A general handyman who can do a little bit of everything is more important than you might think. If you get a leak in one of your pipes, the kitchen sink gets clogged up, your light bulbs begin to flicker, or even your gate post has started to wobble. These are all things a local handyman should be able to help you fix.

Many seemingly simply jobs require not just knowledge and hands-on experience. They also some times need specialist tools. Yes, there are many jobs you can do yourselves to save some money. However, getting the professionals in for some jobs is the best thing to do.

For example, you might decide you want to replace your old, worn out carpet with some beautiful hardwood flooring. This might seem pretty simple, however, if it’s out of your skill level, it would be better in the long run to get it done right first time.

Here are some of our top tips on hiring a handyman…

Don’t be intimidated

Whether you are male or female, young or old, you shouldn’t feel awkward about asking questions. If you have questions, simply ask, the good ones will be more than happy to answer any concerns you have regarding the work you want done.

Check their license and insurance

These days, there are quite a few people pretending to be handymen, thinking they can make a quick buck so make sure you do your research and go with a company who have all the right documentation. This will assist you a great deal if the handyman is injured while working at your home, or if something goes wrong with the work they have done later on down the line. It means you are both covered.

Ask for references

If this is some one you haven’t worked with before, you could ask them for references before hiring them. Or, if they are local to the area, perhaps you could ask around to see what other people have thought of their previous work. A legitimate handyman will have many past clients who’d be happy to vouch for him. If you ever ask for a reference and they say no, walk away!

Discuss the payment

Discuss the payment in detail before handing over any money or signing any renovation contracts. Most companies won’t ask for payment up front, however they might ask for part payment, especially if they are a smaller business so they can cover the cost of the parts needed. Do what feels comfortable to you and don’t be pushed in to something you aren’t sure of.

Put everything in writing

Although much of it could be agreed face to face, make sure you also get everything in writing as well. The contract, estimate, cost of supplies, time scale to complete – all of these are factors which should be covered in writing. This is to make sure both parties know what is expected of them and will cover you if anything does happen to go wrong down the line. A hand shake might be all well and good at the time but it won’t stand up in a legal sense.

Ask around

Make sure you ask around and get at least three quotes before you hire some one to help you with your home repairs. This will give yo a good basis of what to expect price wise. If one quotes you well above or below the others, you know to avoid them. If a handyman asks way below the market rates, then either the work will be below standard, the supplies will be poor quality, or there might be something fishy about the handyman himself. The middle of the three prices quoted is generally a good one to go for unless you have heard great things about what one of the others can do for you.

Equipping homes with smart devices may help provide convenience and safety. Smart devices may include a range of home products that connect to the internet and each other. The home control offered by such technologies may profoundly affect how people live their everyday lives.

Making Homes Smarter

Smart devices allow people to monitor and control their homes with the touch of a finger or a verbal command. When setting up a smart system in their homes, people may incorporate devices such as door locks, sensors, lights, thermostats, home appliances, and cleaning devices. Using these types of products, they may perform tasks within their homes with ease and experience increased accessibility without making substantial changes to the design and build of their homes.

Door Locks

With smart door locks installed, people may open and lock their doors through cell phones, tablets, or remotes. Such devices may help prevent people from getting locked out of their homes, as well as allow access to their homes. People may also use smart locks to monitor access to their homes, checking the times and days that people enter or leave their houses.

Motion Sensors

Smart motion sensors may help provide essential home security. Like other motion sensors that let people know when movement occurs in covered areas, smart home sensors may indicate if someone enters or exits areas within the home or the home itself.

Thermostats

Offering convenience and helping save on heating and cooling costs, smart thermostats enable users to remotely adjust the temperatures in their homes. As such, they may lower the heat while out of the house and raise it when going home or vice versa. Doing so may save money on heating when they are out, yet still ensuring their houses are cozy and warm or cool and refreshing when they arrive back home.

