Everyone and their cousin seems to be talking about Smart Homes, lately. TV ads are filled with mentions of “OK Google” and “Alexa…”, banner ads want to make us buy Smart Wearable devices & Smart Lights, while contests like #GetFitWithFlipkart are trying to make us go outdoors and get more active.

But, is it all hype? Is India ready for the #SmartHomeRevolution?  And, do you need be a techie to try out some of these new technologies?

As a matter of fact, what earlier used to involve technical know-how has now reached the Consumer market. India boasts of the second-largest Internet user base in the world (after China). And a large majority of us are experiencing the Internet mostly through our smartphones. The bottom line is that if you have a smartphone and access to WiFi in your home, many of the “Smart Home” devices are already within your reach.

Here are a few examples you can get started with:

1. Smart Speakers

Google Home and Amazon Echo offer multiple devices (with varying sound quality) that enable you to do a variety of tasks by simply “talking” to your speaker! They easily connect to your home WiFi, and have built-in capabilities for Internet Search and streaming music (including Indian services like Saavn). Adding reminders or checking appointments from your linked calendars is also a breeze. You can also connect multiple devices from different rooms for a seamless experience.

Benefit: Fill your house with Music + Search at the tip of your tongue.

2. Smart Cameras

There are hundreds of models of WiFi-enabled cameras available online, that can be easily configured to work with your home WiFi network without breaking the bank. Also called IP-cams, most offer a mobile app that can be used to access the live feed from any of the linked cameras. They typically have a micro-SD memory card slot (just like your smartphone) to store recordings from their feed. Higher-end models also enable you to “talkback” from a remote location, and have “night vision” to see better in dim light conditions. So, choose the model that best suits your needs.

Benefit: Easily monitor your children/maid/aged-folks from outside your home.

3. Smart Watches

This is a category that has a huge range of devices in all shapes, sizes and costs. Basic ones offer a “pedometer” that counts the steps you take to keep track of your activity level through the day. Advanced features include “inactivity alerts” (that remind you to get on your feet every X minutes), “sleep mode” (that tracks the quality and quantity of your sleep) and “heart rate” (that tracks your heart rate when evoked). Most come with companion apps for smartphones that can be used to store past data and access more detailed analytics of your behavior. The key here is battery life, since models range from those that need charging daily to those that need charging just once a year. So, choose wisely. I should also mention that some of the inexpensive models are highly inaccurate when it comes to the basic task of counting steps. So, do read reviews before you buy one.

Benefit: Know how active (or inactive) you are, and take steps to improve.

As you can see, there are a wide variety of “smart” devices that just need a smartphone and a WiFi connection to deliver their smarts. So, don’t be afraid to take the plunge and give it a try.

Who knows? Your’s may just turn out to be the “smartest” home in your neighborhood!