Let modern technology take over your home, making your life easier and saving you money
Everyone knows what a "smart phone" is today, but smart phones can be refrigerators, ovens, coffee makers or many other household appliances (not just those in the kitchen) and, in fact, entire households. A number of manufacturers, such as Siemens, also prove this in practical terms - appliances from their production can be not only controlled, but also controlled via a mobile phone, tablet, but also smart watches or the voice assistant Amazon Alexa (in this case, however, it is necessary to use only English for now). The only requirement is that you have the Home Connect app installed on your device.
Controlling home appliances remotely can be a breeze
The Home Connect app in particular is becoming a virtual "jack of all trades" in the home as it is improved over time. Not only is it possible to control your kitchen (and not only) from work or from the shop to check exactly what's missing from the fridge, but it can also be used to connect individual appliances so that they communicate with each other. This is particularly useful in the case of the otherwise inseparable duo of washing machine and dryer, which can solve an otherwise often difficult dilemma, i.e. which drying programme to choose for a given type of laundry.
Simply put, when one has the whole household "under one's thumb" (literally), even ordinary everyday life can be transformed into a joy - after all, who wouldn't be delighted to wake up to a coffee machine already "at the ready" to prepare the morning cup of coffee? All based on the "instruction" received from the alarm clock. This is also a possible scenario for a normal morning if you use a tool that takes your household one step further, the so-called IFTTT. This is because this technology is used to connect and automate other services and applications, not excluding Home Connect. The very principle of IFTTT (If this then that) is contained in its name, which translates as "if this, then that". The instructions can be combined in various ways, so that when the lights above the dining table are switched on, the pre-selected pleasant music can be played automatically... and the only thing that will have to wait for some Friday is for the already cooked dinner to appear on the table automatically...
When the household is run by "artificial intelligence"
Since energy saving is a big topic these days, home appliances can't be left out either - and some manufacturers have already joined forces with experts in smart home technology to ensure that appliances are used as efficiently as possible (and waste as little as possible). One example is the collaboration between the aforementioned Siemens, whose smart appliances equipped with Home Connect technology can be integrated directly into Loxone's intelligent building automation system. What can such a relatively futuristic home look like? All appliances are "in charge" of a central miniserver, which, if the home is running on its own energy production (whether through photovoltaics or other renewable energy sources), can select the most appropriate time (even given the current weather forecast!) to start them up so that the energy is used efficiently.
However, in addition to better energy use, this system also goes hand in hand with improved security, as the miniserver, once the "Leave Home" function is activated, checks whether certain appliances (such as the oven or hob) are switched off, and even checks whether windows or doors etc. are closed. And this will be appreciated by anyone who has ever gone on holiday with the whole family or even just for a weekend at the cottage (it's a pity that no manufacturer offers a smart iron yet, it would undoubtedly also save many nerves...).
Get to know smart appliances with your own eyes and tongue
While some of the situations described may seem like something out of the distant future, you can see smart appliances - and find out how they work - with your own eyes (and you won't have to take a trip to space on the Enterprise, either). A trip to BSH's Brand Experience Center in Prague is all it takes. And you'll actually be able to get to know smart appliances "on the spot" - since the end of April, this is also the place where cooking demonstrations have been taking place again, where all the appliances are "in action" - and every visitor also has the opportunity to taste what goodies can be conjured up thanks to them (and various ways of modern food processing).