Lights

Smart lighting technologies allow users to remotely turn their lights on and off, as well as adjust the bulb’s brightness. Smart lighting devices may help conserve electricity, and thus, save users money. Using smart lighting may also help prevent injuries. The ability to turn lights on remotely may help people avoid tripping or other such accidents.

Home Appliances

Homeowners may equip their houses with large and small smart home appliances. Smart ovens, coffee makers, and other such products on the market offer voice-controlled or remote operations. Integrating such technologies into their homes lets people get a jump on meals while on their way home from work, cook while entertaining guests, and otherwise use their time for what they want while still getting things done.

Cleaning Devices

Whether at home or away, people may get household chores accomplished efficiently and with less effort using smart technology cleaning devices. In addition to controlling them by voice or remote, people may program robot vacuums to clean specific areas or rooms in their homes. Homeowners may also incorporate robot mops and robot vacuums in their homes to help get their housework down with the touch of a finger or the sound of their voices.

 

While technology improves lives and workplace experiences, it also comes at a cost for people through greater risk of serious injury. Technology injuries are increasing as people use computers and devices throughout their entire day. Being hooked up could end painfully unless people pay close attention to safety and ergonomics.

Repetitive Motion Injuries from Technology

Repetitive motion is the major source of tech-related injuries. People are continuously swiping and pressing buttons. They are using the same motions, affecting the same muscles for prolonged periods. People’s bodies and extremities were not meant to do the same thing repeatedly. This is the same concept behind carpal tunnel syndrome. Technology puts people on a permanent cycle, and it will hurt the body parts that they use time and again.

The key to avoiding serious injury is for users to frequently change ergonomics. People need to check themselves every so often to ensure that they shift positions. It is important for individuals to shift the position of the neck and elbows occasionally to minimize the strain on them.

Overuse Strains Elbows and Eyes

Overuse also presents an issue for technology users. People can hold the phone for hours, clicking and swiping without any interruption. Even if they change positions, it does not fully alleviate the burden on the hands and elbow. One can develop nerve issues called “cell phone elbow” that could result in finger numbness.

Technology also places a strain on the eyes that focus on a screen continuously. The eyes need to work harder, especially when they are trying to focus on a screen that is six inches or less. Computer Vision Syndrome is the name for what happens when eyes are damaged from too much screen time. One can avoid this by placing the screen below eye levels and away from the eyes. Frequent breaks are also necessary to reduce the burden on the eyes.

Things like “Blackberry Thumb” are now giving way to “PlayStation Palm.” Name the technology device, and there seems to be a way for people to injure themselves using it. Consumers often find a way to use a product extremely. For example, some people are diagnosed with rashes and lesions on their palms from gripping a video game controller too tight. However, the engineers who design these products also need to be more aware of how people may use them and adjust designs accordingly to maximize safety.

Some Injuries Are Far More Serious

There are far more serious tech injuries than the ones that can cause prolonged physical pain. Research has shown that people who use cell phones for a prolonged period of time can suffer tinnitus, which is a form of ringing in their ears. More alarming are instances in which technology has been shown to cause seizures. Children have suffered from photosensitive epilepsy when they are exposed to flashing lights from a video game.

While technology is an overall net positive, people need to be careful in how they use it. Some moderation can go a long way towards protecting against repetitive stress injuries, and avoiding defective products can help with further prevention.

 

In the last couple of decades, digital technology has gone from something we used occasionally to something most of us can’t live without. And with this surge, there’s been a lot of discussion about whether technology is really beneficial to one’s overall well-being. That’s especially the case when it comes to children growing up in today’s very digital age.

What it comes down to is purpose. Technology, in its essence, is a tool. When created for the right purposes — to communicate, learn, and grow — technology can be incredibly beneficial. Kids tech, for the most part, was created for the right purposes.

Companies like Apple, Amazon, and more have launched products specifically designed with children in mind. From a safe phone for kids to educational tablets, these devices are meant to help children grow while also keeping them safe. In this article, we discuss tech for kids and how it can help children thrive.

