Page 152 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2017

BOSAR technology
SMART HOMES
Home Tech Trends increasing in all price ranges
Many of us grew up watching the cartoon The Jetsons, and envisioned what our own lives would be like with an automated home. In the year 2017, that fantasy might not be so far away after all. As technology continues to advance and become more attainable, we’re starting to see a whole lot more of it integrated into our homes.
“We often see this technology in high-end homes, but we’re even starting to see it more and more in homes in the moderate price range,” said Sherrell Jones, realtor at Coldwell Banker Smith Homes. “As a realtor, there’s no doubt that these elements add value to a home.”
Nowadays just about everyone has a smartphone, which can be used not only as a means of communication but as a remote control of sorts that
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster links you directly to your home no
matter where you are. Have you
ever gotten to work and realized you forgot to turn your coffee maker off,
or wondered if you locked your door on the way out? Automated appliances and systems allow you to access these home features at the touch of a button — literally.
Automated door locks are one of
the most popular forms of in-home technology. “These devices can be powered by Bluetooth, Wifi or both,” said Brian McClung, sales consultant at Best Buy in Gulfport. “They’re a great option because you can lock and unlock your door remotely, so if one of your kids gets locked out you’re able to let them in without having to drive home.”
Another popular feature is the
programmable or zone-based thermostat, which can be a huge asset when it comes to the power bill. These smart thermostats save energy and money on utility bills by allowing
you to set your own temperatures according to a variety of factors. Depending on the type of thermostat, they can be set to adjust to the user’s schedule or even detect movement in certain areas of the home and function accordingly.
Aside from using smartphone enabled devices, many companies
are leaning towards voice-controlled options. From Apple’s Siri to Amazon’s Alexa, the development
of this technology has sparked the production of voice-enabled products such as lights, thermostats and music systems.
152 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2017
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