Thanks to the Movement Control Order (MCO), we’ve become way more acquainted with our homes and habits in the last few months. We may have noticed issues like lights accidentally being left on, expired food in the fridge, or weak points in our home security.
Technology has helped us speed up many processes and automated mundane tasks, thus making our lives much smoother. And now, with rapid advancements, we can look at new innovations that will benefit our homes in the long run, and possibly even save us money and time.
Imagine having early access to information about a pipe or roof leak, and being able to handle the problem before it gets worse. Now that’s how you make a smart home, work for you!
Endless Possibilities To Make Your Home Cooler
From smart devices plugged into our homes to collect and transmit data, to cool gadgets to keep the kids entertained under the latest MCO, the possibilities of turning your home into a digital heaven are limited only by your imagination.
So whether you’re looking to digitise your new home, or want to make your house a little smarter, here are our five picks of the coolest gadgets for your home (and where you might live if you had them)!
1) Fridge Eye
We’ve all experienced it. We reach into the back of the fridge and pull out something old, mouldy, and rotting. No matter how many times we try to organise our fridge, we end up with the same problem.
Enter the Fridge Eye. This plug and play device allows you to easily turn your boring old fridge into a smart fridge. Not only will it help you reduce your food waste, but this camera will also ensure you never forget any groceries again!
The Fridge Eye is great for busy working adults, especially those living in the heart of the city. It helps you easily keep track of all the items in your fridge, especially during the MCO, so you can plan grocery runs ahead of time and avoid the crowds.
2) Cinemood 360
Bring the big screen indoors with this immersive portable handheld projector. A practical solution for movie buffs who miss going to the cinemas. The device also comes preloaded with educational videos, games, and educational Disney content, making it suitable for kids.
For the young at heart, you can binge-watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, YouTube or use the screen mirroring function on your phone to indulge in your own content.
The Cinemood 360 is suitable for any home, and is especially great for renters. Instead of drilling holes and mounting a TV, utilising a projector prevents damage to the walls, saving you time and money in repairs later on.
For those living in new developments where access to cinemas are somewhat limited, such as Eco Grandeur, this device could help in community building efforts among small groups of neighbours, especially during uncertain times.
3) Smart Garden 9
Nowadays, most Malaysian homes grow the staples needed for our favourite foods. Many of us might remember having been tasked as the runner to grab handfuls of curry leaves, lemongrass, or pandan from the garden for our mothers.
However, for those of us living in high-rise buildings with limited space and time, that might not be the case. The solution?
The Smart Garden 9 that automates growing your food in just three easy steps! This countertop addition comes with an automated watering system and grow lights, to help you produce food even if you don’t get a lot of direct sunlight.
With all the recent panic buying due to food security concerns, urban farming is the way to ensure we remain food secure. The best place to live, with an existing eco-conscious and vibrant green community, are at places like Taman Tun Dr. Ismail.
4) mydlink Smart Full HD Wi-Fi Camera
This isn’t your ordinary Wi-Fi camera. This bad boy comes with a built-in Smart Home Hub, allowing you to connect to your other mydlink Smart DIY devices.
You get full HD clarity, customisation of alerts for smarter home monitoring, video recording capabilities, visibility of up to 5 metres in the dark, and remote access, anytime, anywhere!
On top of that, if you plan to add more security or smart home features, its compatibility with mydlink Smart Home devices, Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT, make it a great investment.
This Wi-Fi camera cum Smart Home Hub is best suited for those who value privacy, or want to check on their property, especially those living in large properties, in areas such as Johor Bahru’s Horizon Hills or Mount Austin.
5) Arduino
We are certain that almost anyone who first looked into Arduino was immediately taken back to Kemahiran Hidup classes in school. Arduino is an open-source electronics platform, with easy-to-use hardware and software, for anyone to make just about anything.
If you’re a very hands-on type of person and play with the chips on circuit boards, or have teenage kids looking to learn electronics and programming, this is just the thing for you. Your smart home journey just turned into a cool project for you, and your kids to enjoy and learn.
There isare a wealth of open-source designs available online, giving you a variety of options to customise your home. Open the door with a secret knock? No problem. Turn the lights on remotely? You got it!
Teenagers will no longer be glued to their handphone games when they can turn their attention to securing your home and picking up new skill sets along the way.
The place for you to live is KL Gateway, where you will be within a stone’s throw of Menara SuezCap 1, a HRDF approved, Arduino training centre!
What are you waiting for? Get your hands on some cool new gadgets for your home today, and start 2021 on a smarter note. Who knows, you might just pick up a new hobby, or discover new ways to engage the kids and make the most out of this MCO!
Planning on taking a step further into the world of gadgets for your home? Why not check out our article on whether you should be considering digital locks to enhance the safety and security of your loved ones!
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