1. It Helps Prepare Children for the Future

Regardless of whether you like or dislike technology, there’s no denying its ever-present role in our daily lives. When children are exposed to tech, they’re able to better prepare for what’s ahead. Not only will they learn how to use technology, but thanks to apps like Elmo Loves ABCs, children can gain basic skills. From math to language, kids tech can help children get ready for school — and maybe even get ahead.

Another way tech prepares kids for the future is by enhancing their communication skills. In the last few years, there’s been a lot of debate on whether technology helps or hurts a child’s ability to socialize. While staring at a screen all day isn’t healthy for anyone, socializing is easier to do thanks to technology — especially during a pandemic. With FaceTime, texting, and even games, kids have more opportunities than ever before to stay connected with family and friends.

2. It Limits What Kids Have Access To

What’s the difference between technology for kids and normal tech? The features. Most technology that targets children offers less access to the outside world. For example, some phones for kids don’t allow internet access or social media apps. Some only come with the basics like texting and calling. Even then, parents are able to monitor exactly whom their kids are communicating with.

A Pew Research Center study found that 48% of parents check their children’s smartphone. Some parents use parental controls, while others rely on simple snooping. The point is, even on their own technology, kids are being monitored for their own safety.

3. It Improves Quick Decision-Making

Timely decision-making is a critical life skill, and it turns out that playing video games can improve that capability. In fact, according to a study reported in American Psychologist, children who play video games make faster decisions than those who don’t. While children shouldn’t spend all day playing video games, this type of kid’s tech can actually set kids up for success.

4. It Promotes Better Concentration

Something most children have in common is their inability to concentrate for long periods of time. Kids tech helps children learn how to focus on what they’re doing and make critical decisions.

If you have a child, you’ve probably seen firsthand how easy it is for them to get lost in a game. That’s because they’re paying attention to every single detail on the screen and considering their next move. Focusing their attention on one thing is an important skill for children to develop before they start school or begin their careers.

5. It Still Gives Parents the Power

According to a study from the Family Online Safety Institute, 53% of parents believe a kid’s use of technology offers more benefits than negatives. While there’s no denying too much tech usage can be harmful, nearly anything can be harmful in large quantities. The key isn’t to keep children from technology altogether but to monitor their usage.

These days, many technologies let parents set time limits. In 2018, Apple announced they were launching certain features, like Screen Time, to give parents more control over their children’s usage. Nor is Apple the only company introducing these capabilities.

Circle with Disney helps parents manage screen time when kids are playing games, doing school work, and even chatting with friends. Kids tech comes with its own set of features to ensure a child’s safety.

6. It Improves Hand-Eye Coordination

Most kids tech involves children using their hands and eyes, usually simultaneously. Whether playing a video game or completing homework online, tech requires children to follow objects on a screen. They then use their hands to move those objects from place to place.

Having good hand-eye coordination is incredibly important, and it doesn’t happen automatically. In fact, most kids don’t develop their hand-eye coordination until they’re between 6 and 9 years old. By integrating technology into a child’s life, kids are able to practice these skills.

7. It Helps Foster Independence

Decades ago, if you wanted the answer to a question, you either had to ask someone or go to the library. Not anymore. Now we all have the ability to answer our own questions, in seconds, simply by typing a few words into Google.

This accessibility can be incredibly helpful to children as they grow up and become more curious. With technology, kids can do their own research to answer their questions. For example, to learn what sound a cow makes, they can open up the Animal Sounds! App and click the cow picture. This process of wondering, looking, and figuring out the answer can improve a child’s confidence and help them become more independent.

According to a Common Sense Media survey, over half of U.S. children own a smartphone before their 12th birthday. Every year, more and more kids are gaining access to technology at a younger age. This isn’t because parents have stopped worrying. In fact, just the opposite. It’s because technology is being created with kids and their safety in mind.

 

Current parents are now within the first few generations of raising children in a technology-first world. That’s both an incredible and overwhelming thought. Technology often has a bad reputation when it comes to raising kids and building a family home, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are so many technologies, apps and devices out there that can improve family life and help both yours and your kids lives.

