Top 15 Smart Home Technology Products and Systems

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY which may also be termed Home automation is the use of devices in the home that connect via a network, most commonly a local LAN or the internet. It uses devices such as sensors and other appliances connected to the Internet of things (IoT) that can be remotely monitored, controlled or accessed and provide services that respond to the perceived needs of the users. It stands for Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology. The technology was originally developed by IBM and was referred to as Predictive failure analysis. The first contemporary Smart home technology products became available to consumers between 1998 and the early 2000s. Smart home technology allows users to control and monitor their connected home devices from smart home apps, smartphones, or other networked devices. Users can remotely control connected home systems whether they are home or away. This allows for more efficient energy and electric use as well as ensuring your home is secure. Smart home technology contributes to health and well-being enhancement by accommodating people with special needs, especially older people. Smart home technology is now being used to create Smart cities. A Smart city functions similar to a Smart home, where systems are monitored to more efficiently run the cities and save money.

The INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.

There’s a running joke in smart home circles: if a product works as well as a light switch, you’ve got a winner on your hands. Home automation’s attempts to make things more convenient can - as with a lot of technology - end up making it more frustrating. There’s nothing worse than a smart light that doesn’t turn off on command ...

Smart Home Technology News, Reviews & Resources

• 6 smart home finds from CES 2023 you may have missed - "Smart mixers, attractive AC units, a new smart smoke alarm, and a sorely needed smart lighting solution for the kitchen."
• 10 Smart Home Devices You Won't Want to Live Without - "From security-minded gadgets to better-living appliances, these devices will make your life easier."
• 20 Best Smart Home Devices to Buy in 2022 - "While some may label the idea of a smart home as a fever dream, it is now a reality thanks to a number of innovative brands around the world."
• 2023: Best Smart Home Devices - "These products are sure to be the buzz for the year."
• 2023: new smart home trends we'll be adding to our homes - The emerging smart home trends we're keeping an eye on for the new year.
• A.I. Is Not Sentient. Why Do People Say It Is? - "Robots can’t think or feel, despite what the researchers who build them want to believe."
• All the smart home products that work with Matter 2023 - "All the Matter-compatible devices you can buy now, plus what’s coming soon to the new Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung-backed smart home standard."
• Amazon bought iRobot to see inside your home - "With Roomba’s maps, Amazon’s vision of ambient intelligence in the smart home is suddenly attainable."
• Amazon Echo Show 15 review: bigger Alexa is good, but not yet better - "Giant smart display offers a little more than smaller versions, packed with untapped potential."
• AMAZON SMART THERMOSTAT REVIEW: A $60 STUNNER - "The budget thermostat Nest should have made."
• Amazon Unveils Drone That Films Inside Your Home. What Could Go Wrong? - "Home Drone: Amazon’s Ring Will Offer An Indoor Flying Camera For Constant Surveillance."
• Amazon’s $999 dog-like robot is getting smarter - "The company is doubling down on new features for Astro, its dog-like robot, to help it better patrol the household when the owners are away."
• Amazon’s Ring announces the Ring Video Doorbell 3 & Video Doorbell 3 Plus - "There’s also a new Ring Chime and Ring Chime Pro."
• Amazon's Ring will sell a $250 security drone that flies around your home - "Ring, the Amazon-owned home security business, introduced a flying camera on Thursday that may excite home-surveillance fans but is almost certain to rankle privacy advocates. The $250 drone, called Ring Always Home Cam, is among a slew of products unveiled during Amazon's invitation-only online hardware event."
• Apple HomeKit: Why 2022 Is a Make-or-Break Year for the Smart Home Platform - "Matter could take a bite out of Apple. Here's how the Cupertino colossus could hold off the competition."
• Apple pulls option to upgrade to new HomeKit architecture in iOS 16.2 - "The change follows multiple reports of issues with the Home app."
• ‘Ask all the time: why do I need this?’ How to stop your vacuum from spying on you - "Even if you’re not gadget-obsessed, the odds are you’ve got at least one smart device at home. So how do you limit the internet of things from listening in?"
• BEST SMART DISPLAY TO BUY RIGHT NOW - "Smart displays for your kitchen, bedroom, or living room."
• best smart home gadgets you can buy 2021 - "From smart speakers to robot vacuums, here are the best devices to make your home more connected."
• best smart home gadgets you can buy 2022 - "From smart speakers to robot vacuums, here are the best devices to make your home more connected."
• best smart speakers you can buy 2022 - "There are options for every budget."
• Echo Dot with Clock (2022) review: a good time - "With better sound, faster responses, and more sensors, Amazon’s Echo Dot with Clock fifth-gen is more useful for your smart home and remains the best budget smart speaker you can buy."
