Gone are the days of having to install network cable throughout your home. The improvements in wifi stability mean that your whole home can be an Internet connected ‘smart home’ with the flick of a switch. When considering your new home, you do not just have to consider which floor finish you want or what style of kitchen to have…

More and more, you must consider what tech to fill it with. To help you, C60 Architects and Town Planners have taken a look at some of the hottest topics.

“… your whole home can be an Internet connected smart home…”

1.Data

The life of the modern technophile requires instant access to all your data whenever you want it, wherever you are. A simple to use NAS/Home Hub like the QNAP TS-469Pro is therefore a must in any modern smart home. As well as RAID backup to protect your data and instant access to all your files from any Internet connected device, these smart hubs also feature ‘Aps’ to extend their capabilities and keep up with the latest trends.
QNAP

QNAP

2.Energy

The Nest thermostat is a smart thermostat and programmer that can be fitted with most current boilers. It learns how you live and creates a bespoke heat profile to suit your lifestyle. Each zone in your heating system can have it’s own thermostat to give you complete control and it can be controlled remotely from a smart phone or tablet, as well as providing up to date energy usage figures so you can see how much energy you’ve used.
NEST

NEST

3.Entertainment

No smart home should be without the whole house entertainment system. Be it Airplay or Sonos, your home can be filled with music in every room and media can be streamed to every TV or tablet.

APPLE

4.Security

By adding Internet connected cameras to your home network, you can create a powerful home security system that you can access from your smart phone.

MAPLIN

5.Power

The tangle of charging leads required to accommodate an average family’s collection of phones, tablets and gaming devices can now be avoided thanks to sockets with integrated USB chargers. These are an easy swap for existing sockets and instantly simplify 21st century life.

SCREWFIX
As homes become tech enabled (and even tech reliant), ensuring continuity of power supply becomes more and more important. An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) protects your tech enabled home from potentially damaging data loss in the event of a power loss.

EBUYER

6.Gadgets

As the ‘Internet of Everything’ expands, more and more everyday objects are being Internet enabled. From fridges to baby bottles there are tech-enabled versions of most everyday objects. The value of being ‘smart’ is dubious for many of these, but it is a trend that seems set to continue… Here are a few examples:

Weighing Scales

Record and monitor your weight…

 

SCALES

WITHINGS

Pet Tracking

Find out where your pets are, and keep on eye on what they get up to…

TAGG

TAGG

Plant Sensors

Prince Charles would approve of this hi-tech way to let your plants talk back…

PLANT

KOUBACHI

Electronic Locks

With a bit of hacking you can probably get the lights to flash and the door bell to ring twice when you lock up…

SIMPLICIKEY