Here’s the low down on the best family friendly tech solutions, devices and apps that can help you.

Cloud Storage Solutions

Every family needs a cloud storage provider to keep all of their online data safe. Whether it’s family holiday snaps or kids’ school work, there’s no point clogging up and slowing down your devices by taking up all of the memory space. Store them in the cloud for easy and secure access from any device, meaning the kids can access them from school and you can access them on your phone or home computer.

Most providers have multiple different price plans to choose from that offer different storage amounts, so there’ll be an amount to suit any family. Each member of the family can have their own folder full of their personal files, and files can be shared via custom access links that can be both password protected and time restricted for extra security.

We know that having a family in the digital era we live in can mean lots of amassed data. Photos and videos, for example, take up a huge amount of space on any device. That’s why we recommend cloud storage to solve any storage issues you’ll inevitably encounter as a modern day family.

Google Family Link

Family Link lets parents set controls on how their children spend time on their Android and Chromebook devices. These controls vary from setting time limits to hiding particular apps. Parent approved apps can be labeled “always allowed”, such as remote learning apps that should not count towards their daily screen time limit. Parents can also access daily, weekly and monthly reports to enable them to monitor their kids screen time habits.

What’s more, there’s now a catalog of thousands of teacher approved apps within the Family Link Android app. You can download them directly onto your kids devices.

Smart Home Appliances

Smart home appliances are slowly making their way into every household. What started with the rising popularity of Amazon’s Alexa has extended into the realms of smart heating, smart security and beyond. Devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Nest allow you to control smart home appliances such as lightbulbs and switches, TVs, play music, set timers, ask questions and much more.

Products like the C by GE Wire-Free Smart Switch allows you to place a wireless light switch anywhere in your home. For a family with young kids, this is great news. You can put the switches out of reach of your child if you want them out of their control, or put a light switch outside their nursery to control it yourself without disturbing them.

Companies like Hatch are offering products that promise to better sleep for the whole family. What family doesn’t need better sleep? Whether you’re a worn out parent with disrupted sleep or you’ve got a child who wakes at every sound, Hatch could have the tech solutions for you.

Their adult sleep product, Hatch Restore, is marketed as a “Smart Sleep Assistant”. It’s an alarm clock, lamp, sound machine and meditation app all in one. Their children’s sleep product Hatch Rest is essentially an upgraded white noise machine and night light combination. It links to your phone so that you can control it from outside of their room too.

Google Nest Thermostat is, you guessed it, a smart thermostat for your home. It allows you to control the temperature of your home from anywhere via their app and schedule the temperature at different times. You can even set it to turn down the temperature when you leave the house. It can be installed by yourself with no expensive technician’s fee, too. Also, you can allow Google to send you notifications with tips of how to save money based on your heating.

Ring Smart video doorbell offers a doorbell and home security in one. They detect motion when people come to your front door and can give off a little “ring” and notify your connected devices so that you can see, hear and speak to your visitors via the camera.

Debit Cards for Kids, Controlled by Parents

Greenlight Card is a debit card and money app for kids, managed by parents. There is just one app, but separate profiles for the parents and the kids. This allows parents to keep track of their kids spending by setting flexible controls and goals, and to pass on the valuable life skill of money management.

Kids have their own debit card and the independence that comes along with it, while parents have the peace of mind that their child cannot just run riot with all of their money. You’re able to give your kids independence while teaching them all about responsibility. You can send them money for their chores, automate their allowance and send them money instantly so they’re never left in unsafe circumstances.

A home for most people is where they spend a lot of their time. This means that it has to be welcoming, beautiful, functional, convenient and comfortable. Enjoying all of these starts with the design of the house.

For people who want to build their homes from the ground up, this presents an opportunity to get the design they want. Before a building can be constructed, it needs a design which is generally referred to as a house plan. It can sometimes also be called a blueprint.

