Since the first weapons were fashioned from raw materials and the ability to make fire was developed, technology has had a tremendous impact on human culture and civilization. We live in a very advanced world.
From your automobile and the device you are reading this on to your television and jet planes, technology has transformed our environment and lifestyles into what they are today.
So it's no surprise that housing, one of the first technologies ever invented, is rapidly evolving before our eyes to take advantage of the wealth of technology available. Whether you live in a house or an apartment, the typical shelter is about to undergo a major transformation. What has been the catalyst for this change? Smartphones, networked devices and other technological marvels will all contribute to the future of technology.
Is the smart home a thing of the past?
More than 180 million smart home gadgets are expected to be on the market by 2018. In the coming years, this sector is expected to grow by more than 50%. If your smart home isn't fully functional yet, it won't be long before it is. This is largely due to the "Internet of Things," a growing trend in which all gadgets, not just phones and computers, are connected.
But first, what's the point of having a smart home?
Because connected devices outperform traditional solutions in many ways. They allow homeowners and apartment residents to better control their properties, improve security, provide convenience and luxury, and be more environmentally friendly. Think of connected devices as butlers or digital servants that do your work for you rather than having to do it yourself.
Smart appliances come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and recent introductions, such as the Keecker, indicate that these sizes and shapes will continue to grow in the future. Even a simple heating system, such as the Nest, can help. model, is capable of learning. These are the benefits of such a device: ideal temperatures with the least amount of effort and energy. Google, which pioneered the home automation movement and recently spent $3.2 billion on Nest, seems to agree.
What does it mean to have a smart home? - A completely different lifestyle
There's no denying that technology in the home is here to stay, with companies like Google and Samsung at the forefront of the "smart home" movement. But what does the new smart home mean for society as a whole? Given the rise of smart home technologies, it's hard not to assume that society is moving away from smart devices and toward smart living. Smartphones and other gadgets are widely available, and the Internet of Things movement is gaining momentum. It's easy to see why. Aside from that, technologies like MERV 16 air filters are helping to keep homes clean and fresh.
MERV 16 filters are commonly used in places like hospitals, where there are large amounts of unknown airborne germs and viruses - things that can spread through air ducts.
The reason hospitals use a much more powerful HVAC system to clean the air of these potentially deadly particles and thus improve indoor air quality is because the best MERV 16 filters are used.
Smart living is more likely to be stress-free, connected and purposeful. Of course, the Luddites and traditionalists among us will claim (perhaps not without reason) that our over-reliance on technological devices such as cell phones has left us unable to interact with the real world. Even when we are in the same room with our loved ones, we are absorbed by our phones. To some extent, this may be true. Finally, no one can deny that technology is here to stay and will continue to have a significant impact on our lives. Hopefully, this will be for the better.
Air purifiers you can take with you
There are many different models to choose from. To collect particles, basic mechanical models use a fan to push the air through a filter. Higher quality HEPA filters can collect smaller particles, including dust, smoke, pollen and pet dander.
Electronic air cleaners work by attracting particles to the unit's metal plates, which can then be cleaned. Other products have a UV lamp and claim to kill mold and germs, but Consumer Reports has not tested them and there is currently no evidence that they do, according to Santanachote.
An activated carbon filter is used in some purifiers to absorb odors and/or remove gases. Charcoal filters are more effective when they are thicker and heavier, but they are also more expensive. Fine-mesh filters, Santanachote says, are a waste of resources.
At least $200 will buy you a portable unit. High-end models capable of purifying large areas can cost up to $700. Experts recommend using purifiers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and new filters can cost anywhere from $20 to $200 (some models have washable filters). You'll also have to pay for electricity, as the purifiers must run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.