Did you ever imagine gadgets at home listening to you and work according to your orders? Speakers playing music and news as per your command, lights turning on and off with your voice, and much more. Yes, this is the future where gadgets speak back to you and work with your command. This future is called IoT.
IoT is called as Internet of Things. As per Wikipedia, IoT is defined as a network of physical objects-“things”-that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with the devices and systems over the Internet. In the Consumer ecosystem, IoT technology is the most synonymous with products of the concept of “Smart Home,” including devices and appliances that support one or more common ecosystems which are controlled through devices associated with that ecosystem, such as smartphones, smart speakers.
IoT devices support expanding internet connection beyond usual standard devices like Computers, Laptops, and Smartphones. In Developed Countries like the US and UK, these devices have become the most common devices at home. In every industry, such as consumer, industrial, and enterprise industries, we can find IoT devices now. Therefore, it is estimated that by 2021 there would be around 20 Billion IoT smart devices up and running with an increase in demand for a 5g network.
Check out the link to find out about 5G network and its future in India.
Even in India, the production and usage of IoT devices are increasing rapidly. People are getting habituated to these devices. They are integrating their lives with these devices. But when compared to developed nations, usage in India is significantly less. Also, the availability of different devices is still in fewer numbers. This difference is due to various reasons. One major among them is not knowing about these devices and the inability to use these high-end technologies. Manufacturers are trying to produce different products as this is the future and don’t want to loose the competition. In this blog, I would like to post top IoT devices useful at home and are available in India. I will try to cover devices in all the segments to check them, whichever is helpful to you.
Echo Dot (4th Gen) Smart Speaker with Alexa
This speaker is designed by Amazon with the power of Voice assistant “Alexa.” This was the first smart speaker which was launched in India, and the latest version is 4th gen. From 1st gen to 4th gen, this speaker has improved a lot and has included many skills from then. To make use of all its skills, you need to download the “Amazon Alexa” app from Play Store or App Store and check the skills which are useful to you and enable it, and Alexa will work accordingly. I recommend this speaker only if you are embedded with the Amazon environment, like if you frequently use Amazon Firestick, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Music. This speaker works as a Personal Assistant.
Keyword to Ignite Alexa is “ALEXA”. This is available in both English and Hindi languages to interact with.
Features : Stream millions of songs from Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, JioSaavn, Gaana, Apple Music and Hungama Music.
Get Started with Smart home: Use voice to control lights, AC’s, TV’s, geysers, and more as Alexa gets connected with all the devices
Just ask Alexa for music, news, trivia, scores, weather, alarms, kids’ rhymes, and stories. Alexa is always ready to help in both English & Hindi.
Designed to protect your privacy – comes with a microphone off button that electronically disconnects the microphones and also deletes your voice recordings with just one command.
With 4 microphones, Alexa can hear your request from across the room.
Google Home Mini with Google Assistant Smart Speaker
Google designs this speaker with the power of voice assistant “Google.” This speaker also has improved a lot from its 1st gen and also included many skills. Like the Alexa app, you need to download the “Google Home” app from the Play Store or App Store and enable all the skills that are helpful to you. This speaker works like a Personal Assistant and helps you out. I recommend this speaker if you are surrounded by Google environment, like if you frequently use Google Chromecast and Youtube Music because the nest uses Google as its voice assistant.
Keyword to wake up Home Mini is “Ok Google”. This is available in both English and Hindi languages to interact with.
Features : Stream millions of songs from Youtube Music, Spotify, JioSaavn, Gaana, Apple Music and Hungama Music.
Get Started with Smart Home: Use voice to control lights, AC’s, TVs, geysers, and more as Google Nest gets connected with all the devices.
Just ask Nest for music, news, trivia, scores, weather, alarms, kids’ rhymes and stories.
Google Home is always ready to help in both English & Hindi.
Smart Tags :
Smart tags are the next gen revolutions which would be useful to us. These tags helps us to get connected to any physical device so that we can spot them up using our mobile phones. We can find all the lost things if smart tags are attached to them. Also these devices can be connected to all the smart home devices in our home and control them with just a click. As of now we dont have much products but we have one in the segment.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag
Samsung Smart tag has almost all the features in it. It is now considered the best in Industry. This has so popular that even Apple is trying to make similar one.