A house plan is simply a set of drawings that show the specifications of a building. It defines how a residential building or structure should be constructed. This includes the layouts, dimensions to use, materials, techniques and installation methods.

Blueprints guide home construction workers on how to construct the building and where each feature should be located. Features such as walls, doors, windows and the various systems in the building.

A typical house plan consists of the foundation plans, floor plans, roof plans, as well as interior and exterior elevations. There are also the front and back perspectives, cross-sectional drawings and electrical and plumbing layouts.

A complete and good one will make a lot of difference between a successful and a poorly finished house. It reduces costly construction errors and help to save time during construction. With an accurate one, you will fully maximize every single square foot on your property. This in turn helps to make your home efficient, functional, as well as comfortable.

Where to Get a Good House Plan

You can find and buy house plans online from reputable designers. Unique, modern and functional plans such as Truoba modern house plans are readily available for sale. These blueprints can also be personalized to your taste.

That is, it can be designed to reflect your lifestyle. You may add further features such as rooms, toilets, etc. that you want which are not included in the plans. If you do not find a suitable house plan, you can consult reputable designers and architects to design one for you.

While working with you, they will design a plan from scratch that will reflect your dream home and lifestyle. Asides from providing you with a design, you may consult with these professionals for free during the construction of your home.

How to Choose a Reputable Designer or Architect

It is essential to hire the right people for your house design. This is all the more important because this is where you will live and it has to be comfortable and functional. Here are a few things to put in mind when hiring an architect.

Set Your Budget

Your budget will most likely determine the kind of designer or architect you will hire. For this reason, you should set an amount to work with while you do your research. Put into consideration the contractor’s hourly rate and material cost. You may also ask around for going rates around your area so you also do not overpay for their services.

Get References and Referrals

One of the best ways to start when hiring a contractor is to ask from people around you. These are your family and friends as well as colleagues or neighbors. They will probably be able to recommend one to you. Asides from this, you can talk to estate agents as well as check online for reviews.

The good thing about this is that word-of-mouth referrals are excellent ways of getting people you want. They most likely have worked with these people in the past and have a good reputation before they can recommend them.

Schedule a Meeting

Before meeting up with the architect, write down important questions you want to ask. This should include things about what you intend to achieve. Ensure that you convey all your expectations during these meetings. This helps to avoid ambiguity and a waste of time as the architect will understand and work with what you want.

Sign a Contract

You should draw up a letter of agreement or a contract to ensure that both you and the architect are on the same page. Doing this helps to ensure that you get what you are paying for. The design process can be expensive so the architect should be able to deliver your expectations after agreeing on a design. The contract serves to protect both parties in case of a dispute.

Conclusion

The blueprint of a house is as important as its construction. Without it, construction work cannot begin; therefore getting a good house plan is essential. You can easily do so online or request for a personalized design. Ensure to patronize trustworthy contractors and professionals using the tips above for choosing one.

 

Whenever you have any type of plumbing related issues in your office as well as home then you seriously need to seek the help of professionals as most of the people will try to cure plumbing related issues, if you do not consider it then you have to face a lot of hurdles also.

This is why seeking the help of an expert is the best option when you will have issues in your home. Make sure that while seeking the help of professionals you have to seek the help of licenced as well as a reputed company.

Sometimes you need to get emergency services;

During this professional can offer you reliable services. With the assistance of an expert plumber, you can get prompt decisions.

Apart from this, you have to hire an expert plumber who will promise you to give you timely services with good quality equipment.

When you will deal with any type of plumbing issues in your office as well as home then you seriously need to take fast decisions as it may create hazardous results for you.

Sometimes most of the people will ignore the leakage pipes as well as other plumbing related issues in their home, after some time you will notice dampness in your wall.

It will destroy your overall building and degrade the overall value of your home. This is why to get the best results and sort all type of plumbing related issues you can seek the help of plumbers Sydney.

Always choose a licensed service provider

It is an important and crucial factor that you need to consider while choosing an expert plumber for your home.

