Anyone remember Rosie, the robotic housekeeper who petered around The Jetsons in the 1960s?
“I swear on my mother’s rechargeable batteries,” she once joked, when asked by Judy Jetson to keep a secret.
For added convenience, many of these gadgets are automated, too, such as a Wi-Fi thermostat that can detect room occupancy and adjust temperature accordingly. But many are controlled with a companion app or by using your voice via a smart speaker (such as a Google Nest, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomePod).
The following is a look at some ways to bump up your home’s I.Q.
PROTECT AGAINST WATER DAMAGE
There are no monthly fees, and home insurance providers may give you a discount of you have it installed, says Moen.
CUT ENERGY USE WITH MONITORS, SMART PLUGS
Using the Schneider Home companion app, you can see a colour-coded view of your home’s energy usage, create custom notifications (such as when devices are on or off), analyze trends and set goals. The app also works with inexpensive Schneider X Series wiring devices (from $44), such as controlling or automating lighting – now with Matter support for easier setup, better compatibility and security.
MOTORIZE WINDOW SHADES
Once you affix the device to the inside of the window frame and loop the metal or plastic chain, you can have your blinds raised or lowered in four ways: press the button on the device itself; use the RYSE app (even when you’re not at home), tell your smart speaker to do the task (works with Google, Alexa, and Apple), or set schedules to raise and lower the blinds at certain times of the day. (Some of these options require the RYSE SmartBridge, for $99).
RYSE SmartShade is also ideal for hard-to-reach windows or for those with mobility or dexterity challenges.
SMART TV TO GO
This ain’t your daddy’s television.
Thanks to its built-in battery, you can watch up to three hours of content – such as a Disney movie in a kid’s room during a sleepover, following a recipe in the kitchen or engaging in an online fitness class – without having to plug it in.
On a related note, StanbyMe is also compatible with various devices, so you can stream your favourite content from your phone, tablet or laptop.
It also features LG’s ThinQ app, which lets you manage compatible kitchen and laundry appliances – such as preheating the oven or checking the status of your washing machine.
FOOD PREP GOES HIGH-TECH
Known as a high-quality and high-tech kitchen appliance company, Australia’s Breville already has a Wi-Fi-connected Joule Oven Pro and programmable Breville Barista Touch Impress espresso maker, and now they’re dishing up a high-performance food processor that works with its Breville+ mobile app.
IS YOUR HOME COMPUTER SMARTER THAN YOU?
Your home is now smarter, so shouldn’t we be keener when it comes to our cyber hygiene?
Unfortunately, a recent RBC survey found while Canadians are more aware of today’s cyberthreats, 77% of those surveyed admitted to risky online behaviour that puts our data (and wallet) at risk – such as reusing the same passwords or logging onto unsecure public Wi-Fi hotspots.
RBC’s latest Cyber Safety Index also revealed not all of us are keeping software and operating systems updated, nor are we limiting who follows us on social media. One-third of respondents don’t opt for multifactor authentication when logging onto online banking accounts and a similarly low percentage (30%) “always or often” use virtual private networks (VPN) to remain anonymous when on Wi-Fi.