AUTOMATION
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When modern video doorbells first hit the market, they seemed like no-brainers. Other than being unbelievably expensi...
High-speed WiFi networks and smart home devices make our lives easier by providing us with entertainment, security, a...
For most folks, slow internet is a nightmare from the past. Needing 15 minutes to load a video or several hours to do...
At this point, many folks have had internet in their homes for decades. In that time, they’ve been using modems and r...
For added convenience and security, a garage door keypad allows for keyless entry into a garage. For times when a hom...
Some people may remember home intercom systems from the ’70s while others may have encountered them as door-entry dev...
One lesson we learned during the pandemic was the importance of recreating our favorite experiences at home. Many peo...
Electronics are so pervasive in our modern world that you can find devices for an incredible range of functions, from...
It used to be that a garage door opener’s controls were pretty basic. It raised or lowered the door with the push of ...
Robot vacuums for hardwood floors get your wooden floors sparkling clean without leaving damage in their path. Modern...
Smart-home devices enable you to control a range of gadgets, appliances, and important tasks, whether from home or re...
If you’ve got gadgets, up-to-the-minute appliances, and other intelligent fixtures in your home, it may be time to br...
It's Amazon Prime Day! We've compiled a list of the latest smart home deals —and we'll be updating this list regularl...
For those who forget to turn lights off, a motion sensor light switch offers an excellent solution for empty rooms th...
Being left in the dark by a power outage, surprised by severe weather, or setting out unprepared for an outdoor adven...
Ready for a refresh? Consider these home automation tips.
Whether you’re trying to create a home theater room with surround sound or just looking to improve the sound quality ...
Although fine for the news and maybe even the occasional scripted TV show, built-in TV speakers just don’t cut it whe...
A reliable AM radio is a convenient way to stay updated with the local news and weather. It also can double as an ess...
Many tools, children’s toys, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other household gadgets rely on 9-volt (9V)...
A video doorbell is a home security product and also means of being alerted that there’s a visitor—all rolled into on...
Your home should be the place where you feel the safest; one of the best ways to achieve this peace of mind is by ins...
A screen door keeps flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs outside while allowing airflow to cool down the home and cleari...
A personal solar panel lets you enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors without worrying about your camping gear or y...
While outdoor security cameras and driveway alarms alert you to the presence of visitors on your property, they won’t...
Whether you are safe at home or out on a camping trip, it can be daunting when the lights go out and you are left in ...
The days of squinting through a peephole, peaking through the curtains to see who’s at the door, or calling out “who ...
Even with a 4K TV, a coaxial cable is necessary to get the best performance. A coaxial cable carries the signal from ...
Electronic devices tend to include a USB charging cable that’s only a few feet long. These standard cables may not pr...
Don’t wait until the electric bill arrives to find out how much energy you use. The bill shows only your total energy...
Thermostats have come a long way from those early models with manual temperature dials that may or may not accurately...
Chilling by the pool, lounging on the beach, and singing in the shower—none of these activities are quite the same wi...
Slowly but surely, more and more of our home operations are becoming automatic—and, with each advancement, life becom...
Living in small spaces or rooms with knee walls can make it a challenge to find a place to mount a flat-screen TV. Fo...
Modern interior design leans toward the sleek and minimalist, banishing the “stuff” of yesterday in favor of clean li...
Answering machines were much more prevalent before the advent of smartphones and voicemail technology, yet they still...
Whether you plan on cutting the cord completely or just want access to local channels, a TV antenna is an affordable ...
Modern cordless phone technology has allowed for better signal security, sound quality, and extended ranges, with som...
As the number of entertainment gadgets in our homes grows, so does the number of remotes. A coffee table full of remo...
If your router isn’t providing the coverage you need, a WiFi extender may be the solution. A WiFi extender, also call...
When you’re in bed, you might find it necessary to roll over, sit up, or crane your neck to view the time displayed o...
Do you run a small business from your home? Can’t leave the house often due to caring for young children? Maybe you’d...
A portable power station stores an electrical charge in an internal battery to charge various devices, such as a tabl...
Modern lifestyles can be so busy, with various household members all on different schedules, so it’s high time for an...
Broadcast television channels, like local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates, public television stations, and many oth...
Wall chargers provide the juice your device needs, but they can’t function without a charging cable. The best chargin...
Hidden cameras offer an easy and affordable way to monitor your home and keep an eye on your valuables. These tiny ye...
Technology is awesome—until the batteries run out, that is. Phones, tablets, smartwatches, AirPods, e-readers, power ...
Solar energy is an eco-friendly and economical way to power your home, and it can also charge your small gadgets on t...
Smart light bulbs are a great place to begin making your home, well, smarter. You can turn them on and off, set timer...