When a company have a licence then it is the first sign that shows that the company is relevant and authentic because a licence will show that person is properly ready to get all the responsibilities and able to sort out all type of problems from your home. Make sure that you need to consider the cost factor.

As you know different companies will offer you different cost factors. These are the two basic things that you need to configure the legitimacy as well as a cost factor.

The company must offer you safe results

You have to be wise and alert when it comes to selecting the best plumbing services. So you need to give proper concentration towards the aspect of security as well as safety.

Sometimes most of the company will not offer you the safety, they will create damages in your home while doing their work.

This is why with the help of professionals you can easily avoid blocked drain, burst pipe, hot water type of problem as they have relevant experience and knowledge in perfectly do their work.

You have to check the range of their service 

Before seeking the help of an expert plumbing service provider, it is crucial to check the services that the company will offer to you.

But when you will seek the help of licenced company then you will surely get the best services as they have a proper list of services to satisfy their customers.

 

Safety is usually a top priority for a family who wishes to build a home or wants to buy one. Family safety may be compromised if the necessary steps aren’t put in place in order to assure their physical well-being.

A security system will help protect your loved ones and your assets from being hurt or damaged. You will also enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your most valuable assets will be protected when you are away from your home.

Here, we will provide some tips that may help you better secure your home.

Secure the Doors and Windows

A quick and easy way to secure your home is to lock your doors and windows, even if you live in a safe or quiet neighborhood. All exterior doors and windows should also be inspected to ensure that they are not damaged or compromised in some meaningful way.

For instance, you should check the hinges to ensure that they are protected, and the door and window frames should be strong and sturdy. You may also want to look into window bars if you feel you need added protection, and upgrading to smart locks may help further protect and fortify your property.

Maintain Privacy

It is important to ensure that no one can see inside your home in order to maintain your privacy. Curtains and blinds should be added, and they may provide added insulation during the winter. Both can be adjusted to allow the perfect amount of light to enter your home as well, but their main purpose should be to prevent people from seeing your valuables from the outside.

Prospective robbers will also have trouble determining if someone is at home if your curtains and/or blinds are closed, which may reduce the risk of a break-in.

Use Timers and Lights

Thieves will usually target homes that seem vacant. Timers can thus be configured to turn your TV, radio, and lights on and off, even when you are away from your home.

Additionally, external lighting should be installed, as it will eliminate dark spots that robbers can use to hide. Motion activated lights can also scare away thieves and vandals.

Set Up a Security System

There are a wide array of home security systems to choose from on the market. You will therefore be able to find a system that will meet all of your unique security needs, as well as one that will fit your budget.

A system that includes state-of-the-art home automation features, as well as professional monitoring services, will increase your level of protection. Security alarms will scare criminals away, so they will likely flee the scene empty handed. The mere presence of a security system will deter most criminals from targeting your home.

Get a Dog

Buying a guard dog can significantly increase the security presence in and around your home. Most burglars will run for the hills when they see a menacing dog staring at them. Guard dogs are trained to attack intruders, and are also trained to notify you when they detect suspicious activity.

If you don’t want to buy a guard dog due to anxiety or budgetary limitations, then you can invest in a small dog instead. Even a pug or a chihuahua can alert you by barking when they are afraid.

Eliminate Hiding Places

Trees should be cut down or trimmed, and the same can be said of shrubs, as they serve as hiding spots for criminals.

While trees and plants can help beautify your property, you may want to cut them down if they are near your home. Trees can also damage your house in the event of a storm, flood, hurricane, or fire.

If you absolutely must have shrubs or flowers near your home, then ensure that they are trimmed in a routine manner and they are not too high or bushy.

Add Security Cameras

The security cameras that you purchase should be a part of your home security system. Your cameras will record any suspicious activity, and can capture footage that can be used as evidence.

Most security cameras can be configured to work with your smartphone, so you see your home and its surroundings in real-time using your phone. You can also store live footage that can be used as evidence once the police have arrived at your home.

