A Different Way of Living: How Technology is Changing our Homes

The sort of properties we live in today might share some of the same basic amenities that previous generations also enjoyed but the similarity ends there when you consider the technology now widely available to enhance our safety and enjoyment in the space we call home.

Here is a look at some of that technology and how it is being used in our homes and what it can do to transform so many aspects of your daily life, including a way to take greater control of your energy use, how to control your home from your smartphone, and a modern approach to going to the toilet.

Energy use is a big issue

Every home uses energy and the cost of providing the heating and lighting that we need on a daily basis is something that should concern anyone, especially when there is a growing awareness of the need for greater fuel efficiency and to reduce our carbon footprint.

Modern homes can now be equipped with a home energy management program, like the one designed by Powerhouse Dynamics, for example.

The energy management system monitors your energy use and costs 24/7 and lets you know the sort of details that can make a difference to your costs and appliance repair bills, by telling you when your fridge isn’t working properly or needs defrosting, and why it thinks your energy usage is spiking.

This is all closely related to the general idea behind the Internet of Things (IoT), where all your devices are connected to the internet and use the chips in them to collect and communicate the sort of data that can help improve efficiency and enhance your safety and enjoyment of your own home.

The power of your phone

Smartphones are taken for granted now as an everyday item but they do offer you access to the sort of home technology that can make a difference to how you enjoy and use your home.

You can now use apps to control the lighting and heating in your home even when you are not there and if you want to you can even switch the kettle on remotely so that you can arrive home and brew up some coffee straight away.

There are so many different useful apps, like a real-time weather app, you can get it on Google Play, that lets you know how the temperatures are going to affect your home.

A lot of the devices you get for your home come with an app that you can download on your smartphone, giving you the power to monitor and change many different aspects beyond heating and lighting.

Even your toilet can be transformed by technology

There seems to be no aspect of living that can be touched by technology and even the toilet in your home can get an upgrade that could prove to be more useful than you might think.

There are already a number of “smart” toilets that have been developed, which are capable of taking a urine or stool sample when you pay a visit and checking for any abnormalities or issues that could suggest you have a medical problem which needs further investigation.

There is no doubt that the rapid growth of IoT and smart technology in our homes is creating a different way of living and who knows what the house of the future is going to offer?