Smart home and technology trends from IFA

"That little bit of household takes care of itself …" it sounded on the radio in 1974. Right! After all, over 40 years later, the hit by Johanna von Koczian really becomes - thanks to Smart Home. Because the networked house was THE focus at the International Radio Exhibition 2017. Especially when it comes to cooking, thoughtful refrigerators, intelligent ovens that can be controlled by the car and voice assistants really steam in the kitchen. But also in the rest of the house networked systems and components make everyday life easier for us, save energy and make the house more secure. The trends and highlights of IFA 2017 in the video above and here:

Electronic apartment key

Gone are the days of looking for or losing the key - with the Connected Doorlock system, the apartment or front door can also be locked and unlocked using a smartphone using an app or a chip card. Practical also when homeowners travel: Simply give the neighbors access without the hassle of a second key. If you are not at home and the postman rings the bell or the children have forgotten their electronic key, they can grant access via video check - even if you are not at home. Don't worry: when it comes to security, Somfy relies on standards like online banking. Connected Doorlock by Somfy

With Somfy Connected Doorlock, you no longer need a pet key

Photo: manufacturer

Smart listener

Operating technical devices by voice, querying weather or traffic information has found ever more imitators since Amazon Echo. Panasonic also presented its first hi-fi speaker with integrated voice control based on Google Home at the IFA. Not only does this sound like music from your own cloud or via streaming services such as Spotify, but you can also control heating and light by calling. Panasonic GA 10 speakers, from January 2018

The Panasonic speaker listens to the word

Photo: manufacturer

Clever hatch

Open someone's window! From now on, that too will take over the intelligent home. For this purpose, window specialist Velux, together with the smart home experts from Netatmo, has developed a system that automatically detects when it gets too warm, the CO ₂ content increases, it is too moist or too dry. Accordingly, fresh air is automatically provided or shaded. Velux Active, from early 2018

At Velux, windows will soon open automatically if it gets too stuffy or hot

Photo: manufacturer

Great oven

Sous vide, steam cooker, Thermomix - you won't soon be luring anyone out of the oven! Because with the dialog oven, Miele is completely reinventing the oven. What makes the dialog oven so different: It knows exactly when which food is cooked to the point. In this way, different foods could be fried at the same time without having to pay attention to whether something is cooked sooner or later. Everything takes over the "oven". Still nothing is overcooked. And you don't burn your fingers on the baking sheet either: it stays cold. How it works Something like this: Similar to a microwave, electromagnetic waves are permanently sent into the food - and also sent back to antennas, which can measure exactly how much energy is still required to cook the individual product. Only the price salted the soup: The new kitchen wizard is said to cost 8, 000 euros. Dialog oven from Miele; April 2018

With the dialog oven, Miele triggers the next cooking revolution

Photo: manufacturer

Invisible watchdog

The best smart home system doesn't do much if you don't know when smoke detectors or burglar alarms are sounding. This is why Telekom's smart home customers will be able to use the emergency emergency aid provided by Ergo Versicherung in the future. In the event of an alarm, a security service checks the reason and takes appropriate measures - around the clock, 365 days a year. On top of that, Volkswagen owners who are Magenta Smart Home customers also receive alarm messages on the car display and can also control the lights and heating in the house. The “Coming Home” function also detects when the car is approaching home and deactivates the alarm system, for example. Ergo Smart Home protection letter from Telekom; 24 euros a year

Smart home users at Telekom are fully protected

Photo: manufacturer

Clean machine

Siemens is working on the perfect washing machine. For this purpose, the laundry detects the material and degree of soiling using a scanner and sends the information to the machine in order to optimally determine the washing program and amount of detergent. "X-Spect" from Siemens was presented as a prototype at the IFA, where the new washing machines and dryers from the avantgarde series were also presented. Innovative: condensate no longer has to be emptied manually, the fluff filter is cleaned automatically. It goes without saying that both devices can be controlled via smartphone. Avant-garde from Siemens

That has washed itself: the new washing machines and dryers from Siemens

Photo: Getty Images / AFP / Tobias Schwarz

Smart home

How many times have you pondered in the morning, whether you switched off the coffee machine or switched off the light in the bathroom? With innogy's geofencing system, you no longer have to worry about that. The system uses your mobile phone's GPS to detect whether someone is still at home or not, deactivates the devices accordingly, controls heating and light. Of course, this also works the other way round. When you approach your home, the light has already been switched on or is being heated up as you have programmed it. Of course, the system also detects unauthorized entry into the house and sends a warning to the smartphone. Geofencing from innogy

Out of the house, lights automatically off - geofencing makes it possible

Photo: manufacturer

Fit wallet

This sports watch is also a wallet. The Vivoactive 3 not only measures pulse and calorie consumption, but also has a built-in chip with payment function. So no one has to carry cash for refreshments while running or cycling. from Garmin, approx. 330 euros

You can also pay in the supermarket with this sports watch

Photo: manufacturer

Comfortable heating

You just made yourself comfortable on the sofa - and the room is too cold. No problem: The intelligent heating controllers from Netatmo can be easily controlled via mobile phone or via voice control via Google Home. The system also detects when a window is opened and switches the heating off so that no energy is wasted. Heating thermostats starter package from Netatmo, 199 euros

Smart thermostats (e.g. from Netatmo) regulate the indoor climate in a more optimized way, heat and energy can be metered better and even controlled via mobile phone or the voice assistant

Photo: manufacturer

Smart pet sitter

The Pixar film “Pets” (2016) told in a funny way what pets do all day long when masters and / or mistress are not at home. With Petcube, pet owners can now even experience this live. You can use a camera to check whether Fiffi is sleeping in the basket or chewing on his slippers. You can give commands via a loudspeaker, play with the cat using an interactive laser pointer. And if everyone is very good, you can distribute treats with your smartphone.