It’s 2013 and although we still haven’t seen flying cars yet like 1970s sci-fi movies have promised us, there is a different kind of “future” being made available to many homes. What’s even more amazing is that these contraptions are within reach of even those slightly moneyed. You heard that right—you don’t have to be Bill Gates or Richard Branson to have high-tech home.
Incidentally, the advent of the smartphone coincided with the rise in popularity of home-automation devices. High-speed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and sophisticated operating systems of these ubiquitous devices have changed the way people get their news, work, play, and interact with other people, and it is likewise changing how we interface with our homes.
Let’s take a look at the technologies currently available and can make our homes, well, futuristic.
1. Lockitron
Lockitron can lock and unlock your door through your smartphone
Forget about fumbling with your keys when you arrive home. Lockitron, a device installed to front your door and can lock and unlock deadbolts, can detect an automatic Bluetooth signal from your smartphone and opens your door as soon as you are within a few paces from it.
2. Nest Thermostat
Control the temperature in your home using Nest Thermostat.
According to its website, Nest Thermostat “learns” your temperature preferences, and change it accordingly. It can even be controlled remotely using your smartphone, so even before you step inside your home the temperature has already been adjusted to your liking.
3. BeeWi Mobot
You can control any gadget in your home through this BeeWi Mobot.
With this device you can control any connected gadget inside your home from almost anywhere. BeeWi Mobot is a plug-and-play device that comes with a SIM card and iPhone app, which allows you, for instance, to preheat your oven while your still out buying ingredients.
4. Bathomatic
A fully automatic bathtub through Bathomatic.
This will automatically fill your bathtub to a temperature and level that you previously set. Why it can even add fragrances and bubble bath, bringing full automation to the bathroom at last. It is controlled from a small, wall-mounted touchscreen interface or any other location via a PC, PDA, or automation systems.
While these devices aren’t exactly dirt cheap, you don’t need to rob a bank to be able to afford them either. Indeed, an automated, interactive home is truly within reach and, in the advent of the smartphones, it’s only a matter of time before all of us have homes that are fully automated.