Enjoy Peace of Mind With a Security System

A security system will help make your home more secure, and will discourage thieves from breaking in. Explore your home and the surrounding area in order to detect dangerous or vulnerable areas. Then, take the steps needed in order to secure and fortify your home from criminals.

 

Being forced to largely stay home for months on end gives you time to evaluate how your house is working out for you. It didn’t matter whether you lived alone or found yourself constantly tripping over kids, laundry, pets, and groceries. In 2020, we all quickly learned that our homes, like us, needed to work a little smarter.

That realization is just one factor fueling the growth projected for the smart home sector over the next five years. Estimates put household penetration of smart home tech at 40% in 2021 and at 57.2% by 2025. And smart home market revenues are expected to leap from $28.8 billion in 2021 to $46.7 billion by 2025.

The statistics are nearly as overwhelming as you might be finding the marketplace right now. What can you expect in the next half-decade? Here are five trends to watch.

1. Superfast Internet Will Accelerate

One of the first noticeable effects of the pandemic was home internet speed. It was plenty sluggish when every device in your house was accessing it. Having every human in every house on your block logging on at the same time only made matters worse.

If you didn’t have high-speed internet, you found yourself in a world of hurt. And anyone whose internet provider capped their data probably found the situation intolerable.

The fact is that the post-pandemic world won’t go back to the good old days. Employers have discovered their employees can be just as productive working from home. Online education is booming. Gyms have lost their luster for many who now have state-of-the-art connected home fitness equipment. With all the streaming options available, some film lovers will abandon crowded movie theatres forever.

What all these scenarios have in common is the need for speed on a wide array of devices. Users will increasingly turn to fiber optic providers to provide connectivity that trumps cable in speed and reliability. The Internet & Television Association estimates that home internet speeds will reach 10 Gbps by 2025. That should keep every device firing on all cylinders.

2. Safety and Security Will Reign Supreme

Smart homes will increase the focus on security in two ways. First, people will install increasing numbers of security devices for the home itself. Think streaming cameras on doorbells and in garages, yards, and other areas.

Purchases of keyless entry systems, door and window sensors, and smoke, flood, and carbon monoxide alarms will also increase. Whether you’re going to be spending more time at home or returning to the office, you want to feel secure.

Second, people will need to be assured of the security of Internet of Things (IoT) devices as they add more smart appliances and systems. All that smart tech requires apps and internet connectivity, which could leave homes vulnerable to hacking.

A 2020 study showed 98% of traffic to IoT devices remains unencrypted. That’s a problem the industry seems poised to address. A $2.2 billion market in 2019, the IoT security market is expected to exceed $20.7 billion by 2027.

Look for devices to improve capabilities for unique passwords, anti-virus software, and device segmentation to eliminate single-point vulnerabilities.

3. Automation Will Become Increasingly Awesome

Once you have all that smart home technology in your house, who keeps things turned on and off? The devices themselves, of course. Automation will eliminate the need for your constant attention.

Take your smart locks, thermostat, and lights. Program the doors to lock, the thermostat to adjust, and the lights to turn off when you leave the house. Then everything goes in reverse when it’s time to come home from work.

Program your home entertainment system to play in zones at the touch of a button or a voice command. You can also restrict what can be played in kid zones and when.

Automate lighting to respond to different times of day, light conditions, or patterns of activity. Smart lights can shine brightly over the kitchen counter or your reading chair and dim themselves when you’re watching TV.

Voice automation will likely be available on everything. This will go well beyond instructing Alexa to play your favorite radio station. Tell your bathtub how full to fill itself and what temperature you want the water to be. Command your outdoor security lights to engage if you hear a noise. Talk to your window blinds.

Your wish will be your smart devices’ command.

4. Form Will Catch Up with Function

Place one of the first “brick-and-click” cell phones next to an iPhone 12. What you’ll get is a visual demonstration of form catching up with function.

