The first device that could be called smart technology for the home was released in 1975. It was a home automation platform that sent information through the radio. A quarter of a century later marked the rapid growth in the smart technology sector. Here are a few ways you can use smart technology to keep you healthy.
What is Home Automation?
With home automation, all electronic devices are connected to the internet, allowing all those connected to be controlled remotely. Lights can be put on schedules, as well as the furnace or the A/C unit, and you can check in on various rooms via security cameras.
Healthy Sleep
We know that sleep is crucial to our overall health, but it’s often one of the last things we consider on our journey to good health. With home automation, you can connect blackout shades to block out light. With a smartphone digital health app, you can shut off notifications and even change the colour of your screen to assist in falling asleep. You can also talk to either Alexa or Siri to turn on some white noise while ensuring the thermostat is set at the optimum temperature for sleep. All of these can be triggered by a command by whoever is going to sleep, or it can be put on a timer to encourage building a set schedule.
Connecting to Loved Ones
For those who have elderly parents who wish to remain independent in their homes, safety concerns are generally high. Setting up their home with motion sensor light switches can not only illuminate rooms with ease but motion sensors can be taken one step further. Some motion sensors can actually sense falls, which will then trigger a call-out for assistance.
Smart home locks, as well as smart refrigerators ovens, can also help with eliminating worry, especially with loved ones who want to remain at home, but are prone to confusion. Smart home locks can be set remotely with the occupant secure inside, and smart ovens can be monitored remotely to avoid unattended burners.
Smart Lighting
In addition to motion sensor light switches, there are smart bulbs that can be controlled to change the colour and ultimately the mood of a room. Blue and white lights are known to make people energetic and can disrupt sleep patterns if used around bedtime. In contrast, a red hue of light can help sleep as it actually increases the secretion of melatonin. Being able to change the colour of the room to match its use with a simple app can do wonders in increasing both mental and physical health.
Healthy Air and Reduced Touch Points
With more people choosing to remain working from home, the amount of time people spend in the home has increased. This has led to a need for air quality sensors that help monitor, filter, and purify the air in the home. Additionally, features such as touchless taps mean fewer touchpoints for bacteria to gather and spread. Since 2020, there has also been an increase in demand for UV disinfectant lights, however, while UV rays have been used as a disinfectant for years in hospitals, those used for personal use will probably not be as powerful.
There are a number of smaller smart technologies for the home to keep you healthy, such as smart pill dispensers and smartwatches, and as telemedicine increases in popularity and demand, connection to health care providers will become easier for at-home patient monitoring