CONTENTS Tech at Home A Smart Abode Sweet Dreams Smart Kitchen High-tech Garage Pet Tech Smart Home Shopping Smart Wear Cutting-edge Communication Electronic Entertainment Brainwaves Future Fantastic Tech Timeline Glossary Learning More Index and About the Author 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 31 32
TECH AT HOME Technology in the 21st century touches every part of our lives It reaches everywhere including the four walls we call home The Internet of Things IoT is a phrase used to describe the billions of smart devices that send and receive information through the Internet It is estimated that by the year 2020 about 200 billion smart devices will be connected to the Internet about 26 for each person on the planet Many of these devices will be in our homes From opening doors to boiling a kettle from bed smartphone technology is making our lives easier in surprising ways As new technologies are developed the wireless networks that connect smart devices become more powerful and more reliable Mobile networks are referred to by generation which is represented by the letter G The first generation or G used analog technology We now use 4G digital technology which is able to process more information than 3G By around 2022 an even more powerful 5G will begin to replace 4G Smart technology has already transformed the way that we communicate work and shop Soon it will transform our homes too There are different ways to access cellular networks While some devices require a plug to work many more operate using wireless technology Two common systems used to wirelessly transmit data are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Wi-Fi is short for wireless fidelity Places where Wi-Fi is available are called hotspots Bluetooth is used to connect devices over short distances It does not need access to the Internet For example music in our homes can be sent from a smartphone to a wireless speaker via Bluetooth 4 WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY MAKING CONNECTIONS
Homes are going high tech Need to turn up the heat or close the window shades Talk to the app on a smartphone Bored Xbox or PlayStation are there Worried your parents are going to say you are eating too fast and that you are going to get sick HAPIfork vibrates and flashes to warn you to slow down No matter what you want to do at home there is or may soon be an app or smart device for that How do you listen to your favorite tunes The cutting-edge technology you use today could soon become out of date as smart tech devices become even more innovative 5 ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
A SMART ABODE An abode is a home Homes are smart these days Computer-controlled gadgets are often called smart because they are able to perform tasks that appear intelligent Smart homes are living spaces that are wired with new technologies that make them more efficient comfortable and secure They are often controlled by a control center such as the Amazon Echo This voice activated device syncs with other devices that control other electronic systems such as the thermostat lights and entertainment systems Smart speakers act as the control center in many smart homes The Amazon Echo wakes up when the word Alexa is spoken which is the name given to the device’s software The Echo records your voice command then sends it through the Internet to a cloud-based program Software converts the information into a code command and sends it to the appropriate website such as a music-streaming site Alexa can learn new commands called skills by connecting extra electronics and software to the system Designers have also given Alexa a sense of humor She can crack jokes such as What’s a zombie’s favorite vacation destination Answer The Dead Sea These bonus features are known as Easter eggs How about asking a robot to vacuum your home Smart vacuums travel around the home independently cleaning up dirt as they move 6 COMMAND CENTER