• Google Assistant Snapshot can now be summoned with a voice command - "Just say 'Hey Google, show me my day.'"
• Have an old iPad lying around? Add a $20 wall mount & turn it into a HomeKit controller - "Making it easier to work to control my HomeKit accessories is something I am always thinking about. As easy as using the Home app on my iPhone is or turning items off and on with Siri, sometimes you want to make it even easier - especially for guests and non-smart home fans. You could certainly use the Brilliant panel, but what if you want something a bit easier to install? For example, have you considered an old iPad mounted on the wall? Read on to see how easier it is to configure so it can only work in the Home app."
• HomeKit - software framework by Apple that lets users configure, communicate with, and control smart-home appliances using Apple devices.
• HomeKit Weekly - "HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple's smart home framework."
• How smart appliances can help fix the energy gap - "How energy flexibility can save us money and cut carbon. Imagine your future home as an energy hub storing electricity from the grid when clean wind power is plentiful, and then selling it back - at a profit - when demand surges elsewhere."
• How to deck out your pad with smart home gadgets for the holidays - "Here’s how to deck out your pad with smart home gadgets for the holidays and ensure your season is as stress-free as possible."
• How to Make Your House a Smart Home - The New York Times.
• How to make your smart home more secure - "Or: How not to get hacked."
• How to Navigate the Age of the Smart Home - "Here are some tips if you’re new to smart home devices, but want to give something a try."
• How to Protect Your Smart Home From Hackers - "Smart home devices can make life more convenient, but may put you at risk of being hacked. Ensure your safety with a few simple measures."
• How to reduce your energy bill (in any season) with a single device - "A smart thermostat is worth the upgrade."
• How to stop your smart home spying on you - "Everything in your smart home, from the lightbulbs to the thermostat, could be recording you or collecting data about you. What can you do to curb this intrusion?"
• How to use the Apple HomePod’s temperature & humidity sensors - "Your HomePod Mini can now tell you how hot it is in your room, as well as clock the humidity. The new HomePod will be able to do this, too, so here’s how to put it to use."
• HUE’S NEW SMART SWITCH IS FOR THE SUPERUSERS - "The Tap Dial is a smooth way to control your Hue lights."
• I was ready to throw my Nest ecosystem in the trash - Google just earned a second chance - "I’ve been all-in on Google’s smart home ecosystem for the past several years, but with the soft reboot in 2021, things started falling apart, and frankly, I was getting tired of it. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been prepared to throw out my entire Nest ecosystem and move on to something else. But with new hardware and a revamped app that shows the company is actually listening to customers, Google just earned a second chance."
• Ikea’s new Dirigera hub & Home smart app deliver big improvements - "Easier to use and stable. But let’s check in again after a few months."
• IKEA's smart home system now supports scenes - "Long-awaited shortcut buttons appear to be coming soon, too."
• Internet of things - Wikipedia.
• IT’S 2022 & MOTION-SENSING SMART LIGHTS SHOULD BE IN EVERY HOME - "The humble light switch has stuck around for centuries now. It’s time to upgrade to something more cutting-edge."
• Matter - since 2019. "The Foundation for Connected Things." One protocol to connect compatible devices and systems with one another. Smart home devices should be secure, reliable, and seamless to use. And with Matter, they are. Formerly Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP), is a royalty-free home automation connectivity standard, with manufacturers only incurring certification costs. Version 1.0 of the specification was published 4 October 2022. The Matter specification is provided at no charge upon request after providing full name, company name, email address and consenting to their privacy policy, but cannot be redistributed without permission from CSA. The Matter software development kit is open-source under the Apache license. Offcial website.
• Matter 1.0 is finally finalized - so what’s next? - "The smart home standard is open for certification at last. We could see Matter devices in our homes as soon as this month."
• Matter is here, but it’s still a long road to the simple smart home - "Matter’s launch event showcased speed and interoperability, but now it’s up to the platforms to deliver simplicity."
• Matter was a major star at CES 2022, but can it maintain its shine? - "The soon-to-be smart home standard gained momentum in Las Vegas."
• Matter: what you need to know - "Your burning questions about the new smart home standard, answered."
• MATTER’S PLAN TO SAVE THE SMART HOME - "Matter is a new standard that promises to fix smart home interoperability - but can it deliver?"
• New Hue bulbs have leaked & they look amazing - "Philips Hue’s new Lightguide bulbs are big, beautiful, and bloody expensive."
• New Philips Hue smart lights include its first portable rechargeable smart lamp - "Signify has also launched a new Sunrise effect for Philips Hue lights."
• Philips Hue adds a whole bunch of new lights, including a ‘light tube’ - "Plus new filament bulbs that can change color temperature."
