https://www.home-assistant.io/

I aint gonna lie: i am a big fan of the Home Automation movement. Its cool, it's free to run and the community is helpful and inclusive.

Here's just an example of what one part of mine does. I have a motor on each blind. That motor could be used to either open/close the blinds, or as i have done use it to swivel the dropdown curtains open/shut.

They also have wifi so i can talk to them.

I can voice activate an open/shut at any time. I can do it through the web panel, even when i am away from the house.

On my eastern facing apartment lately its been getting a little dim here after 5pm. So I have set up a Scene, where at exactly 5pm each day, it will automatically close the blinds and turn on the Living Room lights.

This is the kind of home automation i like to do. Set and slightly forget.

Sam ..Is there a home automation that brings me breakfast in bed

lol, you could broadcast a text-to-speech on your voice devices for a SO in another room to hear the request :P

FWIW, i have done the TVs, Blinds, Lights, IoTs, electricals, Aircon, and various sensors dispersed around the place. Also using Home Assistant for other non-related services too.

Technologically has surely came a long way within the last 40 years..

My nephew has a refridge that you click a button and you can see inside clear as day, Click it again and it looks like a dry erase marker board that you can write notes on..

It even talks to you plays music etc.. I've never seen anything like it..

When it comes to gadgets that make life easier I'm all for them..

Heck when I finally got a zero turn riding lawn mower about 8 years ago instead of using the self propelled mower I thought I was in heaven

As far as devices for the house I tend to lean more towards gadgets that make cooking & cleaning easier.

Heck now days, there is nothing you can not turn on or off by your phone and not be there. Look at the Security Camera's they have out now you can be at work and talk to someone at your front door.. they have no idea if your home or not..

Ohh what about the vacuum robots they have out now.. I have heard those are awesome.. Heck just not having to do your floors in your house would be a winner. They have came out with one now that not only vacuums but mops your floors. And it has a self cleaning station that empty's it when it gets full & refills the mop part or empties it when needed.. has sensors on it so it knows where something is and goes around it.. Of course it is a bit pricey~~

Yeah, i'm tempted to get one of those vacuum robots too. :) My apartment is under 100 metres square so i just got the living room and two bed rooms with carpet though a robot doing that and the kitchen / bathroom / ensuite tiles would be nice..

My chihuahua has a kennel on the enclosed balcony, pet couch and bowls there too. I was thinking of mounting a battery camera in a corner (have one in mind with a two way mic, night vision etc) so i can calm him down when i have gone out to do some errands and he starts incessantly barking because i didnt take him with me this time!! He is attached as i have had him since he was a puppy and now just shy of two years.