AS REMOTE WORK BOOMS, THE DEMAND FOR SMART HOME GADGETS THAT ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY AND CONVENIENCE HAS GROWN WITH IT; LET’S LOOK AT TWO SMART HOME ITEMS THAT WILL BOOST YOUR AT-HOME PRODUCTIVITY AND PEACE OF MIND DURING THE KID-FILLED SUMMER MONTHS

In 2019, the digital conference company Zoom made $330 million. Not bad for a video call platform. However, just last year, they earned four billion US dollars. 

According to Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, 42% of the US workforce was working from home around the time of the red-hot quarantine month of June 2020. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, numbers cited in Fortune magazine, one-third (34%) of US workers were doing " 'some or all' " work in the home in 2022. 

The kids were at home for more than just the summer in 2020. And the next year. And most of the ones after that. 

Imagine a world where you can control everything in your house with the command of your voice, a tablet, or a smartphone. That means answering the door without leaving the comfort of your couch, monitoring your entire house even when you’re at work, and locking up all entrances with just one tap before you hit the sack.

Now, what if we told you that such a world exists right now?

Welcome to the world of smart homes.

What Is a Smart Home

Smart home technology connects your appliances, thermostat, locks, and more, to one main centralized system. This system can be controlled with a device such as your mobile phone and allows you to manage your house--even when you’re far from the hustle and bustle of Dallas.

To paint you a better picture, here’s what it’s like to live in a smart home.

The New Year is finally here! 

With 2021 finally behind us, many of us are keeping our eyes on the future and focusing on things that are in our control. Oftentimes people set unrealistic New Year Resolutions for improving their life, ultimately falling short when things get difficult and life gets busy. It’s easy to resort to old habits and it's common for people to throw in the towel completely. In cases like these, the most important way to stick to your goals is to hold yourself accountable. With hundreds of apps to keep track of your fitness, screentime, or calorie intake, it can be overwhelming to stay up to date. Although, programming automated controls throughout your home can remind and motivate you to stay on track and achieve your goals. Below are some home automation suggestions to help you. 

Custom Audio Button

When life gets hectic many people rely on music or even meditation to help calm their mind and reset. Rather than fumbling trying to connect your device to your speakers, installing a specific button that is programmed to your favorite radio station or meditation channel can help ease tensions. Whether you want it to play throughout your entire Dallas home or only in a specific room, these controls can be customized to ensure you have immediate access to stress relief. 

Refreshed Lighting Scheme

The holidays are full of celebrating with family, traveling, and hopefully, a little relaxation and fun. We spend a season rushing around and buying gifts, decorating, and baking. But after everyone goes home and the decorations are put away, it's time to get back to our day to day.

But this shift also signals a great time to evaluate our lives. From finances to our relationships, we can take stock of where we might have deficits and plan how to fix them. The beginning of the year is a great time to assess your home and what repairs or upgrades you might need. And at the top of that list should be your home security system. If you don't have one, this might be the year to discuss with your Control4 dealer how you can integrate one with your home automation system.