Technology advances at such a fast pace it’s very easy to lose count of the latest innovations. It seems that every day there is a new gadget, solution or application for anything and everything and trying to keep up can be exhausting. 

But technology makes life safer, easier, more comfortable, efficient and fun for everyone. For an HOA board member and resident, this means they can connect with their neighbors, work, communicate and enjoy life with less effort. 

Just think about it, 15 years ago would you have imagined that smartwatches or smart cars were going to become an everyday thing? Newer and better technology is being released all the time and you shouldn’t miss it. Our society is hyperconnected and will become even more so in the future. Here we’ve brought together five awesome gadgets that will innovate and improve your community!

Amazon’s Echo

Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa revolutionized the tech world by introducing the voice-activated, internet-connected smart speaker to your home. Now, they’re releasing Echo.

The Echo is one of Amazon’s latest innovation in smart devices. It’s part of the second generation of virtual assistants and it uses Alexa’s assistant software. Echo is able to connect to a whole series of other smart devices, now present in most homes, such as smart-plugs, smart-bulbs, speakers and even smart microwaves. 

HOA board members and residents can use the Echo for a number of different things. It’s useful for making quick internet searches, finding out information and facts about anything you want to talk about. 

Echo can also become the central hub of your smart home or smart condo amenity. It can control the music (Amazon Music or Spotify), lighting, even turning off and on specific devices connected to a smart-plug. As the central hub of your smart (club)house, it can also be used for calling and messaging. If there’s a problem in an amenity, residents could call reception, security, the property manager or an ambulance.

iHome Control app

The iHome app, available in the Appstore, allows board members or residents to configure and control iHome plugs inside their office, property or home. It can respond to voice commands and even has a scheduling feature to make sure the coffee machine is on and running for the association meeting. 

The app can also be configured in different ‘scenes’ for you to control groups of different plugs with just one tap. This can be used to turn lights on or off in the meeting room. A property manager could use it to control the office computers. The possibilities are endless! On top of all of that, the iHome Control App (which uses Siri) can be used on an Ipad and on an Apple Watch. This means that even when you’re not in the room, you can make sure all lights and computers are off.

Nest Learning Thermostat

One of the main reasons that electricity bills are high in summer is how expensive air conditioning is. Especially when it’s left on unnecessarily! The winter comes and the thermostat goes up to keep everyone warm and cozy. The bill can easily add up to a LOT of money! And when dealing with your HOA’s finances, every penny counts, right?  

The Nest Learning Thermostat can be integrated with other smart devices inside the home and it has learning and auto-scheduling features. It also has Bluetooth support and geofencing technology. In addition to these cool features, the Nest thermostat supports voice commands via Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa voice service. This makes it the right fit for anyone living in a hot climate who doesn’t want to pay a fortune on electricity bills.

HOA board members and residents can benefit from this product by integrating it with their air-con system. This way the A/C can be scheduled to turn off after a specific time, for instance after the clubhouse closes, or a board meeting ends. It can be turned on/off from a distance and can be integrated to work with other Nest products. It even has a Home/Away feature that uses motion sensors to detect if there’s someone there, and changes to ECO mode if it thinks the home or amenity is empty.

Nokē lockers

Have you ever thought about just how many locks are used inside a condo? Every lock with its unique old-fashioned key, but what happens when the key for an amenity or the emergency generator gets lost? The answer is chaos, frustration and wasted time. 

Nokē solves this problem by making smart locks that can be easily controlled from an app. They offer a wide array of products, some customizable, for different levels of desired security.  Board members, property managers or residents can open them with the press of a button, and with NO rusty keys! 

This product belongs in your community, where access to some areas needs to be controlled. Nokē also offers in-wall door controllers to monitor to who’s coming and going from staff-only rooms, or restricted areas.  Having control of these spaces can help to improve the overall safety of your association, and make it easier for staff to do their job without carrying dozens of keys.

Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Detector

Few things can be more devastating than a fire, especially inside an HOA or a Condo. That’s why there are laws that require smoke detectors. 

This other Nest product, the Protect Detector is the smart solution to smoke and carbon dioxide (CO) alarms. It can check if its batteries are working and see if its sensors are still good, then it sends you a notification on your phone if they need checking. When it detects smoke or carbon dioxide it tells you (by speaking and through a notification) and lets you know where the fire is. 

The system is also the first smoke/CO alarm you can silence from your phone, by using the Nest App. Different people can have access to the same alarm, making it perfect for use in your community.  Board members and property managers can benefit from this product by making your HOA or condo safer from fires, and facilitating their maintenance. No more noisy or faulty alarms!

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