A standard keyboard requires the user to type in an unnatural position, which can put unnecessary strain on your hand...
If you prefer taking notes with a pen but you also want to back up a copy, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Through...
Home automation has taken huge leaps in recent years. Through apps and voice commands, smart devices help people make...
Instead of subscribing to streaming services, you could be pulling in free TV channels from the airwaves around your ...
Motion sensors, security cameras, refrigerators, heating and cooling systems, door and window locks, light bulbs and ...
Because their growing medium can dry out quickly, container plants require frequent watering to remain healthy, espec...
Portable generators supply power to a home, appliances, small electronics, and even an RV in the event of a power out...
With our busy lives today, it’s no wonder everyone’s looking for ways to speed up—or eliminate—daily chores. Topping the list of time-saving tools is the robotic ...
High-tech appliances and state-of-the-art home gadgets shouldn't come at the cost of safety and security. Learn the risks of upgrading to smart-home systems and f...
You’ve heard of LEDs. You’re aware of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). So what’s the next big idea in home illumination? They’re called smart bulbs, and they co...
Still not sold on upgrading your outdated house items for their smarter counterparts? Check out these smart gadgets that will make your life less complicated, mor...
While today's fast-paced world leaves little time for food prep, we still want to enjoy delicious home-cooked meals. In that battle to get a tasty, healthy meal o...
The smart homes imagined in movies and shows from decades ago are essentially reality now thanks in large part to our phones. Ever-improving technology make it po...
It’s official: The future is now. The everyday tasks of life—locking the door, adjusting the thermostat, dimming the lights, and capturing porch thieves—can all b...
Futurists are known for getting more wrong than right, but they do occasionally strike gold, predicting technological advancements and societal changes decades be...
It doesn’t always pay to become an early adopter of the latest and greatest technological advancements. In fact, some home tech products just aren't worth the inv...
Back in the 9-to-5 world, when people got up, went to work, and returned home at the same time every weekday, nobody ...
Thanks to modern technology and digital commerce, homeowners are acquiring increasingly large numbers of gadgets. It seems everyone has— or knows someone who has—...
The computer revolution is already a few generations old, and in all that time we've seen many technologies fall by the wayside as innovative, more efficient devi...
Browse the app store and you'll find dozens of useful apps for homeowners—but most of us don't have the phone storage for them all. So which ones are worth the do...
Most people nowadays own thousands of dollars' worth of laptops, smartphones, tablets, and countless other devices that play crucial roles in our everyday lives. ...
Every year, new high-end gizmos flood the market. Some gadgets prove invaluable and others are quickly forgotten and never missed. So how to know if a pricey prod...
Everyone loves the charm of a historical home—but the houses of yesteryear have nothing on today's for ease and convenience. Advancements in home technology have ...
We've gathered the best gifts, from smartphone accessories to nifty little devices, guaranteed to satisfy the tech lovers on your holiday list.
Humans have long harnessed the power of machines to help us work better, faster, and smarter. Many of these technologies work in the background of our home, heati...
We all want to provide our families with "all the comforts of home," but just what those comforts are has evolved over the decades, determined largely by the tech...
You live and learn—theoretically. But I've lived in my creaky old house for nearly 20 years, and I still haven't mast...
Of all the rooms in the house, my personal office is where I spend the most time. Thickly carpeted and paneled in woo...
Digital advances have dramatically reshaped our daily lives, yet for the most part, today's typical home isn't very different from a home built 50 years ago. Ther...
It may seem like a paradox, but sometimes you have to spend a little money to save a lot of green. Investing in just a few little upgrades like energy-efficient l...
While some would say smart-home products are a luxury, others would argue that they are the way of the future. Programmable thermostats, smart switches, and even ...
Cold, dark, dreary. Winter mornings can be enough to make you hit the snooze button and crawl back into bed. Luckily there are a number of life-savers that can ma...
With the holidays right around the corner, it's time to start making your gift list and checking it twice. But with so many gadgets on the market today, weeding t...
Smart-home technology has been developing for years now, with forward-looking manufacturers pioneering ever more inge...
If you've bought new light bulbs anytime in the last few years, you know the selection has changed dramatically for t...
A panicked frenzy over misplaced items as you're rushing out the door—we've all been there, and the stressful search ...
With the exception of fire, water poses the greatest threat to our homes, whether it's a slow-and-steady leak or a su...
Even if you're a veteran do-it-yourselfer and hip to the many different avenues for project research available on the...
Joining the ranks of smart-home gadgets and gizmos is Scout, a completely wireless, internet-connected home security ...
In 2015, people are as likely to charge a digital device as they are to plug in a table lamp or a hair dryer. But whi...
