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With the rate at which technology is developing today, there are plenty of tech options to make work easier, better, and more productive for employees, whether in a public office space or in a home office. Technology is consistently growing more complex, from artificial intelligence to automation, and it’s giving business owners the opportunity to enhance their employees’ work experience.
Smart home technology is one of the best ways to utilize this advanced tech. Smart tech is a trend growing more influential by the day, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. While smart home devices are still a relatively new concept, they can be found almost everywhere. 2020 brings a massive catalogue of new and exciting options for the perfect automated office.
What is a Smart Home Device?
Smart home technology is network-connected tech, via protocols like WiFi and Bluetooth. This doesn’t just refer to computers and phones, but to many different areas of a home or office space, from thermostats to cameras to vacuums. These smart devices can be automated so you can turn off the lights with a simple voice command, or change the thermostat with the push of a button without having to get up. This is known as the Internet of Things (IoT), and is the basis for home automation and smart devices.
The Best Tech Trends for Your Office
Smart Speakers
Chances are, you already have a smart speaker or hub such as the Google Home or Amazon Echo at your home. However, these devices can be brought into the office as well, and can do quite a bit more than you might expect. With some extra work on your end, you can make your smart speaker control your other smart devices so they’ll do your bidding with a simple voice command. Plus, you can use it to organize your calendar, order office supplies, and more. For example, using Amazon Alexa, you can create routines so that you can check in on your calendar, the traffic, and a weather report before you head out for a meeting.
5G
5G is the fifth-generation standard for mobile networks. It’s designed to have ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, and increased availability for higher efficiency and performance. The capabilities of smart devices and other new technologies are hampered by unsteady WiFi and other network limitations, but 5G allows for a solid connection within the Internet of Things and eliminates issues like high latency and range problems, so your smart devices will work perfectly.
Smart Surveillance Cameras
Smart surveillance cameras perfect for keeping an eye on your office or retail space, whether you’re there or not. Having a camera connected to the internet means that you don’t have to check the camera or its feed directly, but can do so from a device like a phone or a computer. Having a full security system is expensive and can be a lot to handle, but a WiFi-connected camera is far more cost-effective, efficient, and easy to use.
Smart Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important factors in energy efficiency. Older, incandescent bulbs are significantly less energy-efficient than today’s LED bulbs, which are what smart lighting uses. According to Natural Resources Canada, white-light LEDs last up to 25 000 hours, as compared to the 1000 hour lifespan of incandescent bulbs. Plus, smart lighting can be easily controlled by your phone or smart speaker, so you can dim or turn off the lights with the push of a button or a voice command, even when you’re not on-site (which is also great for security!)
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Optimizing your business is our top priority at Alt-Tech. We want to help you go above and beyond in the virtual aspects of your business. Contact us today to discuss how we can support your business and provide our guidance when it comes to office setup, software and cloud computing services, and digital security.
