The “Internet of Things” in and Around the Home

Posted by at 17 January, at 09 : 04 AM Print

Technology is an incredible thing, isn’t it? Just over a decade ago, we were getting used to the idea of having phones that sent pictures to loved ones. Now we’ve got smartphones, apps that run simultaneously on all of our devices, and even smart homes.

That’s right, smart homes. Can you believe it? The Internet of Things has made it into our homes, giving us the ability to control everything from music and lights to getting the weather and calling an Uber just by using our computers or even using voice controls.

So while you’re wondering how to incorporate the Internet of Things into your own home, consider which devices are best for your needs. We’ve listed three great choices to get you started, and each one has its own benefits that may appeal to you.

Amazon Echo

We might be a little biased, but we love Amazon Echo. The smart home device, which is developed and manufactured by, you guessed it, Amazon, is the most popular on the market right now. This is for good reason, as the device currently offers more services than any other smart home controller available.

With Amazon Echo, you can play your favorite songs from Spotify, listen to podcasts, get news updates, call an Uber, and even play with Wi-Fi enabled lights. The company has also released the Echo Dot, which is a smaller version of the full-sized Echo and is great for bedrooms or offices.

Now that the device is available for purchase, you’re probably thinking about picking up a few. We say that’s a great idea, and while you’re at it, pick up some Amazon Echo skins to go with it. The skins, which are easy to put on your device and easy to remove, will allow you to control the style of your device and how it fits into your home. A stylish speaker that lets us order from Amazon while sitting on the couch? We’re all for that.

Google Home

Google Home is the company’s answer to the Amazon Echo, and for its price, it’s a good alternative. Google’s foray into the smart home space is slightly cheaper than the Echo and is also newer, so don’t expect it to be able to do everything that the latter can do straight off the bat.

Google Home can answer queries, give you the weather, turn lights on and off, control music, and more. Since it’s newer to the smart home market than most other smart homes, it has limited capabilities; however, that’s expected to change as the company gets more comfortable with running apps through the Home server.

And we’re going to be honest with you: the look of the actual Google Home device is suspect. It looks like a Glad air freshener, and we mean that in the nicest way.

Since this device is going to be on display somewhere in your home, we think that getting a couple of Google Home skins might be a good idea. Depending on where you place the device, you could find something that matches the decor of that room. This is the best way to make Google Home blend into your design while making the technology of the smart home stand out.

Asus Laptops

Did you know that you can actually control the lights in your home from your computer? Well, you can really do so much more, like control sprinkler systems, control motorized projection screens, and more, but we’re trying to focus on just one thing at a time.

It’s a fairly simple process to be able to achieve this, and all you need is a laptop, a controller, and a dimmer switch. After a short installment process of both the hardware and software, you’re ready to go! The Asus laptop is an excellent machine for this job because it gives you the power and performance you need from a laptop plus gives you the ability to change the lighting with just one command from the control panel on your laptop.

As we’ve mentioned above, we believe that when you’ve got a smart home, you should also have the option to have a stylish home. That’s why getting Asus laptop skins are such a great idea: you can easily switch out the look of your laptop to keep up with the new futuristic feel of your smart home. That’s the best of both worlds.

This guest post contribution was made by MightySkins of Florida, an American owned and operated company making laser cut vinyl skins for many electronics including smartphones, tablets, drones, laptops, headphones and more.

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