Smart home

As we head back to school and back from our vacations, there are a few new things to think about as we get back to the grind. Are the kids going to be home alone after school or on sick days? What can we add to our homes to provide a little more safety and security? Fortunately, there are ways you can leverage smarthome technology to lend you a helping hand. Here are a few types of products to help you out.

In this installment of the Internet of Things, we take a look at how safety around your home has evolved. We’ve gone from loud, blaring alarms and simplistic security systems to something much more hands-on and its all thanks to your Internet Connection and how it connects you to home even when you’re not there.

There are some amazing new products hitting the shelves of Best Buy this month. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the cool products you can pick up right now.

The Internet of Things has been covered in-depth on a few fronts. Tom gave you an overview of the IoT with this article, talking about how the internet is finding its way into televisions. We’ve seen other articles on how IoT is affecting our interaction with computers and wearables. There’s a category that has seen huge changes over the last decade as the internet becomes more integrated: gaming and toys. While this is by no means a comprehensive overview, here’s a look at how those categories are making the most out of their pipeline to the internet.

Last weekend was a scorcher; and as someone who relishes tropical climates and often wonders why she hasn’t yet moved to one, I ate it up. But on Sunday night, as I was enjoying a glass of wine and a new book on my balcony, something tragic happened–the sun set. You might wonder why that’s tragic, but when you live in an apartment that has a small balcony that isn’t equipped with an electrical outlet, sunset means no light, and no light means no outdoor reading. So for those of you who, like me, have a small outdoor space, here are some patio lighting options that will ensure you can remain outside until you say it’s time to go in; or at least until you finish the chapter you’re reading!

I have a lot going on at home so leaving the house, even for just a few hours, can be stressful. If my kids are in school I worry about what my pets are up to, and if my kids are at home, I worry about whether or not a fight is breaking out or if someone is destroying the kitchen.  That’s why I was so excited to hear about the newest Nest product, the Nest Cam. Not only is it a crystal clear 1080p webcam you can hook up in your home to check in on everything, it belongs to the Nest family of products so you know it will work alongside your Nest devices.

Smart devices, connected homes, embedded connected sensors, mobile devices and computers are all coming together in the Internet of Things (IoT). This massive network is constantly connected, constantly exchanging information and if it isn’t already, your home will soon be part of it. Your PC is a part of the IoT—both as a connected device itself and as an interface to other devices—and your Wi-Fi router is a critical, but often overlooked component. In this part of our Internet of Things series, I take a look at the role your computer plays and especially the importance of that Wi-Fi router.

The most important part of your Smarthome network has nothing to do with the products you choose or how they interact with each other. Flashy coordination is nothing without a solid network connection. Without a stable wireless network setup, you won’t have a stable smarthome network. Read on about how to create an easy and smart wireless network for your smart home.

See who's at your door so you don't open it to strangers or people you don't want to get stuck in conversation with. Review of Ring Video Doorbell

Almost all the information currently on the Internet is created by humans. Content mainly produced by people. But the Internet of Things (IoT) is about devices connected to the Internet and interacting with other connected things and to a small extent with humans, and providing its own content. It is a concept that has enormous potential to impact how we live and work and is already starting to impact the home. But we are just at the tip of the iceberg. Smart TVs already comprise some of the billions of “things” currently connected to the Internet, and they will definitely have a role to play as the Internet of Things unfolds. I will start to identify that potential.