How'd you like to cook your dinner from your desk and have a hot meal waiting for you when you get home? Sounds pretty good, and it can easily be a reality for an...
Light bulbs didn't change for decades—arguably for a full century. But then, somewhat all of a sudden, a confluence o...
As surely as the tides ebb and flow, each new year retires older technology and witnesses the arrival of a new genera...
High-tech appliances, gadgets, and gizmos are steadily marching into all corners of our lives. So it only makes sense that advanced technology would insinuate its...
In our high-tech world, keeping your home fully protected is easier than it's ever been. Vastly more sophisticated than those blaring door alarms of yesteryear, t...
When it comes to home security, we've certainly come a long, long way from hanging signs that caution "beware of dog"...
Consider this: In Canada, about 40% of homes are equipped with central vacuum systems. In the U. S. , the figure is l...
Backyards and sunshine go together like hot dogs and mustard. So do these cool new solar gadgets designed to provide light, sound and added convenience to outdoor...
From self-programming thermostats to voice-activated television controls, here are 9 appliances, devices, and gadgets designed to increase your home's tech IQ.
Whether you want to watch TV, write a screenplay, or simply enhance your shower experience, these high-tech upgrades are sure to propel your bath into the 21st ce...
It’s hard to imagine a house without the Internet, which is being leveraged in more ways by the home’s subsystems, ap...
Like any system, home automation is available on a variety of levels—from the simple to the complex, the ready-to-ins...
Home automation systems must talk to one another, but how they do it can vary from company to company and product to ...
Today’s home automation products allow homeowners to take an active role in managing power consumption while controll...
When researching and selecting appliances, keep a tally of a week’s usage to help you decide what capacity and featur...
Odds are each night you check to make sure the doors are locked, lights turned off, and windows closed. If you had a ...
There was a time when someone who loves old homes would have found it tough to satisfy his inner high-tech geek. But ...
Sick of housekeeping and home maintenance? Worry not. These home automation products do it all for you—no kidding!
Tool or toy? For the do-it-yourself, that line is always gray. Browse ten fun and practical holiday gifts for the gadget-crazy handyperson in your life.
Whole-home wiring systems, or smart home systems, have been around for decades, but it’s only since wireless communic...
Light switches are a problem in our home. Every single light switch is in the wrong place—or at least it always seems...
Technology is permeating our domestic lives and "smart homes" are at the apex of this movement. Communications giant ...
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing)...
When we were weighing options for our home, a new construction, I was almost certain we wouldn’t elect to put in a ce...
Bob checks out a Sears garage door opener-- at 3/4 horsepower, it's among the strongest on the market.
Brent Thompson (from IceBox) joins Bob in the kitchen to talk about a new Internet appliance.
Bob and Tim Woods (of Internet Home Alliance) discuss the basics of structured wiring and connectivity in the basement of the Vermont farmhouse.
Bob meets up with Tim Woods (of the Internet Home Alliance) in the basement of the Quechee home to hear about the progress made integrating the connected home tec...
Bob checks email from his truck using GM OnStar's Virtual Advisor functionality. He then meets with Tim Woods (from the Internet Home Alliance) to check out the P...
Bob explains how the Kinetico water purification system works and reviews the A.O. Smith ProMax 75 gas-fired water heater.
Bob experiences the Panasonic Replay TV with the show-stopper feature and he tours the master bedroom suite, admiring the space, scope, and the view.
Bob joins Tim Woods (from Internet Home Alliance) in the basement to look over the network connection center, the area responsible for the homeowners' internet, t...
Bob looks at the beech flooring in the key hall, before moving to the media room to discuss the carpeting with Gary Johnston (from DuPont) and the electronic comp...
Bob visits the Global Solar factory in Tucson, AZ to see how they company manufactures its unique solar-electric (photovoltaic) devices.
Bob Ryley meets with Ken Frankel (from Lucent Technologies) to discuss the new HomeStar wiring system.
Bob meets with Tom Morgan (from Home Automation) to view and discuss the "brain" of the home automation system. Next, Bob checks in with the wiring contractor to ...
Bob inspects the remote device, controlling the PA system, HVAC, lighting, and entertainment systems. In the basement, Bob Ryley is exploring the wires and cables...
Bob meets with James Gilmore, the governor of Virginia at the time of the executive mansion's restoration. Gilmore stresses the practical and symbolic importance ...
Carpenter Bob Ryley works on the mahogany deck, while new kitchen appliances are installed and the lighting and cabinets undergo examination.
The garage door openers are installed on the automotive end of the garage. Bob reviews the brackets and beams used to mount the opener's drive, as well as the cha...
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a Craftsman garage door opener.
