Technolog
Smart home starter k
August 2019 | |^41
THE SMART HOME
STARTER KIT
o hometodayis
completewithouta
smatteringof
technology.Where
oncethatmight
havemeanta record
playeryouweren’tallowedtotouch
becausethestyluswasdelicate,ora
television built into a cabinet that
took a team of horses to transport,
these days home tech is small,
convenient, and connected.
It’s the connectivity that makes
modern home gadgets stand out.
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Wi-Fi, anything can connect from
anywhere without having to install
cabling, which means devices such
as the Amazon Echo can talk to
Philips Hue lightbulbs, turning them
on and off at a command.
Your doorbell can get in on the
act too, plugging into your networktoprovideHDvideoofwhoever’s
outside,andfunctioningasa
motiondetectortoo,soyousee
everyonewho’slurking.
Thenthere’smusicstreaming–
manysmartdevicesactasspeakers,
andyoucanconnectthemto
Bluetoothspeakerstoo,wirelessly
beaming your tunes into any room.
Turn plug sockets off with a tap of
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your phone when the kettle’s boiled.
Lower your blinds and turn up the
heating with a word. Even talk to
your dishwasher.
It’s an exciting time to be
building a smart home, as for the
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from different manufacturers are
coming together to create
something new: a networked home
that responds to its owner’s wishes.
Here’s a taster of the kit out there.N
From voice controls to smart cameras
and thermostats that learn your routine,
these are the products to look out for
as you build your 21st century home