Everyday life without technology is unthinkable for us these days. Digitization brought us many new technologies that simplify our everyday life and support us. Things like the smartphone or the television are part of our standard equipment. But what do we need from this technology and what is just a gimmick? Find out here which techniques you really need in everyday life.

5 useful technical things

1. A reliable internet connection

A reliable internet connection is the number one requirement for many technologies. Voice assistants, smart TVs and other devices need internet access to be able to use them to their full potential. Not only devices, but also you yourself will not be able to avoid using the Internet. Many things, such as terminating or concluding contracts, are in some cases only possible online. And even if there are other options: The route via the Internet is usually more convenient and faster than going to a branch or terminating the contract by post.

In order to surf the Internet comfortably and so that all devices have continuous access to the Internet, you need fast Internet or an Internet speed that is tailored to your usage behavior. To find out how fast your internet is, you can use the Test the performance of your own internet. It is best to carry out the test on several devices in order to get a meaningful result. You should receive the strongest Internet that is the least susceptible to interference via the LAN connection. Once you have completed the test, you will receive the upload and download speed of your internet. If it is very low and does not correspond to the contract data, contact your Internet provider.

2. The smartphone

Whether at home or on the go: life without a smartphone is unimaginable today. You just want to take a quick look where the nearest gas station is, get in touch with your friends or find out about the latest events? With a smartphone, you can do this anytime, anywhere. It helps us immensely in everyday life with many small tasks and is also a place of entertainment and relaxation thanks to various apps. The smartphone is an all-round talent and combines devices such as cameras, computers, MP3 player and navigation device.

3. Assistance systems

There are assistance systems in many areas. In cars, for example, there are driving assistants that, thanks to sensors, can help you stay in lane or automatically switch on the lights when it gets dark. These systems are mandatory in Germany.

There are also assistance systems for older people that recognize falls and can then, if necessary, make an emergency call or contact the family. This enables older people to live independently and help is available in an emergency. In addition, they can remind people to take medication or measure their heart rate and forward this information to doctors. Of course, not everyone needs such assistance systems, but they can be very helpful in old age and play an important role in terms of independence.

4. Voice Assistants

Voice assistants such as Siri, Alexa or the Google Assistant are also on everyone's lips these days. Almost everyone knows her but not everyone uses them. Language assistants have access to the Internet and can, for example, answer questions such as "What will the weather be like tomorrow?" or "When will the garbage be picked up?". They thus provide information quickly and easily, but with the right equipment they can also take on other tasks such as controlling lights or switching on devices. Thus, language assistants help us in many areas and simplify our lives. However, all the fun has one disadvantage: Many language assistants are criticized for listening to recordings and thus “spying on” people. However, some models already offer the option of deleting saved recordings. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether such a purchase makes sense.

5. Security and comfort through Smart Home

Smart applications allow devices to be connected and interact with one another. For example, you can control your heating via an app and turn it down at night to save energy. Roller shutters can also be programmed to open or close at a specific time. You can connect the smart home devices to language assistants so that the roller shutters can be operated using voice control, for example.

Various sensors and webcams in and around the house can provide even more security. If movement is detected, the camera turns on and sends the video to an app or smartphone. So you can be sure that you know what's happening at home, even when you're away from home.

Conclusion: what do I really need?

Nowadays there are many techniques that make our life easier and support us. Everyone has to decide for themselves which techniques are essential. While life without the internet and smartphones is hardly imaginable, many still do without language assistants for fear of being bugged. Assistance systems in cars, for example, are already there mandatory and cannot be disabled manually for security reasons. While fall assist is useful, it's not for everyone. In addition, they are also quite expensive to buy. Therefore, weigh up which techniques you want to install at home and what the price-benefit ratio is. Although many techniques are a nice gimmick and help you around the house, they are quite expensive and therefore not worthwhile.