With the recent rise in home automation technology, like digital voice assistants, smart locks, more and more people are using smart home devices in their homes. Smart devices are powered by the Internet of Things (IoT). Currently, there are greater than 10 billion active IoT devices and that number is expected to cross 25.4 billion in 2030. In this scenario, let's look at six smart home innovations you should invest in.

1) Voice assistants 

Voice assistants have become a must-have for the technologically savvy across the globe. Voice assistants like Siri, Google Home, and Alexa use the device's microphone to capture an individual's voice and then convert it using software into commands that the device can process. Examples are asking a voice assistant to tell you the weather forecast for the day, play music, or ask trivia questions. Keep in mind that voice assistants can act as Smart Home hubs and are one of the critical components of a Smart Home System.

2) Smart Lights

With the rise in popularity of Smart Homes, many well-known lighting manufacturers are incorporating smart tech into their lighting products. You can purchase smart light bulbs, lamps, garden lights, LED strips, and more. All of these devices can be controlled remotely using Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity. Basic smart lights are available in single colors and permit simple controls like brightness and on/off operations. Premium smart lights allow more granular control ranging from on/off functions to color and sequencing. If you like playing online games like live blackjack at Casumo, you can adjust the lighting in your room to suit the game you're playing to get an immersive atmosphere that adds to the gaming experience.

3) Security devices

Recent years have seen many smart security devices meant to improve your home's safety. Smart CCTV systems let consumers look at cameras remotely, store recordings in the cloud, and get alerts for any movements. Users can monitor their homes using smart CCTV cameras while controlling them with the help of a smartphone app. Furthermore, Smart locks can let users unlock their doors remotely and check if they locked their home while stepping out. The Nest Protect is an intelligent smoke alarm that tests itself automatically 400 times daily so that you can be sure it'll work whenever you need it to. It helps detect smoke and carbon monoxide in your home and sends you phone alerts to help you know if there's danger in your home when you're away.

4) Smart sockets

While the standard wall socket has been in existence for decades, in recent years, sockets come with USB charging ports to help you with remote switching. Smart sockets connect to your home's network and let you turn them on and off remotely. Some sockets even come with an emergency monitoring feature. This feature helps get a report to see how much time the switch was on and its energy consumption.

5) Smart thermostats

Controlling your home's temperature with a tap on your mobile device, or a voice command can be really convenient. New model Smart thermostats are intended to be compatible with IoT. You can connect them to your home WiFi and other devices, such as Google Home, Alexa, and Apple mobile devices. You can control your home's temperature whenever you want, even if you are outside your home.

6) Smart beds

Smart beds are an innovation that is starting to be used in medical facilities and even homes. A smart bed uses intelligent sensors that gather data while you sleep. The next step is to deliver notifications to your mobile device so that you can assess whether you are getting a good night's rest. A few smart beds come with a built-in TV and alarm systems that help you enjoy lying in bed or get better sleep at night.