Features:
- Worldwide Galaxy devices will help you finding when the tag is out of your range.
- Grab the tag and double press the button. It will ring the Phone to help discover
- Share your tag with your family or friends. Tag can be connected and operate with members’ devices nearby. Tag can be automatically connected to other Galaxy devices you own
- Well-built robust security features protects privacy. Privacy ID alters ID periodically to prevent being tracked. Location E2EE protects your location information. Anti-Tracking alerts when unintended following tag is detected.
Smart LED Bulb’s and LED Battens :
Smart LED Bulb’s and LED Battens are functional home IoT appliances where they can be controlled through Smartphones or Smart Speakers. They can be turned off or on with just a command. They can also change their colors. You can control them entirely over apps. They can also let you set a timer or schedule when to turn it off and on. There are a wide variety of products from different companies, and every product offers almost the same facilities. So you can find one which is suitable for you at home. For example,
Syska 12 Watt Wi-Fi Enabled Smart LED Bulb
Features : Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
12 Watt LED Bulb with 16 Million Colours
Transform your room to all kinds of themes such as reading, night, meeting, leisure, soft by changing brightness and white color between Warm White (2700K) and Cool Day White (6500K) with the Syska Smart Home App.
Create your own scene or schedule light, whether at home or away.
Smart Air purifiers :
Air purifiers have been essential commodities these days. In metropolitan cities, Air quality index has been dropped drastically from the last 5 years. Especially, Delhi Air quality is the worst and it is not at all suitable for children and asthma patients. In the near future, every home is going to have an Air purifier in it.
Dyson pure Hot+Cold Air purifier
This is the most advanced Air purifier you can find in market. This is not only a filter it also works as an Air conditioner which sends Hot and Cold air as per your requirement. It also gets connected with mobile phone and can be operated with it. It has also an LCD display which displays all the features in it.
Features: It works both as purifier and air conditioner and that too with no fan.
It also gets connected with your smart phone
It has display in built in it which displays every notifications
Smart Home Wi-Fi Camera :
Smart Home Cameras are the best IoT devices in the security department. They are closed-circuit television cameras that transmit a video and audio signal to a wireless receiver through a radio band. Even in this segment, there are many products, but the below product has almost all the best features.
Tp-Link Smart Cam Pan Tilt Home Wi-Fi Camera
Features : Works with both Alexa and Google assistants.
Smooth 60°horizontal range and 114°vertical range.
High Definition Video to capture every detail in Crystal-clear 1080p definition.
Advanced night view : Even at night, the camera can provide a visual distance of up to 30 ft.
Motion detection and Notification alert : Even you will receive notification if there is a small motion in camera.
Live View and Two-Way Audio support to communicate with others with built-in speaker and microphone.
Sound and Light Alarm to frighten away unwanted visitors. You can also share the videos.
Wi-Fi Smart Plug :
Wi-Fi smart plug is an easy-to-use device that can be controlled from anywhere in the world. The smart plug helps you schedule the operation of any appliance connected to this plug using its innovative connect feature with your preferred voice assistants. It also easily integrates with other smart devices to give you a completely innovative home experience at your fingertips. It will make your home smarter by letting you be in charge of your appliances via Wi-Fi. Every Smart Plug has almost every feature in it, so please choose the helpful products. The below product is my preferred choice.
SYSKA ABS Wi-Fi Smart Plug 6A:
Features : Smart Wi-Fi control
Scheduling Tasks
Analyse the power consumption by the device which has plugged in and in turns helps you to save on electricity.
Smart Integration with other products so that we can control with them all with a single touch.
Works with Google Assistant and Alexa
Final Thoughts :
Even though this technology has a more significant advantage, it also comes with reasonable risk. The data that has been collected from various devices is not encrypted nor protected from companies. This might be the future, but it also has many risks. I hope companies look into this and increase the security levels, and our data is protected in all forms. Happy Exploring.
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