Top 5 Smart Home Technology Products and Services

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.

Smart Home Technology News, Reviews & Resources

• 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 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."
• BEST SMART DISPLAY TO BUY RIGHT NOW - "Smart displays for your kitchen, bedroom, or living room."
• Google Assistant Snapshot can now be summoned with a voice command - "Just say 'Hey Google, show me my day.'"
• 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 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?"
• IKEA's smart home system now supports scenes - "Long-awaited shortcut buttons appear to be coming soon, too."
• Internet of things - Wikipedia.
• 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 TV sync box now supports HDR10+ & Dolby Vision - "Plus support for voice control and universal remotes."
• 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.
• 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."
• The Best Smart Home Devices for 2020 - CNET.
• The Best Smart Home Devices for 2020 - PC Magazine.
• 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."
• We have a few questions about Amazon’s flying indoor security camera drone - "Aka the Always Home Cam."
• 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."

Smart Home Technology Products & Services

• 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.
• Nest - since 2010. "Create a Connected 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.
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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.
• Smart home technology at Amazon.com - as of March 4, 2021: 10,000+ results.
• 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.