• Philips Hue leaks show new versatility for Lightstrip Plus & Bloom - "Cut Lightstrips can be reconnected."
• Philips Hue module turns any light switch into a smart switch - "There's also a redesigned dimmer switch."
• Philips Hue partners with Spotify to turn all your lights into a music visualizer - "Hue lights can change based on mood, tempo, and more."
• PHILIPS HUE PLAY SYNC BOX & GRADIENT LIGHTSTRIP REVIEW: WHOLLY UNNECESSARY, TOTALLY DELIGHTFUL - "Leveling up your home theater experience."
• Philips Hue TV sync box now supports HDR10+ & Dolby Vision - "Plus support for voice control and universal remotes."
• Roku could be setting its sights on the smart home - "A leak suggests it’s about to launch a lineup of smart lighting, cameras, and a smart plug. Possibly with help from Wyze."
• Smart fabric can recognize the food you put on the table - "It could also help you remember your earbuds before you leave."
• Smart home platform Wink will require a monthly subscription starting next week - "You’ll have to pay $4.99 a month starting Wednesday, May 13th."
• Smart home technology - Wikipedia.
• SMART SWITCHES OR SMART BULBS? HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SMART LIGHTING FOR YOUR HOME - "Switches, bulbs, plugs, remotes, bridges, and hubs - smart lighting can be complicated. We’ll help you get it sorted."
• SMARTWATCHES TRACK OUR HEALTH. SMART TOILETS AREN’T TOO FAR BEHIND - "Commodes that measure vital signs, screen for chronic illnesses and might even diagnose Covid-19 are in the works."
• Stop using Alexa & Google Assistant while working until you change these settings - "When people work form home, the line between their professional and personal lives doesn’t just blur, it often gets erased. That means personal privacy concerns become company security concerns. Thus, asking Alexa to make you an espresso while on a Zoom call seems innocent enough. But if the device captures sensitive, work-related information (and can easily be hacked), it could create a nightmare scenario for your company’s IT security team."
• SwitchBot’s retrofit smart door lock installs in under a minute - "The Bluetooth lock pairs with a fingerprint-reading keypad."
• The Best Smart Home Devices for 2020 - CNET.
• The Best Smart Home Devices for 2020 - PC Magazine.
• THE FIRST THREAD MOTION SENSOR ADDS MUCH-NEEDED RELIABILITY TO THE SMART HOME - "A smart home without sensors and automations is basically a remote-controlled home. Using your voice or an app to turn lights on isn’t much easier (and in some cases is harder) than flicking on a light switch. Smart is when lights just turn on as you walk into a room. But when you walk in and they don’t turn on, that’s worse. This common smart home frustration is something the Eve Motion Sensor ($39.99), with its shiny new Thread protocol on board, promises to fix."
• The smart toilet era is here! Are you ready to share your analprint with big tech? - "Loo design has barely changed in 150 years - until now. Will people trade their privacy for the chance to find out exactly what is in their waste?"
• Turn Your Smart Home Into a Haunted House With Spooky Tech - "Add some high-tech horror to your Halloween decorations with scary sounds, frightening lights, and more."
• Voice assistants could ‘hinder children’s social & cognitive development’ - "New research says devices such as Alexa can have a long-term impact on empathy, compassion and critical thinking skills."
• We have a few questions about Amazon’s flying indoor security camera drone - "Aka the Always Home Cam."
• We Need to Talk About How Good A.I. Is Getting - "We’re in a golden age of progress in artificial intelligence. It’s time to start taking its potential and risks seriously."
• WEMO’S STAGE SCENE CONTROLLER IS THE LIGHT SWITCH EVOLVED - "A souped-up smart button for Apple’s HomeKit smart home. Enter the Belkin Wemo Stage Scene Controller with Thread for Apple HomeKit. An elegant and reliable way to use physical controls to run your smart home, this $50 smart switch can do much more than a standard switch. Tap one of its three buttons to control any connected HomeKit device - from opening the shades and playing the radio to locking the front door and turning on smart lights. Even better, one press can do all these things at once, and a second press can turn it all off. See if your standard Decora can do that."
• What happens when smart bulbs meet dumb software? - "The official Philips Hue app sucks. You'd think that, being the oldest name in the smart lighting world, Philips would have the best app on the market. More than a decade of iterative improvements and a mature hardware world would see the app rise proudly above its competitors. Sadly for me, and every other Hue user, the company seems to have fallen asleep behind the wheel."
• Why it Matters that I just saw a Google Nest Hub control an Apple HomeKit smart plug - "The Matter standard is a lightbulb moment for the smart home."
• Why You Should Stop This ‘Dangerous’ Update To Your Amazon Account - "Cybersecurity experts are warning Amazon customers to beware a new account update being rolled out to the company’s smart devices installed in millions of homes. The plan is for those customers to share their home broadband with neighbors, to make their devices work more effectively and over longer distances. This new account setting will be on by default, impacting many Echo and Ring devices - you actually need to log into your account to switch it off."
• Yale's Assure smart lock set me free from key anxiety - "The convenience of electronic locks are worth the extra cost."

