6 of the Coolest Smart Home Innovation Ideas at CES

This year, the year that Marty McFly crash lands into in Back to the Future Part II, holds a lot of water for technologists, since it gave the world a peek at then-fictional innovations like food hydrators, indoor gardens, and video calling. And while some of those home innovation ideas have actually come to pass (hydrators, you have to Oct. 21 until Marty’s flux capacitor shorts out!) these six inventions—currently exhibiting at the International CES in Las Vegas—are ready to bring the future to your door, right now. For more on the smarter, more connected to home innovation ideas of the future, check out Time’s cover package.

ADT Pulse:

Even though CES is packed with tech titans showing off their latest wares, entrenched services like cable and home security systems are often the target of upstart technologies at the event. This year, ADT strikes back with a setup that connects a wide range of sensors together through an intuitive smart phone app. Powered by IFTTT, a wide-ranging web service that already links everything from the Android operating system to Yahoo Fantasy Football (with other technologies ranging from Drop box to text messaging to weather alerts in between), the company’s Pulse app gives ADT home security subscribers the ability to turn on lights, monitor for carbon monoxide, arm alarms, and even control the heating, with their voice, alone. And with voice passwords, the app itself is locked down as tight as the home’s security system.

Budgee:

Move over, Rosie, here comes something better. Alright, maybe this robot, built by Five Elements Robotics, can’t eclipse the Jetson’s legendary robo-maid, but it can serve as an able assistant, carrying up to 50 pounds indoors and out, over sidewalks and up ramps—basically most places you go. Designed to follow a transmitter that the owner (or is it master?) wears, the $1,399 droid can zip along up to 2.4 miles per hour. With a battery life of up to 10 hours, he can run about as long as most people, and when not needed, he can be folded up for easy storage—only weighing about 20 pounds and able to fit into the trunk of a car. When was the last time you stuffed your assistant in the trunk of your car? (Actually, don’t answer that.)

Dacor:

What’s better than one wall oven? If you said a wall oven with the Android operating system baked into it, you’re right. (But “two wall ovens” would also be acceptable.) Sporting solo and dual doors, Decor’s Discovery convection ovens are Wi-Fi connected and have a graphic user interface to get your brownies baking like no other. With a Samsung one gigahertz processor and 512 megabytes of RAM, this setup isn’t just tech for tech’s sake. It’s designed to power the Discovery IQ cooking app, which guides users through all sorts of dishes and family recipes. And with the ability to download from Google Play store, there’s many more apps—and appetizers, I hope—to come.

Invoxia Triby:

Finally, some gear the whole family can enjoy. A kitchen communication appliance, Triby is first and foremost a Bluetooth speaker, able to take calls and stream music from your smart phone. But the magnetic-backed, rubber-edged device takes utility a step further by linking two a pair of phones (Mom’s and Dad’s, perhaps) via the Triby app, so people can call them at the push of a button. The app also lets mobile users send hand written notes back to Triby, displaying them on the Wi-Fi connected device’s e-Ink display. And in addition to being able to play FM radio signals, the fridge phone also has a pair of “radio” buttons that lets users pre-program their favorite streaming radio stations. Toss in a battery that lasts a month and a $199 price tag, and you’ve got some smart tech, indeed.

Netamo Welcome:

Some people are put off by web security cameras in the home innovation ideas, but with a facial recognition feature that can identify the members of your household, Netatmo Welcome does something truly helpful. Notifying smartphone users when family members arrive home, this HD, night vision-capable camera is a must-have for connected latch key kids. And, paired with Netatmo Tags, the system can alert you when doors, windows, mailboxes or even drawers are opened. But perhaps the smartest thing about this camera is that it can store data on an onboard SD card, keeping your video recordings off the internet (and free from subscription services).

Samsung Smart Things

Named as one of Time’s Best Gadgets of 2014, Smart Things is not content to rest on its laurels, rolling out new hardware and premium services that may make it the cleverest smart home setup, yet. Available in the summer, a new Smart Things hub will sport a better processor and backup battery power, making this a connected home system that stays in sync even when the power is out. In addition, the company’s motion and multi-sensors are slimming down, providing more subtle for home innovation ideas monitoring. But the smart home is all about being inter compatible with other products and services, something this system does better than anyone. For instance, the Smart Things hub will now play nice with everything from August locks to Racchio’s lawn irrigation controller. Beat that, McFly!

{Source: http://time.com/3657940/ces-smart-home-innovation/}

10 Kitchen Innovations for Improving your New Generation Home

In our ever-changing world of high innovation and demand for homes that reflect gorgeous detailing and quality, your kitchen is the number one room where you love to see gorgeous technology. Your kitchen appliances are lifetime investments for many homeowners and Sub-Zero Wolf, the leader in food preservation & innovative cooking products since 1943 have proven how a new generation of innovation is awaiting your kitchen. From seamless aesthetic details that blend into your cabinetry to delivering your guests culinary expert cooking experiences from the cookware. You won’t be able to help but brag with these 10 innovative and contemporary ideas for your kitchen that you can’t wait to have.

