OUTDOOR LIVING SPECIAL SECTION : TECH | DROUGHT | ZEN |
outdoors , they ’ re also cooking in the open air . For these types of kitchens , Laughton says the most important piece of technology is proper lighting that ’ s placed strategically . She recommends smart LED light bulbs , which make great accent lighting and can be controlled with an app on your cellphone . Lighted barbecue tongs may also be helpful .
When it comes to outdoor appliances , these may include everything from smart dishwashers to stoves , grills , electric pizza ovens and more .
Laughton also notes that the home-tech industry is dramatically shifting to include artificial intelligence . One example that fascinates her is a refrigerator that tracks your food and drink supply to alert you when something runs out , or even add it to a virtual grocery list .
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OPEN-AIR ENTERTAINMENT Homeowners would be remiss not to incorporate technology in their outdoor play . One must-have item that Laughton suggests is a smart TV , which is wireless and powered by the internet instead of traditional cable .
When it comes to smart TVs , Samsung is the leading vendor worldwide with the electronics brand accounting for more than 25 % of the global smart TV market .
The Terrace is one of Samsung ’ s TVs that ’ s designed specifically for outdoor spaces , according to a Samsung spokesperson . This premium outdoor home theater experience uses a quantum dot light-emitting diode ( QLED ) display for better picture quality . The Terrace allows for high-quality images even in full sunlight , which is possible because of a weather-resistant , anti-glare
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screen that has been verified for its outdoor visibility performance by safety science company Underwriters Laboratories .
For an even bigger production and fun weekend activity , especially for those with kids , an outdoor movie screen can be installed virtually anywhere , though Laughton recommends placing it on a wall or under a canopy to help protect it from harsh weather . Screens can be as sophisticated as a motorized version that comes down at the push of a button to one that can be pulled down manually , or something even simpler .
“ You can just hang a sheet and get the proper projector — you don ’ t have to get that fancy ,” Laughton says , noting that portable projectors can even be stored indoors and only brought out for screenings .
No entertainment center would
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COURTESY OF SAMSUNG |