Are you an early adopter of technology? If you’re not, it can feel as though you’re constantly behind the curve with the ever-evolving startups, apps, and new devices. Trying to catch up can be daunting and very expensive. However, there are quick, reasonably-priced steps you can take in your home to bring it a step closer to the future. Here are four upgrades you can acquire right away, in order of practicality and ease of integration.
USB wall outlets
Oh yes, we’re starting off with real cutting-edge technology here; combination power outlets are the most electrifying innovation to hit the market in recent years! Although it’s a pretty tame entry point, the practicality makes up for the lack of sizzle. If you’ve owned an electronic device in the past twenty years, you likely have firsthand knowledge of the annoyances that come with charging them. Not only do you need to have the right cable and an appropriate adaptor, you also need to find a free (and conveniently located) power outlet to plug into. Wall outlets with USB charging ports have solved the adaptor and free socket issue. They sell for as low as $30 per piece and are fairly easy to install, even with no experience!
Smart appliances
A large majority of the technologically inclined have embraced Alexa, Google, Siri, or Cortana, and are happily integrating them into their homes. Basic smart home setups are getting more affordable by the minute, and you likely own at least three of the foundational pieces already (smartphone, digital assistant, smart TV). This brings us to upgrade option number two: “smart” appliances. If you’re already on your way to having a connected home, why not consider upgrading to appliances with smart home functionality? At best, you can enjoy a greater degree of convenience and control; at worst, you’ll have a feature that you can safely ignore if you so choose.
The fact is, smart functionality will likely become standard sooner or later. Even big-ticket appliances like fridges, dishwashers and washing machines have begun to include wifi-connectivity and apps that let you monitor and remotely control how they operate. Digital assistants are here to stay, so why go out of your way to avoid them? While compatibility isn’t generally an issue, certain appliances work best when paired with specific assistants, so we recommend getting ahead of the problem and planning for the ecosystem you might like to have.
Smart locks
Smart locks, like the smart appliances mentioned above, are also part of the Internet of Things, but they get their own category because of how useful they are.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who have lost their keys at least once, and liars. We’re all familiar with timeless questions like “Where on earth are my keys?” and “Uh oh, did I lock the door?” Traditionally this meant upending your house until you find them in your pocket or suffering in mild annoyance until you get back home. However, the modern answer is: who cares? You have a smart lock!
What exactly is a smart lock? It’s an evolution of the traditional mechanical lock, using electronics to allow for keyless entry. Smart locks are easy to install, and either replace or upgrade the existing locking devices on your doors. Once that’s done, you can wirelessly unlock your door with a smartphone, combination code or key fob.
To be clear: while there are some security benefits to using smart locks (such as logs that list every time your door was opened, etc.), they’re not necessarily more secure than a standard lock. Really, you’d be upgrading for the convenience they provide, and an improvement to your quality of life. Features like remotely locking or unlocking your door, temporary access codes for guests and digital assistant integration all make the switch worthwhile. Moreover, almost all smart locks can still be unlocked with a traditional key as a failsafe (in case of power outages or depleted batteries).
It’s a small change for your home and the closest thing we have to futuristic Star Trek doors that swoosh open. It’s hard to find a downside here!
Electric vehicle chargers
For those of you trying to be more eco-friendly, there’s a simple argument to be made for installing electric vehicle chargers in your home: pretty soon, you’re going to need one. It’s no longer a question of electric replacing internal combustion engines, but when. The future of automotive technology is electric, and it’s easier than ever to join the revolution.
Electric vehicles (EVs) rely on high-powered chargers to refuel and are consequently most common among people living in or very close to major cities. Drivers have to plan around access to chargers when they’re away from home, so until these charging stations become as common as conventional gas stations, people will still rely heavily on their own homes to get a full charge. Powerful EV chargers for the home aren’t exorbitantly expensive at the moment, are reasonably straightforward to install, and will serve as a source of convenience or potential income.
Bottom line
Fortunately, for those of us frantically running behind the technology curve, we can still make changes. Our recommendations above aren’t from the bleeding edge of technology development, but they don’t need to be. They’re practical, accessible upgrades that could improve your life with minimal intrusiveness. Though we’re looking ahead to the future, there’s no time like the present for the technologically-tardy!