Each year comes and goes so quickly, yet the length of it never changes. "Can you believe it's already . . . " Maybe our lives are just busier. That busyness can be stressful but also fulfilling. Between the two, it will depend on how we manage the busyness.

Corralling that activity with smart home technology in the 21st century can be easier than in years past. Today, it's possible to say, "Hey Alexa, please add lime juice for fajitas to my shopping list," just like that, it's in the calendar/reminders display projecting onto the mudroom wall.

Straightforward Features and Benefits of Smart Home Calendars

• Any place with a screen and an internet connection shows you everything in your family’s schedule
• Lots of adaptability features
• HDTV-sized projections of the family’s schedule on any wall 
• Android, iOS, and even Microsoft 365 calendar sync is available

Smart Home Calendars Help Keep the Family Organized

Keeping a homeful of people organized is hard. Smart home calendars are becoming a must-have tool for busy families. A smart calendar is a shared webpage or shared app for families. Members can add individual events, how long the events last, location, etc. 

Let's not kid ourselves; you or your spouse will be the ones entering your kids' schedules into the family calendar. ("You sent 104 texts yesterday, but you couldn't add your make-up exam after school to the calendar!?") But at least it will be in one place. And you'll be able to access it anywhere you have an internet connection.

In 2007--the debut year for iPhone 1 and other devices--a man in Italy wrote a 384-page novel on his cell phone. Using a 12-button keypad Nokia 6630, he thumbed out the sci-fi volume over a few months on his train commute. This writing prodigy illustrates how the classics of reading, writing, and arithmetic are increasingly done on smart devices and computers. 

Home Network Becomes Home Room: Distance Learning 

The US census said that distance learning was part of the learning equation for 93% of kids in 2020. As such, home internet service is now a definite utility for most American homes instead of something just for streaming video or other entertainment. Over-reliance on screens and constant access to connected devices has risks. However, syllabi, class announcements, schedule changes, and even Advanced Placement exams can happen remotely, essentially requiring an excellent home wi fi network. 

Evolve Technologies can help you get the most from your internet service provider. We'll also help you rev up your at-home wireless connectivity to provide truly seamless digital experiences. 

Why Fi? Because Few Devices Can Run without Wi-Fi 

Statistics textbooks still say that weather forecasts are about 75% accurate, at best. There are really two types of Americans: those who think their state's weather is crazy, and those who live outside Texas. Despite that, history tells us there are a lot more days you're free to go outside here than in, say, Buffalo, New York.

In a few weeks, spring will arrive. There will be (somewhat) reliably good weather. Dog walking will be more enjoyable, kids can be out of the house for hours a day, and internet consumption will dip a little bit for everyone.

Until then (and after it), have you considered an active room for your house?

FLOOR SPACE: WHAT ABOUT A HOME GYM OR FAMILY "RUMPUS ROOM"?

In the last century, humans have learned that sitting down too much is bad. Every home has a place to sit down. Now, more of us are adding time to our schedule to get out and get moving; to not sit. Could we find a way to not sit in our house?

Movement and kinesis have become much more important to a healthy life. Newer or modern homes may start to incorporate built-in fitness rooms as exercise becomes less recreational and more utility. 

THE BIG GAME

The food, fans, fun, or the Superbowl. Hosting at your home is easier than any major holiday. It's one night. The kids don't need a sitter. It's socially acceptable to serve hot dogs. No one argues over what channel or show to watch. Most guests' expectations are a nice TV set up. And beer. A clean house is a bonus. But all sports fans appreciate the immediacy, the crisp HD vision and HD sound, and wifi that delivers at a nonstop 40-yard sprint. Have it year-round.

Range of a Sports Fan for Your Home Theater

• NFL RedZone
• March Madness
• Other college sports (if your kid chooses rugby at college, that's probably not on CBS primetime)
• Hockey
• Basketball
• Golf Simulators
• Kinetic and stationary gaming setups (think Switch)
• Gym (more on that in a minute)

WIDE (RADIO) RECEIVER: ORIGINAL SUPERBOWL FOR LIVE TV

In 1919, one of the first-ever real-time sports broadcasts took place in Dallas. A broadcast announcer read telegrammed updates of a football game over the radio! It wasn't technically live (and someone did the same thing for a Jayhawks game in 1911) but more sports were about to follow.

WATCHING THE GAME HAS CHANGED

A college baseball match between Columbia and Princeton in 1939 was the first sports tv broadcast. There were fewer than 1,000 TVs at the time. Sports is now available on a host of screens (more on that in a minute) and a host of streams.

A long-running dispute between the NFL and a Pennsylvania man over a rough home recording of Superbowl 1 may be about to end--if the Kickstarter works. That original Superbowl 1 scrum was the Green Bay Packers versus the Kansas City Chiefs. And it took place in this year's hosting city: sunny LA.

For a few states, football season doesn't really end. There's just a six-month-long pre-game show after the Super Bowl (or the Rose Bowl). Whether college or NFL, Texas is no exception.

In a splintered, niche-heavy entertainment world, most of the U.S. still loves its sports, especially on live TV. Grandpas and vegan daughters both still root for the Longhorns.

Good clean fun becomes great with an effortless, high-definition, sound and experience in TV.

For Everything, There is a Season: Football or Otherwise 

With expanded options, there are sports, and more, for everyone

• Regional sports and international: college lacrosse, FIFA world cup, Olympics
• Backyard movie night: the kiddos, a fire pit, and s'mores (perfect setting for Amazon Fire  TV)
• That wholesome but goofy Mom and Dad channel on YouTube you and your child enjoy together

And, for many guys, the backyard TV and s'mores sounds like a good time, with or without the kids, but with the game on.

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