Written by: Sarah Haley

Over the last decade, there has been rapid growth in the field of technology. In 20 years, technology has advanced from iPod Nanos to fingerprint scanners and face ID.

Now, all it takes in today’s world is one look at a screen to unlock everything that hides behind it.

Currently in Canada, there are over 44,000 companies in the Canadian Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector. Of these businesses, over 40,000 fall within the software and computer services industries.¹

Advancements in technology have pushed the world forward in multiple ways. The ICT sector is a significant contributor to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2020 alone, the ICT sector’s GDP was $96.8 billion.¹

The ICT sector is also responsible for 27.2% of Canada’s GDP growth between 2015 and 2020.¹

The tech field is continuing to grow constantly, with new appliances, toys, phones, and gadgets being released daily. The amount of home tech accessories is endless. 

With so many tech toys on the market, it’s hard to know which ones are worth the purchase.

To help you make your home as tech-forward as possible, we have compiled a list of five tech gadgets that will innovate your home and leave you working smarter, not harder.

1. Blue Pure 311 Auto Air Purifier

Having good air quality is critical for multiple reasons. When you breathe in polluted air, the pollutants enter your lungs. Once in your lungs, the pollutants can then gain entry into your bloodstream and be carried to internal organs like your brain and heart.

The Blue Pure 311 Auto Air Purifier is the perfect addition to your home to keep your air quality the best it can be. It uses a three-part filtration system to cleanse the air from large and airborne particles. All it takes is 12 minutes for the Blue Pure 311 Auto Air Purifier to completely filter the air in a 388ft2 room.

As an added bonus, this fun tech home addition has five colour options so it can match any room aesthetic. Even changing the filter is easy, and it only requires a replacement every 6 months.

If that didn't convince you, the Blue Pure 311 uses less energy than the average LED lightbulb so there's no need to worry about leaving it on all day.

2. The Smart Garden 3 by Click and Grow

Do you love to garden but are unable to have your own? With 55% of the world’s population living in urban areas, having access to nature is becoming a privilege.² There are tons of physical and mental health benefits associated with having indoor plants around your home. If you live somewhere where having an outdoor garden isn’t an option, Click & Grow has you covered.

The Smart Garden 3 ($129.95) uses technology to give your plants everything they need to grow optimally. The smart garden is an automatic self-watering planter with smart soil that provides the perfect amount of light, oxygen, and nutrients for your plants. 

With over 60 varieties of flowers, herbs, and leafy greens to choose from, you can customize your garden to your liking. Everything you grow will be organic, pesticide-free, and fresh. All you need to do is plant your pods, add some water to the tank, plug it in, and enjoy watching your garden grow from inside your own home.

Having a green thumb has never been easier.

3. True Dispensers: Troop Dispenser

Among many other things, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world the importance of hand hygiene. Hands are constantly touching new surfaces. It’s no wonder that on average, you encounter 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing you to an estimated whopping 840,000 germs.³

Triden cares about your health just as much as they care about the environment. The Triden Troop mini automatic dispenser  has been created with the consumer in mind. It uses infrared sensing technology to automatically dispense product onto your hand and is crafted from corrosion-resistant 304 stainless steel.

You can fill your True Dispenser with any shampoos, conditioners, soaps, hand sanitizers, and hand lotions you have at home. The Troop even has three adjustable liquid supply settings allowing you to customize how much product dispenses. Plus, the troop eliminates excess plastic bottle waste with its refillable tank. Now you can save money buying in bulk while also saving the environment.

4. Tier 1 Advanced PowerStrips by Trickle Star

Energy consumption comes at a cost (literally). The average Canadian household uses 11,135 kWh of electricity each year, and the average apartment uses 5,605 kWh.⁴ It’s no shock that Canadians consume this much energy considering the fact that most electronics, like your Blu-ray player, TV sound system, coffee maker, and cable box, are drawing power 24/7 when they’re plugged in.

The phrase, “standby power” refers to the continuous drawing of energy from devices when they’re plugged in but turned off.⁵ The Tier 1 Advanced Powerstrips (from $29.99) were created to eliminate this problem.

The powerstrips work by automatically switching off peripherals (external devices) when you turn off the main power source such as a PC, iMac, or TV. They also sell a motion sensor powerstrip that’s perfect for your work or home office.

If you’re looking for other energy-saving products, Trickle Star also manufactures an Electric Water Heater Controller, Wi-fi Smart Thermostat, Energy Monitor, and a TrickleStar DryerSaver.

5. iRobot Roomba Vaccum & Braava Mop

Cleaning the floors of your home is a lengthy process. Just getting the motivation to start spring cleaning is hard enough. It’s a good thing that iRobot has all your floor cleaning needs covered.

Their iRobot Roomba vacuum (from $369.99) can clean your home even when you’re not there. Its intelligence sensors allow it to navigate the floors of your home while its three-stage cleaning system works to rid your floors of dirt, debris, and pet hair.

But it doesn’t stop there.

If you like an automatic vacuum that cleans your home without you having to lift a finger (besides pressing the apps “clean” button), then you’ll love the iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop (from $279.99). This tech-mop uses its sensors and precision jet spray to tackle any dirt or stains on your floors. It even automatically selects the correct cleaning mode based on the braava jet pad type.

Cleaning your home has never been easier…. Literally.

The Takeaway

If you’re looking to upgrade your home, start by introducing some of these cool tech home gadgets.

“Technology like art is a soaring exercise of the human imagination”
– Daniel Bell (American sociologist, writer, editor, and Harvard University professor)⁶