You Have the Power! Cool and Useful Smart Tech for Home and Office

Imagine a home that works for you, responds to you, adjusts to your lifestyle and schedule. Lights turn on, off, or dim on command, the thermostat knows when you’re home or away, and your door locks itself if you forget.

Twenty years ago smart homes were for those with disposable incomes.  No more.

Today, smart home tech is spilling over into the office environment.  And anyone with a smartphone and private Wi-Fi can easily upgrade their home or office with smart tech.

That’s the beauty of smart home technology, and the best part? It’s not just for tech whizzes or big-budget renovations anymore! Today’s smart home tech is affordable, simple to set up, and can make life smoother, more comfortable, and even safer. Here’s a guide on the amazing benefits of smart home tech and how to set it up securely. While this article refers to home automation, the same devices and uses can apply to your office.

Here’s What IoT Smart Tech Can Do for You

1. Convenience and Comfort: With a simple voice command or tap on your phone, you can adjust the lighting, play music, set reminders, or even brew coffee. Imagine adjusting your home’s temperature on the way back from work so it's just right when you walk in – bliss!
2. Energy Savings: Smart thermostats, lights, and plugs help you reduce waste by automatically adjusting based on your routines. This isn’t just eco-friendly; it also saves on your energy bills. Plus, who doesn’t love the idea of a house that almost thinks for itself?
3. Increased Security: Many smart devices add layers of security to your home. Doorbell cameras let you see visitors in real time, even if you’re not home. Smart locks mean you can lock and unlock your doors from anywhere – no more worrying about lost keys or hiding a spare!
4. Peace of Mind: Forgot to turn off the oven? Wondering if you locked the door? Just check the app on your phone. Knowing you can monitor and control your home from anywhere adds peace of mind, especially if you travel often or have kids at home.

Don't focus on finding one brand to control everything.  You'll find it easier to use a variety of products compatible with your preferred central controller system like Google Home or Apple HomeKit.  Each product manufacturer will have a smart app you'll need to initially control the device, but then most of your automation and control can be through Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomePod (there are others, but these are very common).

Before You Get Started: I Love It When A Plan Comes Together!

Security is key for any tech setup, and it’s not hard to lock down your smart home. Here’s how to protect yourself without a lot of hassle:

• Define Your Goals: What problem are you trying to solve? What behavior are you looking for?
• Choose your controller: Your management controller or hub (typically a smart speaker - Google Home, Apple HomePod, Amazon Alexa, etc.) is the brain of the operation. Your various devices will need to be compatible with this controller to centralize automation and actions. Read the reviews for the devices that interest you.
• Set Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid using default passwords on any device, and make sure each one has a unique, strong password. Same for the respective management apps.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Many apps now offer 2FA, adding an extra layer of protection beyond your password. Require it for every login every time. The seatbelt only works when you where it.
• Keep Your Devices Updated: Just like your phone, smart devices need updates to stay secure. Set them to update automatically, or check once a month.
• Use a Secure Wi-Fi Network: Make sure your Wi-Fi network has a strong password and use WPA3 encryption if your router and devices support it (some may only support WPA2). If your router is older, consider upgrading for better security. Keep your router (and Wi-Fi Access Point if it's separate) up to date with firmware. PRO TIP: For better security, use a separate Wi-Fi network just for these IoT smart devices (you can always connect your phone to it when adding devices).
• Review Privacy Settings: Many devices have options to limit data collection. Disable features you don’t need or want, like remote access if you don’t plan to use it.

Getting Started: The Must-Have Devices for Your Smart Home

• Smart Hubs (like Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple HomePod): These are the heart of your smart home. They respond to voice commands, can play music, set timers, answer questions, and control other smart devices.
• Smart Thermostat: This is a game-changer! A smart thermostat learns your schedule and adjusts the temperature accordingly, so you’re always comfortable, and it saves energy when you’re away.
• Smart Lighting: Smart bulbs and light strips let you control lighting intensity, color, and even sync with your routines. Imagine lights that gently wake you up in the morning – it’s like a sunrise alarm clock!
• Smart Plugs: These allow you to control anything you plug into them remotely. Left the iron on? Simply turn it off from your phone! These are great for devices you simply want to power on and off on schedule or as needed. Perfect for holiday lights! Ditech the timers! Now you can use more dynamic schedules and other conditions. The plugs are portable and don't require an electrician. Just make sure you aren't running anything that causes a power surge through them like a vacuum, heater, or large appliance.
• Security Cameras and Smart Locks: These add a powerful layer of security, allowing you to monitor your home and control access from anywhere.

Making It Happen: How to Set Up Your Smart Home, the Easy Way

1. Start Small: You don’t need to automate every part of your home right away. Start with a smart hub/speaker and one or two devices that would bring the most value, like a smart thermostat or lights.
2. Use the Smart Hub/Speaker as Your Control Center: Each device will have an app for setup, but your smart speaker’s app (like Alexa or Google Home) can link them all together, acting as a hub. Follow the instructions, and within minutes, you'll be connected!
3. Group and Automate: Once everything’s connected, you can start grouping devices or setting schedules. For instance, you could create a “Bedtime” routine that dims lights, sets the thermostat lower, and locks the doors with a single command.

My Smart Home Journey

I've shared some generic guidelines for building your smart home (or office). You might also be interested in how I've embraced these modern conveniences.

• I settled on Google Home, primarily because I use an Android smartphone, so I have a Google Nest Hub Smart Display (the Home Mini also works well if you don't need a display).
• Through some trials, I've standardized my devices (wherever possible) on Kasa and SmartLife (aka Tuya). I do have a selection of specific unique devices like air purifiers and humidifiers which have their own apps, but they are all compatible with Google Home for easier management and automation.
• You may need to use the individual apps for specific functions, but I find the majority of automation and on-demand control is for lighting, power on/off, and thermostat control.
• I use several smart thermostats for different purposes - Ecobee for my main thermostat in one house and the Nest Thermostat in my vacation home, both controlling heating and cooling (verify what you need as thermostats work with specific heating and cooling technologies). Both homes use force air for heat and cooling. I also use NuHeat for heated floors and towel racks and MySA for a separate electric baseboard heating system.
• I've created automations based on time or manual execution (button or voice) to turn on/off holiday lights, living room lights for evening ambient lighting, and schedules to turn on/off the heated floors and towel racks.

Don’t Overthink It

It's easy to get lost in the possibilities once you start using smart tech to optimize your home. You'll find yourself starting to solve problems that don't exist just because there's cool tech available to do so. It's like the remote fad - now there's a remote for everything, so we gravitate to devices (or even replace working ones) with remote controlled products. Don't get lost down the rabbit hole of smart tech just because it exists, but take advantage of it where it can be truly useful.

Your Home, Only Smarter

Smart home technology makes life more convenient, saves energy, and boosts your home’s security. It’s easy to set up, especially if you start with a few basic devices and build from there. And with a few simple security steps, you can enjoy all the benefits worry-free.

So, why wait? Grab a smart speaker, link up a few devices, and start experiencing the comfort, convenience, and peace of mind that a smart home or office can bring!

Check the comments below for links to smart devices I use.