As technology rapidly improves and becomes increasingly accessible, we’re starting to see smart technologies being integrated into our homes — technologies that can increase security and comfort while making our lives easier. Below are a few of the hottest tech trends making their way into Dallas-Fort Worth homes.
Innovative Smart Appliances
Kitchen and laundry appliances have been integrating new technology for quite some time. For example, washing machines and dishwashers have been designed to emit less noise and reduce water consumption. Some companies, however, have taken appliance technology even further. LG has launched LG Smart ThinkQ Technology, a line of smart stoves and refrigerators, as well as laundry machines. Users can activate and monitor these appliances via touchscreen displays or with their Apple and Android smartphones.
Smart ThinkQ refrigerators allow you to monitor the expiration dates of meat and produce, manage your grocery list, and access cooking recipes — and you don’t even have to be in your kitchen to do it. All of this data is easily accessible from a tablet or a smartphone. You can also control your range and stove with your mobile device. When you select a recipe, you can also send the required temperature and cooking times to your oven and monitor the progress of your meal from your device while it’s cooking. These convenient features can help make multitasking and time management that much easier.
In a similar vein, Breville makes a smart countertop toaster oven. This 1800-watt oven remembers temperatures and cooking times from previous meals and, with the use of convection technology, claims to speed up cooking times by as much as 30 percent.
Energy-Saving and Comfort-Increasing Thermostats
Some thermostats now possess the technology to self-adjust to your tastes and preferences. These types of thermostats are also controllable with mobile devices. One popular brand, Nest, offers a thermostat that stores temperature data. Instead of having to manually program a thermostat yourself, you can let Nest do it for you. With Nest auto-regulating the temperature of your home while you’re away — when you’re at work or out of town, for example — the company claims you’ll be able to save roughly 20 percent on your utility bills while also reducing your carbon footprint.
Smart Locking Systems for Security
Not only can smart technologies make your life easier and more comfortable, they can also make your home more secure. With smart locks, Dallas-Fort Worth residents can enjoy peace of mind with self-locking devices, mobile monitoring, and programmable locking mechanisms that unlock your home’s doors during certain times of the day. For example, if you have cleaning service twice a month, you can program your lock from your phone to unlock at the appropriate time and day while you’re away from home. One manufacturer, Goji, sends pictures of who’s at your door to your mobile device so that you can decide who enters your home without having to unlock your door yourself. Goji also offers a customer support center to lock or unlock your door remotely.
Smart technologies are becoming increasingly common in homes throughout the area because they offer convenience and reliability. With DFW being a large metropolitan area, many types of people embrace technological advancements and enjoy using these advancements to make life simpler.
Image Source: Flickr/David Dodge
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