Happy New Year one and all. Many of you will be reading this article on your smartphones which, as we know, have become ubiquitous. And, in spite of the many things they currently do for us, we are only in the infancy of the “smart” world. This week we’re taking a look at the new products and applications that are making our homes smarter, or will be in the very near future.
Now, if you’re like me, you don’t always remember to water your plants. Well, thanks to an upcoming device, my house can be as green as yours. How, you ask? A little device that monitors the water and light conditions can now go right into a nearby plug. It will remind me when my little darlings need a spritz.
Not only will my plants be smart, now so can my windows, appliances, curtains and draperies, alarms, laundry, door, bed, yes, even my bathroom mirror! If you don’t like answering that old-fashioned doorbell and don’t want Fido to become unnerved, there’s Doorbot, a video device that will send you a notice on your smartphone to alert you that someone has arrived. If you’ve forgotten to turn down the thermostat when you’re sitting at breakfast with a friend, no worry, a company named Nest has provided you with a Pebble watch that can check the temp remotely and you can turn it down with a tap.
Now you didn’t think you could control light, did you, but you can with your very smart new windows. There are windows on the market today that can be darkened or lightened to control glare and heat gain. Some can even change the glass’ color.
But wait, there’s something even better. Something that makes those pesky blinds, shutters and curtains positively obsolete. What is it, you ask? “Smart” glass. It changes from clear to translucent, blocking the sun’s rays when set off by an electrical charge in the window. You can manually switch the glass opacity, but stop, you don’t have to. The automatic sensor can do it.
These new technologies are not only glamorous and conversation starters, they actually boost home efficiency. Exterios, a program introduced by Panasonic, is said to be twice as efficient as most furnaces and air conditioners, but the sexiest part is that it comes with a sensor that detects when someone has entered a room and automatically adjusts the temperature.
Now tell me, if your refrigerator and windows can be smart, why shouldn’t your bed be too. Well, it can. The Starry Night Bed from Leggett and Platt can control your thermostat, security and media systems, turn the TV on or off, lower the ceiling lights, give you a massage and play your favorite music.
Believe it or not, this is just the start. Next issue I’ll be telling you about some of the new home products coming on the market in this new world of ours.
There won’t be anything left for us to do before long, with our houses getting so smart. I guess we’ll have to start talking to each other after all.
Del Phillips is a California Licensed Real Estate agent. He is a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Del at Ascent Real Estate at 619-298-6666 or at Del@DelPhillips.com DRE LIC #01267333.
