NEST

There are always those kids on the block with the coolest toys. So if you want to be the coolest kid on the block, think about getting some of these toys for your home.  I have not tested these yet, but hope to do so soon – maybe someday that will make me cool!

Home security is always a top concern for anyone considering home automation. The canary might be a good answer as it not only allows you to monitor your home – it alerts you when patterns change. The device monitors temperature, humidity, noise, and air quality and allows you to check in on your phone from anywhere in the world. It also features a HD video feed to allow you to take a look to see for yourself how incredible your home looks when nobody is home – everything neat and in the right place before the kids get home. However, if someone is walking around during the workday when nobody is usually home, Canary sends you a notification and starts recording the activity. Even better, if you are home sick and don’t want to be bothered, Canary knows your phone and senses you being there turning to privacy mode.

Want to make getting in your home easier when you have your hands full, this lock may be for you. This keyless entry system can be controlled with your phone from anywhere in the world – should you ever need to unlock your home while on vacation. It also has a touchscreen so you can enter a code to enter your home. However, it does not stop there, this lock system also has a built-in alarm that will alert you when someone enters, exits, or tries to break into your home. 

Have you ever pulled out of your driveway, driven a few miles, just to think back – “did I put the garage door down?” Well now there is a solution for that – your smart phone can control your garage door. There are several on the market that allow this technology, but the one I found most interesting is the MyQ-enabled garage door opener. This system will send you an alert when the door is opened or closed and allow you to check to see if you closed it without turning around and going back home. Sounds so simple – why did I not think of that?

Nest has done it again, made something boring cool and a must have for those looking to create a smart home. The Nest Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm looks good and takes that old fashion noisy alarm and kicks it in the teeth. First it tells you everything is OK by turning the light ring green. At night when things are going well it acts as a nightlight. If you see yellow, you might have some burnt toast, or you might need to check things out. It it is red it alerts you of danger and tells you where the emergency is in the home. Not at home, that is ok, it is Wi-Fi enabled so just check your phone for peace of mind. If something goes wrong, it sends you a notification to your phone. Think it is time to change the batteries, check your phone and it will let you know before that annoying chirp in the middle of the night that we have all experienced.

I have seen the future and it is VERY cool!

Last year, I wrote a post, Architectural iPad. In that post I was wondering how to make building science as cool as the iPad. The iPad was an invention that nobody knew they needed until it came out, then many wanted one and other companies raced to create their own.

So now it has happened in the building industry, we have our “iPad”. The NEST is a thermostat that learns your habits and adjusts to your needs. Yes, it is “just a programmable thermostat”, but it look cool, anyone can program it, and it is going to spark a revolution in the building industry. As I always say – DESIGN MATTERS!

Who has ever looked at a thermostat in a home and said that looks nice (other than me)? Usually you try to hide the thermostat and only pay any attention to it when the weather changes. The NEST takes all the uncertainty out of programming your thermostat and makes it so anyone can use one and therefore will save money. The NEST learns your habits and then operates based on your habits.

Just as an aside, the person that designed the NEST also designed the first 18 generations of the iPOD and the first 3 generations of the iPhone. This is the beginning of a design revolution. If you see the subtle beauty of this device, you too will realize that DESIGN MATTERS.

“THE GAINES GROUP, plc because DESIGN MATTERS”