Are you interested in saving money and energy with efficient use of electricity? Do you want an appliance that adapts to how you use it? Do you want your appliance to diagnose its own faults? Then a ‘smart’ kitchen appliance could be exactly what you need! These devices use the power of the internet to make them more powerful and more useful. In this blog post we ask: are they really worth the money, or are they just a gimmick? Plus, we’ll take a look at some example products that have just been released onto the market.
In today’s fast moving world, the internet has become a key part of everyone’s life, improving the way in which we live and work. It was only a matter of time before our household appliances started to use the power of the internet to become more useful. It was only a decade ago that manufacturers of kitchen appliances started creating ‘smart’ appliances for the kitchen. However, these did not live up to the hype and were little more than a normal device that could be operated using a remote control. Only recently have we seen devices being launched that have features beyond being able to operate your fridge from a different room.
Now we are seeing appliances that connect to your smartphone or tablet in a much more meaningful way, making them more useful and making your life easier. The biggest innovation recently has been that most appliances are connected to the internet and can now be controlled using an app on your smartphone or tablet, meaning that you can control them from anywhere in the world! From a single app it is now possible to make your favorite coffee on the coffee machine so it is ready for when you got up; upload some amazing recipes to your oven or check to see if you have any milk whilst you’re out shopping. These appliances can even last longer too: they can advise you of any maintenance needed and diagnose any faults they find.
Now, before you go thinking that these devices are perfect we need to look at the other side of the argument. Your fridge cannot yet analyse your fridge contents and order more food for you, or work with your oven to decide what you should cook for dinner. These advances are not too far away, but right now they do not exist. However, the benefits that today’s smart appliances can bring to your life have gone beyond them being a gimmick. These devices have far more practical uses than ever before and your life will genuinely be made easier by using a smart appliance. This is why there are now a countless number of manufacturers which are investing in making their devices smarter.
The current array of internet connected kitchen appliances can certainly save you a lot of time and effort. There has been a far bigger focus from manufacturers to give these devices useful features that can actually help people in their daily lives, rather than simply being a way to sell more products. There is no doubt that these smart kitchen appliances will only become smarter and more useful as more features are developed. These appliances have now moved from being a gimmick to being useful and helpful to their users; 10 years ago we would have said not to buy one, but now we believe they do offer value for money.
Siemens and Bosch Home Connect products
So we’ve discussed whether or not these products are actually worth the money, but now let’s take a look at a few smart appliances on the market. Siemens and Bosch have both recently unveiled their Home Connect Wi-Fi enabled appliances. Their Home Connect dishwasher, oven, fridge freezer and coffee machine all connect through the Home Connect app (available on Android and IOS). Usually smart appliances would each come with their own app, but these appliances can be controlled using just one app.
Dishwasher
We can think of many things more exciting than washing dishes, but this Home Connect appliance can make things easier by setting your dishwasher going from anywhere.
Oven
Choose your favorite recipe from the Home Connect app and your perfect oven settings will be uploaded to the oven instantly.
Fridge Freezer
This fridge takes a picture every time you close the door and uploads it to the Home Connect app, so you can take a peek inside your fridge whenever you’re out.
Coffee Machine
Brew your favorite coffee from the comfort of your bed or whilst you’re stuck in traffic using the Home Connect app.
There are also Home Connect washing machines and tumble dryers; more information on these can be found here.
Some of you may be concerned about security, but you can relax because the Home Connect app is TÜV Trust IT checked and the system meets the highest security standards. For peace of mind, all data between your device and the Home Connect app is encrypted, and your app is only accessible using a password.
So if you want to make your life easier by being able to interact with your kitchen appliances in a useful way then you’ll love this range of appliances. Call us today to discuss these and more smart appliance options.