Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 6860 msfocusmagazine.org In today’s world of technology, you can easily control things in your home – such as lights, thermostats, and appliances – with your voice or a click on your phone or tablet. Smart home technology is a great way to customize your home that can make living with MS safer and more comfortable. Aside from the cool, futuristic, Jetsons factor, smart devices are very practical and can be especially useful for someone with a disability. For example, being able to turn on the lights before you enter a room, or before you even enter your house, can make your home much safer. When you are out of the house, the ability to monitor a home security system from your smart phone can provide an extra layer of safety to everyone. If mobility is a problem, being able to control thermostats, and other similar everyday tasks, without having to move around the house, can make things much more manageable. The best part is that many of these options are affordable, easy to use, and do not require subscription services. There are many big technology companies that are competing for a piece of the smart home market. Generally, smart home devices can be controlled with their own apps on Apple or Android devices. However, several large companies are working to create all- in-one solutions. Two major players are Apple with HomeKit and Amazon with the Echo. HomeKit is Apple's digital framework for home automation. HomeKit is already built into the operating system of Apple devices, such an iPads and iPhones. So, you can then use a single app, or use Siri voice commands, from your phone to control all of your smart home devices. Echo is a standalone device from Amazon that offers a similar framework. Using voice commands from “Alexa,” you can also control many devices. Technology companies are designing new home automation devices for both platforms. These devices can be expensive, so you want to make sure they are compatible with your chosen platform. Even if you are already invested in Apple, Echo might still be worth investigating. Companies such as Samsung and Phillips make devices compatible with both platforms, and the list is growing. The best way to enter the smart home market is to buy a smart home starter kit. For $100 – $300, you can get a kit that will come with the basics to get started. Buying a kit is cheaper than buying devices individually and eliminates compatibility issues. For a list of kit options go to makeuseof.com and search for “smart home starter kits.” Some kits require you to be more tech savvy than others, so you want to make sure that the kit you choose is easy to setup and use. It should be easy to add additional devices to the kit. Check out what other products are available. Life with MS Smart Home Technology By Joanne Fortunato MS-TECH 101