Tech for Your Backyard: 9 Hot Outdoor Technology Trends

Technology is awesome, particularly when it can jazz up your home. With the help of smart-home automation, you can control everything from adjusting the thermostat to listening to your favorite playlist using only your smartphone or tablet, and everything can be easily integrated throughout all areas of the house. Home automation is all the rage these days. But awesome tech doesn’t stop at the door. You can bring many of these cool tech innovations outside, too. Here are some of the hottest smart tech you can get for your backyard this summer.

1. SMART OUTDOOR LIGHTING

When you’re decorating the interior of your place, designers will inevitably advise you to make sure every room is properly lit. But the same goes for your outdoor spaces. Light up your patio with an attractive smart lighting system. You can also avoid unsightly light fixtures by utilizing lighting products in natural colors that blend perfectly with the landscaping of your yard. Increase your energy efficiency with smart light bulbs, and better yet, control the lighting of your entire yard using your smartphone or the home’s control panel.

2. THEATER SYSTEM

On cool summer nights when the sun is setting and your backyard fire is dying, it can be a great feeling to snuggle under blankets and watch a movie in the backyard. This can be a particularly appealing feature for your kids’ slumber parties. Every outdoor theater system requires a good projector and a screen. Many people choose to hang a sheet from the side of their house or a fence, but that obviously produces a subpar movie experience. But if you’d like to have something a little more

On cool summer nights when the sun is setting and your backyard fire is dying, it can be a great feeling to snuggle under blankets and watch a movie in the backyard. This can be a particularly appealing feature for your kids’ slumber parties. Every outdoor theater system requires a good projector and a screen. Many people choose to hang a sheet from the side of their house or a fence, but that obviously produces a subpar movie experience. But if you’d like to have something a little more high tech, try a weather-proof roll-up screen that installs on the side of your house. Or if you really want to create a true theater experience, contact a AV professional to design a custom home theater complete with seating, media storage and automated lighting.

3. SURVEILLANCE AND ALARM SYSTEMS

You can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your home. Unguarded properties are victimized by theft and burglary everywhere, but you can attain greater peace of mind with a good security system. Today’s technology makes it easy to monitor your surveillance and alarm systems using smart home automation technology. For example, if the doorbell rings and you are upstairs cleaning the bedroom, simply turn on your TV and see who is at the front door. A connected smart home allows you to arm your home, check in on the security cameras, and call the police, all using your mobile device at home or when away.

4. AUDIO SYSTEMS

What’s outdoor relaxation or a party without good music? Equip your patio with a smart audio system that keeps track of your favorite music apps and plays them on command. Plus, when you connect your home’s audio system with smart home automation, you can control what you listen to and where. For example, listen and watch the game as you grill on the patio with your best buds, while the kids enjoy a Disney playlist on Pandora while splashing around in the pool!

5. WEATHER-RESISTANT AND ANTI-GLARE TELEVISIONS

You don’t have to miss a game or your favorite drama series just because you want to enjoy the weather outdoors. Hook up a television with your favorite channels and apps on your patio or outdoor kitchen. Plus, no need to worry about the elements ruining your TV equipment or viewing experience! There are many options that can withstand bad weather and sunlight.

6. SOLAR POWER

There’s something terribly satisfying about generating free energy that lowers your utility bills and boosts your technical integration into the rest of the world. Solar-powered items are a big hit in backyard design. Even, smaller solar-operated entities can offer the benefits of affordable electricity without the hassle. For example, you can install charging stations that run entirely off the sun. Then you can plug in phones, laptops, televisions, and other electrical devices for a free power charge. This is a particularly handy gadget in an emergency if your phone is dead and you need power to get the word out.

7. PATIO SPACE HEATERS

Who says the fun has to end just because summer does? For when it starts to cool off, you can install cleverly concealed patio space heaters. These heaters can be placed inside your patio umbrella to offer heat to everyone snuggled up around the table. They can also be installed inside a coffee table, and thereby keep your seating area warm. The best part is that outdoor space heaters can be charged with solar power. They might not receive as much sunlight in the winter, but they should gather enough energy for the purpose, and you’ll save substantial amounts on your power bills.

8. ROBOTIC LAWN MOWER

Riding lawn mowers might be fun for the first five minutes, but if it’s hot outside and you have a big yard, you’ll feel less smug about having purchased such a big plot of land. Let’s not even talk about push lawnmowers that cause back problems and produce less-than-pristine results. Robotic lawn mowers that cut your grass without any supervision are massively popular with homeowners these days. They’re easy to program so they’ll tackle your whole yard, they don’t cut corners, they trim neatly around trees and bushes, and they enable you to avoid accidents.

9. POOLSIDE SYSTEM CONTROL

People who have swimming pools know the hassle of getting in and out of a pool just to change the music or make a phone call. It’s much easier simply to install a waterproof poolside control that lets you manage every detail of your outdoor electronics. From playing music to making phone calls, this tech gadget is perfect for lazy summer afternoons in the pool.

GET YOUR CUSTOM ELECTRONICS FROM BLUE SPEED AV

We are a full-service residential and commercial custom electronics design and integration company that has your home’s best interest in mind. We cover everything from audio and video to lighting and security, and we’ll educate you on the best ways to integrate smart technology into both your outdoor and indoor living spaces now and in the future. For more information about the services we can provide, contact us today!