1. A New Generation: Classic kitchens with modern appeal:

There is some things that homeowners don’t like to mess around with and that is their kitchen appliances. Similarly to your car, your refrigerator, stove and ovens are all a major investment and the third-generation family-owned company; Sub-Zero and Wolf realize this. Your classic kitchen still wants the reliability of well-made design, trusted manufacturing and gorgeous detailing but now with seamless ways to fit amongst your kitchen cabinetry with integrated design that oozes sophistication.

2. Making your refrigerator disappear has never looked so good

Whether you are a design fanatic or you just enjoy fine appointed details, there is nothing like integrated refrigeration that blends seamlessly with your cabinetry. The New Generation of products features more than 60 new appliances of which many disappear into your interiors. Get the look in your home by choosing one of 3 new design styles: Professional, Transitional or Contemporary to incorporate your modern kitchen with gorgeous appliances. New handles, minimal lines on refrigerator facades and controls that disappear are just a few amenities that you will love.

3. Add or detract colorful kitchen details for a modern touch

For many years kitchens were dull and strictly utilitarian. There has been a renewed sense of pride and love for modern kitchens that show off color or the absence of color in kitchen cabinetry, finishes, countertops and even in tile backsplashes. Look to your own personal design style to see how you can add or detract these from your kitchen. Details such as the designer styled iconic red control knobs for your Wolf cooking range, black or professional stainless steel all reflects your culinary design style.

4. Beautiful lighting is now a design feature, more than just a function

Similarly to kitchens as a whole, lighting has taken on a new sense of form in modern kitchens. Whether your style is traditional with an ornate chandelier gracing your kitchen island or if you prefer a minimal set of pendants lamps – embrace lighting in your kitchen. Look to the New Generation of Wolf ovens and Sub Zero refrigerators to offer better lighting inside them for better visibility for you to see your food and to create a gorgeous experience preparing your meals.

5. Blur the lines between cooking and your family lifestyle

For many homeowners the way your family lives and uses your kitchen is reflected in the appliances that outfit your home.  Refrigerator drawers are ideal for busy families with children or entertaining homes that need extra refrigeration for easy accessibility. While busy professionals may opt for sleek appliances that heat up quickly to cook a quick culinary creation on their induction stove cook top. With the new line of Wolf cooking products you don’t have to choose between cooking and your personal design and lifestyle. Blur the lines and combine the way you live into the innovative kitchen amenities you opt for.

6. Innovative controls & details means you can enjoy cooking again

If you have appliances that aren’t a joy to use every day, then why settle? Sub-Zero and Wolf have taken some home innovation ideas you love in your tech gadgets and brought them to the kitchen! Features such as: Dual convection curved back walls in their ovens, a third halogen lamp inside the oven, LCD screens, preset categories and more are what homeowners love. Bring innovative ideas into your kitchen and decide what features you love the most. Programmable modes, “finger-swipe” technology on the control panels has never been such a pleasure to operate.

7. New built-in coffee system creates a barista in your home

If you are a hot drink lover of coffees, espressos, cappuccinos, hot teas or more, why not use innovative ideas such as Wolf’s new coffee system in your home? Innovation always means following the trends and if your kitchen is like most, preparing a personal hot drink experience for friends and family couldn’t be easier. The fully integrated system cleans itself, steams milk, and easily cleans for all the comforts of your favorite barista at home.

8. Bring out your culinary side in your kitchen options

While you may not be a professionally trained chef, there is nothing like professional-grade appliances to make you look and feel wonderful. Cooking is an emotional experience that you love to spend by yourself, with friends and family and adding on professional modules to your Wolf stove and oven can step your kitchen status up to a rock star! Consider adding a steam oven, fryer, induction cook top, Sous Vide for water bath cooking and a teppanyaki iron griddle can all transform your cooking experiences!

9.  Make your kitchen a new destination

We all love being transported off into a new world and creating a personalized kitchen with design style that you love. Kitchen innovation has come a long way over the years and from custom and fanciful range hoods overhead to appliances that exude the same designer appeal as your cabinetry and finishes, your kitchen becomes a destination that you love to escape to. The New Generation of Sub-Zero & Wolf products meet your design needs in innovation and versatility with interchangeable size options, installation custom settings, and more.

10. A New Generation for your kitchen with innovation

With over 60 new products from Sub-Zero & Wolf, the New Generation is showing how our world is constantly revolutionizing how you experience your home. Many of the new refrigeration wine coolers, refrigerators are Energy Star compliant and are seeking to create a conscious effort of saving energy while still delivering a gorgeous kitchen experience.

{Source: http://freshome.com/2013/10/05/10-kitchen-innovations-for-improving-your-new-generation-home/}