Smart Home Technology Products & Systems

• Amazon.com - since 1994. "Smart Home Devices & Systems." Looking for smart home devices? Welcome to the Amazon smart home store, where you'll find great prices on a variety of smart products to automate your home?
• Arlo Smart Home - since 2014. "Cameras. Doorbells. Security Light." America's #1 internet connected camera brand with smart security for home or business: flexible wired or wire-free use for where you need it.
• Blink - since 2009. "Smart security designed for every home." Blink Indoor: Indoor is a wireless security camera that you can place anywhere inside your home to stay connected to what's happening no matter where you are. Blink Outdoor: Outdoor weathers the storm so you don’t have to and runs for up to two years on the two included AA batteries to help you protect your home inside and out. Our battery-powered indoor security camera can be placed anywhere inside your home to help keep you connected.
• iRobot - since 2002. "Manufacturer and retailer of Roomba in the United States." Robot Vacuums & Mops.
• Kasa Smart | Smart Lighting - since 2015. "Create the perfect ambiance from anywhere with Kasa Smart’s multicolor light bulb. Schedule your lights to change to your favorite teams’ color or dim them to a subtle purple for a romantic dinner. Control from the Kasa Smart app or use voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant."
• Nest - since 2010. "Build your helpful home." For too long, the smart home hasn’t been very smart. It’s complicated to set up and manage, with a lot of different devices that don’t work well together. So we’re simplifying things and bringing together all Nest and Google Home products under one roof. Introducing Google Nest. Welcome to the helpful home. Thermostats. Indoor a& Outdoor Security Cameras. Doorbells. Alarm Systems. Locks. Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm.
• Netatmo - since 2011. "Same home, just smarter." Keywords: Urban Weather Station, Personal weather station, weather station for iPhone, weather station for iPad, Air Quality, indoor air quality, air index, urban air pollution, thermostat, smart thermostat, uv, skin protection, anti ageing, smart home camera, security camera. Various security cameras, personal weather sensors, and an internet-connected smoke detector.
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• Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance A19 60W Equivalent LED Smart Bulb Starter Kit - (4 A19 Bulbs and 1 Hub Compatible with Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant). Voice Activated: The Philips Hue White and Color Starter Kit works with Alexa for Voice Control (Smart hub required and Included, Alexa device sold separately). Limitness Posibilities: Choose from 16 million Colors and shades of White to turn Your everyday Smart Lighting into an extraordinary Experience; Hue Color lights are Controlled remotely with Your Smartphone or Tablet, create custom scenes and unleash Your creativity.
• Ring - since 2013. "Smart Home Automation." Protect your home & watch over what's important from your phone with video doorbells, indoor & outdoor security cameras, alarm systems & more. Video doorbells. Security Cams. Security Systems. Smart Lighting.
• Sengled - since 2000. "Easy. Versatile. Brilliant." Sengled is a smart lighting expert that puts the power of lighting at your fingertips. Industry recognition from major publications, 16 Innovation Awards, and more than 1,100 global patents.
• Smart home technology at Amazon.com - as of January 18, 2023: 20,000+ results.
• Sylvania Smart Home - since 1993. "A smarter way to brighten your home." Make your home into a smart home with SYLVANIA SMART+. Use the SYLVANIA Smart Home app on your Android phone to pair and control your SYLVANIA SMART+ Bluetooth lights and accessories. Prepare and Verify your lights and accessories to work with Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit with the SYLVANIA SMART+ App.
• TP-link smart home - since 1996. Smart cameras, smart plugs, smart lighting, smart sensors, smart switches & doorsbells.
• Wemo Stage Scene Controller with Thread & Remote Control - Compatible with Apple HomeKit for Smart Home Automation, Easy Installation and Compatible with Bluetooth. Store up to 9 scenes with short-, long-, and double-press functions. Control smart lights, shades, thermostats, door locks and other HomeKit-enabled products with the remote control or within the Home app.
• WiZ - since 2016. "Smart lighting for your daily living." Lights that easily connect to the cloud through Wi-Fi to provide the best ambience to see, read and live. With over 64,000 whites and 16 million colors to choose from to create dynamic lighting scenes that suit you best, you’ll always have the best light to work, laugh and play.
• Wyze - since 2017. "Wyze offers smart home cameras and devices packed with features at a price that is accessible for all."