
A decent network router should be your first port of call. Without one, you can’t retain ownership over security, can suffer from poor WiFi access, and can be limited to the physical proximity of the internet cable which won’t necessarily be convenient. A router that you can rely on in terms of creating a smart connected living room along with a smart air conditioner will be user-friendly, fast, have a high quality of service, and will have no need for a fan. Another thing to bear in mind is that in terms of WiFi coverage your home’s access points are all important, equally as important as the quality of your router.
2. Smart bulbs
Smart light bulbs will allow you to dictate how much light streams into your home by the sound of your voice. They can work in conjunction with Amazon Alexa and can be controlled remotely through your smartphone. This will come in really useful when you’re on vacation and will save you money in the long run. They’re reputed to last a whopping fifteen years and can include such things as a dimmer switch and motion sensor.
3. Smart plugs
The great thing about smart plugs is that no wiring is involved and, once plugged in, your apps will do the rest. Via smart plugs, you can make your living room more energy efficient and avoid the mess and entanglements that traditional wired plugs necessitate. You can monitor how much energy you’re consuming in real-time, and use them for thermostats, door locks, lights, and dozens of different devices around the home.
4. Smart door locks
Smart door locks will make searching for your house keys a thing of the past. Compatible with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Voice assistants, this is a highly convenient and innovative development. With a simple voice command eg. ‘Ensure the back door is locked’, you need never traipse downstairs again, late at night. You simply need a modest-sized plug-in Wi-Fi ‘bridge’ connected to your system in order to be connected. It will also inform you if a door has been inadvertently left open and can be connected to your house alarm system. Your smartphone will become a replacement for your next-door neighbor, who may or may not be in when needed.
5. Security cameras
Having your home security system rendered ‘smart’ will make burglaries less likely, or at least will reduce the time it takes for them to be addressed. Security cameras can capture intruders in the act and so can help the police with their inquiries, be used in a court of law, and may even be passed on to home insurance companies to help you secure proper compensation for stolen items. Yes, having a burglary notification on your smartphone might ruin your day, but it’s better to find out as soon as possible so that the necessary actions can be implemented.
6. Video doorbells
Unlike traditional doorbells, smart doorbells allow you to see exactly who is there, enabling you to converse with whomever it might be, even if you’re not actually in your house! This provides you with more security and privacy, as well as allowing you to see if you’ve missed a delivery when away. You’ll even be able to record any possible doorstep thieves so as to track down stolen packages. If you live in quite a large property it will allow you to be in the garden and converse with a visitor without having to make it all the way to the front door, if you don’t want.
7. Connected speakers
An advantage that comes with having connected speakers is their capacity to sync to just one device, meaning you can have as many of them as you want around the house, rather than having to depend on just one sound system per room. You can have your favorite music on in the kitchen and then have it on in the living room or even bathroom, as you wish; Bluetooth speakers, by contrast, have to be turned on and off each time you enter or re-enter a particular room, and don’t necessarily allow multiple speakers to function simultaneously. Connected speakers can also be controlled by an app, so each speaker can be specifically tweaked and adjusted through your tablet or Smartphone.
8. Voice hubs
Your voice hub will allow you to monitor and control many different devices in your home simultaneously. These days hybrid hubs are becoming more popular and will take the train off your wireless network. Smart hubs can divert network traffic into a specific lane, taking the burden off WiFi and Bluetooth and ironing out the overall flow.
The benefits of having a smart connected living room are clear to see. You can save time, energy, and money once you’re all set up and ready to go.