As devices get smaller (and universally wireless), the way they look will improve as well. You can replace that bulky smoke detector with a sleek and small-profile model that recesses into your ceiling. Toss the router box with the antenna and put a little piece of sculpture on your table instead.

For some time, boxy televisions have been replaced by flatscreens. Following this downsizing trend, surround sound speakers are getting smaller in size and larger in sound. Soon the flatscreen will disappear entirely behind a piece of art, while tiny speakers can sit inconspicuously on a shelf or side table.

Device color options once limited to black or white will give way to a broad color palette. Casings are already being transformed from plastic to wood or leather and from geometric shapes to cute critters.

Of course, technology will continue to evolve. And the need for tech developers to work with creatives to package the goods in aesthetically-pleasing ways is going nowhere but up.

5. Home Health and Wellness Will Boom

The pandemic also kept a lot of people from making visits to brick-and-mortar doctor’s offices. Consequently, the technology required to monitor and examine patients remotely has exploded.

The digital patient monitoring device market includes wireless sensor technology, mHealth, telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and wearable devices. A Grandview Research Report states that in 2018, the size of that global market was $38 billion. It is estimated to grow to $272 billion by 2026.

Patients who are sticking close to home still require monitoring for such things as glucose levels, heart rate, and blood pressure. Many have already added mHealth and wearable devices to their smart home IoT. As technology and its reliability advance, those numbers will skyrocket.

Moreover, people who thought they needed a class at the gym to keep them in shape have changed their minds. They can still get a trainer to yell at them by using interactive smart gym equipment at home. And they don’t need to worry about disinfecting equipment or being surrounded by a crowd.

Smart home technology was always going to take root and grow. But having a worldful of people confined to their homes for months added some phenomenal fertilizer. What’s great tech now is likely to get better, so don’t buy every smart home device at once. Tech, like a flowering tree, takes time to fully bloom.

Technology is here to make our life easy. From our cars that allow us to move from one location to another, to the blender that let us to blend fruits and vegetables easily; technology is determined to make our lives easier. The latest of its innovation is Smart Home Technology. 

Smart home technology is the general name given to basic home amenities that have been fitted with communication technology, enabling some degree of either automation or remote control. They include devices like, home entertainment systems, home security systems, and appliances like fridges and door openers.

We have here with us Winston Deloney, a real estate investment expert, who currently ranks as the best in smart home technology. Winston Deloney is an expert in rental and investment properties, and he understands the rudiments involved in identifying real estate properties. Now he shares with us the best home technology.

What is smart home technology?

Smart home technology allows homeowners to control appliances, thermostats, lights, and other devices remotely using a smartphone or tablet through an internet connection. It can be set up through wireless or hardwired systems. The smart home devices provide homeowners with convenience and cost savings

What are the best Smart Home Technologies you think every home should have?

There are several smart home technologies out there that are easy to use and are cost-efficient. Many of these devices have their pros and cons. Most of them are considered based on their cost, usability, availability, and effectiveness. The following are some of my preferred best smart home devices.

1. Amazon Echo Family.
2. Google Next Hub Family.
3. Smart plugs (ConnectSense Smart Outlet 2).
4. D-Link Outdoor Wi-Fi Smart Plug (DSP-W320).
5. Home Security Camera (Arlo Ultra).

What are the benefits of using smart home technology?

Smart home Technology comes with a lot of benefits. You can use it to keep an eye on your children, pets, and aging parents.

You can also use it to trim your energy bill by controlling energy usage when you are not at home. The smart home technology can also help you to conveniently save your home and belongings.

Are there shortcomings in using smart home technology?

I don’t think there is any major problem in using this technology. The only issue most people have faced is the initial confusion and difficulty in navigating all the features.

The good thing is that all these can be overcome with time. Apart from this initial difficulty in familiarizing with the numerous features, this device is good to go in all ramification.

Are these devices children-friendly?

Yes, these devices are children-friendly. That said, the use of all electronic devices by children should be monitored closely. The harm posed by the use of smart home devices is the same as the use of smartphones and other smart devices.

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