STACK #205 Nov 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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Thinking smarter around the home. WELL- CONNECTED

T he Internet of Things, or IoT, has always been a naff description for one of the most exciting developments to happen in technology in a long time. For the uninitiated, the IoT relates to the vast number of devices worldwide that connect to the Internet across all industries. It’s estimated that Australian homes will have close to 30 devices connected to the Internet by the end of this year. Phones, TVs, tablets, CCTV, lights, printers, and consoles soon add up. And this is not surprising. According to Internet World Stats, 88 per cent of the Australian population has access to the Internet. And with more people connected, an area of IoT that is experiencing an exponential increase is the smart home. Still a relatively nascent industry in consumer electronics, in the six or seven years it’s been established, the use of smart

home technology in the house has grown exponentially. Once the realm of the early tech adopter, more and more households understand the benefits of living in a smart home. more and more households understand the benefits of living in a smart home

Why is that? There are several reasons. Cost is always front and centre of every buying decision, and the price of smart home products has never been more accessible. You can pick up a smart colour bulb at JB for only $20 now! The other deciding factor is the ease of installation. Smart home products have always had an element of DIY. Set up through an app on a smartphone with step-by-step instructions, this is meat and potatoes for even the most ardent technophobe. With so many of us spending more time at home now in a working capacity, the ability to streamline life through the implementation of smart home technology has also driven adoption rates through the roof. Smart displays and speakers are a wealth of information and suitable for schedule reminders, all accessed via simple

28 NOVEMBER 2021

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