2014 has roundly been hailed as the year the home gets smart. If you've thought about dabbling in home automation but found the array of devices, systems, gadgets and price points just too overwhelming, you are not alone. While the concept of a home that is smarter than its owner is both thrilling and slightly scary, in reality, what most of us want out of our smart homes is simple: security, savings and a dash of convenience.

Manufacturers are catching on to this consumer desire, and have come up with a variety of simple, stand-alone smart gadgets that get you a step closer to the home of the future, without the need for a computer science degree.

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