This post originally appeared on our M2M blog. For insights and news on the M2M industry, follow the team @m2mtelefonica

We’ve all had discussions about what “accessories” we would like our house to have that can make life simpler, easier or even more fun. Mood lighting, voice commands, refrigerators that order food for us when they are running low or past their expiration date, and even the intelligence to change the temperature according to weather changes in our region.

Well, every single one of these items are already here, and it is only a small sample of the capabilities that are at hand today. M2M technology has leapfrogged the development of Smart Home and Smart Buildings over the last years. The most important factor is that all this technology is already accessible globally, and at a low cost – the latter being a big challenge when people want to “upgrade their pad”.

The M2M capabilities are facilitating life and making important changes to the way folks interact with their properties. Here are 6 instances:

• Water leak detection: Through the installation of simple sensors on specific parts of the property, a person can know if a pipe bursts in the middle of winter. The solutions even have the capability to automatically shut down the water mains and text the owner about the damage. This could save important amounts of money on property damages and insurance premiums.
• Energy management: Similarly, through the installation (DIY) of a simple kit, house owners could have real time visibility of their daily consumption and act accordingly, switching off lights or any other devices that are not currently being used.
• Peace of mind: Through M2M devices that link to smartphones, parents can retain better control of their vulnerable youngsters. They are able to see when the kids or nanny have arrived or unlock a door if someone has forgotten the key via a  simple order on the phone or over the web.
• Elderly care: Many families have elderly relatives living alone or staying in the house, so M2M technology allows people to monitor (through personal sensors and cameras) every action and provide a sense of security that our loved ones are well. Even identifying if the medicine bottles have been opened are recorded, so no more “don’t know if I took the noon pill or not” statements!
• Smart Appliances: Several household vendors like Samsung have fridges that have built in touch-screens that keep track of the food, and even find recipes that match the current inventory. Soon you don’t even have to think about what to cook!
• Diagnostics: Together with the previous point, many household goods now include self-diagnostics that alert owners when maintenance is needed or can directly contact the repair shop for maintenance.

This post originally appeared on our M2M blog. For insights and news on the M2M industry, follow the team @m2mtelefonica