With IoT Home Automation, Your Smart Home Dream May Come True In 2020

What if all the devices you hold in your hands allow you to connect to the internet? By ‘devices,’ we definitely don’t just mean mobile phones or laptops or PCs, but everything; including the likes of speakers, lights, clocks, windows, cooking appliances, etc.

And what if all those devices could communicate with one another sending you information and taking your commands? Sounds like a part of a science-fiction movie? Nah; it’s just the IOT (AKA the Internet Of Things).

So what exactly is the Internet Of Things?

The IOT is the network of devices, home appliances, vehicles, and various other items embedded with software, sensors, electronics, actuators, and network connectivity to allow them to connect and exchange data.

Smart homes filled with connected objects are filled with possibilities to make our life easier, convenient, and more comfortable. With the aid of current IOT automation, even your smart home dream can come true, provided you have the purse to go for it. 

The following list may come in handy for your purpose.

1. ecobee3 Smarter WiFi Thermostat

The ecobee3 Smarter WiFi Thermostat intuitively understands when it should turn on your heating or cooling equipment based on the unique energy profile of your home and the weather outside to ensure you are comfortable at all possible times.

It also comes with its unique hands-free feature where it connects itself seamlessly to the Amazon Echo giving you the convenience of hands-free control to enjoy. Want to increase the temperature of your room? Just ask your Alexa.

Notable mentions:

• Seamless integration of ecobee3 with Android and Apple devices, Wink, Amazon Echo, and other similar devices.
• Hardwired; doesn’t rely on a battery to charge itself.
• 23% saving on energy bills.

2.Curb energy: Monitoring Device

CURB is popularly regarded as the most powerfully intelligent IOT system designed for the visualization and management of energy in a residential and commercial setting. 

Its 18 dedicated sensors give you real-time information about your home’s power consumption, solar production, and electric vehicle charging (if any).

Notable mentions:

• iOS and Android device working, coupled with the web for detailed analysis on desktops.
• Real-time monitoring system.
   

3. The Philips Hue Smart light

Philips Hue makes it possible for you to turn your everyday lighting into an extraordinary experience.

With the aid of “Hue,” you will be able to choose between millions of colors and shades of white light to light up your home whenever you want, provided you have a smartphone or a tablet to get on to the internet.

Notable mentions:

• More than 16 million colors to choose from.
• Complete support for 3^rd party apps including the likes of “Hue Disco” to light up your living room for the party.
• Easy expansion of your lighting system with additional accessories such as a Hue Tap or a Hue Motion sensor that are sold separately with the kit.
   

1. The Nest Cam wireless security camera

With the Nest Cam smart CCTV camera, you can check on things at home whenever you want even when you aren’t nearby. 

The Nest cam puts out a wide-angle, 1080p stream that you can watch on your phone and can also send you alerts in case it detects something suspicious (such as a ringing fire alarm) after every half an hour.  

Notable mentions:

• 24/7 live streaming.
• Two-way audio. Nest cam comes with an inbuilt speaker and microphone that allows you to talk as well as listen on your app.
• Impeccable night vision.
• Quick and easy set-up.  
• 30 days worth of video storage on the Nest cam cloud.
   

4. The Roomba 980 smart home cleaning system

The Roomba 980 is the newest model in the series of semi-automatic vacuum cleaners which you can use to schedule cleaning and other daily chores regardless of you, being in front of it or not.  

Its “AeroForce Cleaning System” plays a big role in loosening, lifting, and sucking dirt with up to 10 times the power as that of a normal vacuum cleaner.

Notable mentions include:

• Fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google assistant.
• Voice-activated controls and advanced dirt detection technology make you breeze through your session in a matter of minutes rather than hours.
   

5. August smart lock and Chamberlain smart door openers

1st Gen August Smart Lock: The August smart lock helps to turn your smartphone into a key through means of an app. It allows you to lock/unlock your door, create virtual keys as per your requirements, and keep track of people coming and leaving, all from the convenience of your Android/iOS smartphone.

Notable mentions:

• Battery operated functionality. The August app will notify you when the batteries need to be replaced.
• Secured LEB (Low Energy Bluetooth) that synchronized the lock to your phone.

Chamberlain smart door openers: Now monitor, open and close your garage door from anywhere you want with the aid of your smartphone, thanks to the wonders of the Chamberlain smart door openers.

The Chamberlain smart door opener is universally compatible with most major garage door brands manufactured after 1993. It works charmingly well with almost all Android and Apple devices. 

Notable mentions:

• Timely notifications whenever your garage door opens/closes so you know your kids have safely returned from school.
• Easy self-installation.
   

6. Wemo Mini Smart Plug, Smart WiFi Enabled:

The Wemo Mini Smart Plug is a WiFi connected electrical outlet that can be useful for controlling the humidifier in your kid’s bedroom or for controlling appliances such as coffeemaker or curling iron, all from the comfort of your own smartphone.

Notable mentions:

• Amazon Alexa and Google assistant compatibility.

• Automatic scheduling features that allow you to synchronize home appliances and electronics at the mere tap of a button.

7. Smart home hubs and home controllers: Amazon Echo and the Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo is a Bluetooth speaker powered by Amazon’s trusted voice assistant, Alexa.

It can work directly with a number of smart devices in your house such as smart cookware, smart gardening gadgets, smart irrigation controllers, smart security, and several more similar to the ones highlighted above.

Similar to the Echo, the 2^nd Gen Echo Dot is a voice-controlled device using Amazon Alexa for playing music, controlling smart home devices (like the ones depicted above), reading the news, setting alarms, controlling Amazon video, and more provided you have a steady internet connectivity.

Notable mentions: 

• Hands-free calling and messaging. Seamless integration with other Echo devices by the mere command of your voice.

• AI-based learning, meaning it gets smarter with time.

So that essentially sums up our list for now. Hope you had a great and enlightening read.

**All product images are sourced from Amazon.com.**