With technology advancing all the time and gadgets getting smarter, it was only a matter of time before everyday household appliances became smart. We found three more items you may consider in your quest to make your home smarter. Let’s look at the cool things we can now do from an app on our phones.

Doorbell

This is not just a doorbell, it is a Ring doorbell. It has a camera, a speaker, and a microphone that allows for two-way communication. With this doorbell, you can see who is at your door and talk to them from your mobile phone, no matter where you are. Additionally, the Ring doorbell is compatible with Alexa.

The Ring Video Doorbell Wired will cost you R999 and can be purchased from Takealot, Incredible Connection, and other well-known stores locally.

(There are newer models from Ring and they will cost you more.)

Blinds

You can manually open and close your blinds, or control them via Alexa using voice commands. Currently, several brands are offering smart blinds or blind motors in South Africa, some of which are compatible with Alexa and Google Home, depending on the brand you choose. With these smart blinds, you can do more than just open and close them. The motor is designed to move slowly and quietly, and you can also program it to open and close at specific times using the app.

The blinds motor/driver will cost you from R1500 +

Smart Pet Feeder

Xiaomi and other brands are currently selling these devices in South Africa. The device allows you to schedule meals for your pet and dispense them. They are designed to keep the food dry and fresh. Some are also designed to keep track of the food levels and have batteries as a backup in case of power cuts. It's best to pre-schedule all meals to ensure that your pet gets their meals uninterrupted.

A smart pet feeder will cost from R1700 + in South Africa.

If you have any of the above devices or something similar, tell us about your experience in comments.