My parents are the opposite of tech-savvy — these are the smart home gadgets that won them over

Using an electric screwdriver, I carefully install the body plate of a smart lock on my parents’ front door. My dad looks on, visibly annoyed. He is just 50 years old and far from the opposite of tech-savvy. That said, you’d think he came from the Silent Generation with the way he dismisses any gadget that doesn’t stream TV or video games. “Do I really need to lock my door with a voice command? How lazy does one have to be to flip a light switch or use a key?” he asks.

Most people would agree that if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. For many, the idea of a smart home is seen as a complex and expensive endeavor that doesn’t initially click to save a few seconds of time. But with today’s advanced features and ease of setup, that’s simply not the case. As a Gen Z kid who grew up with the internet, adding smart lighting or security cameras to rooms came naturally to each apartment I’ve ever lived in. I can remember my excitement as a college freshman returning to my first apartment with the original Google Home speaker and some smart light strips.