What cool technology can be added to make your dorm room a little smarter? What’s easy to set up and typically works with campus internet networks?
I suppose you could get Alexa or something…but really…it’s ONE room. How smart technology wise does it need to be?
Your phone & laptop is probably sufficient for everything you need. Many dorms prohibit wireless routers so you might not be able to set up your own network. Maybe get a bluetooth speaker.
Don’t forget you likely will have a roommate as well. Be sure to include that person if you opt for tech control.
A few thoughts…
We setup a USB-C hub for DS17. He can plug his laptop into the hub using the USB-C hub (one cable), and it power/recharge his laptop, while allowing him to use a full size keyboard, mouse and monitor. Knowing he’ll have the “docking station”, he could then get a smaller/lighter laptop and not drag around a 17" laptop to classes.
DD14 has a laptop and a Chromebook. She often leaves the laptop in her room, and takes the much lighter/smaller Chromebook. Especially when all she needs it for is e-mail and internet access. Of course, when she’s needs the laptop (mostly for programing), she’ll take it and the Chromebook.
Noise cancelling headphones can also be useful in a dorm. Something like Bose QuiteComfort 25 or 35.
“Ultra” short throw (can be setup sitting 5 to 7 inches away from the wall) projectors are also popular. They now go up to 4K in resolution and are portable (take it to a friends room to watch a movie).
However, the most important piece of technology is still the smart phone. Adding some apps, especially music apps like Spotify, would be something to look at.
We (FINALLY) replaced my son’s very old iPhone with a new one…thanks to a few Apple Store gift cards. One thing we got for hi was a wireless charging base for his phone. He has been back at school with it for a week and he said “it has changed my life”. What I think he means is that it’s easier to remember to lay the phone on the charger then it is to actually remember to plug it in. Other than that, he’s got a laptop and that seems to be all the tech he needs for his tiny single!
We have an Echo Dot in my D’s room with a Bluetooth speaker. She can listen to music. I tried connecting a smart plug for a lamp but ran into a tech issue with the limitation of the smartplug not being able to work on the schools wireless protocol. We can also ‘call’ her on the Echo from our home Echo. She can set alarms, reminders, etc. if she chooses to do so but no idea if she does.
My opinion…THE most important thing you need to bring with you in terms of technology…is a surge protector…and one with several plug in points. Even after renovations…you will find some dorms with less than optimal outlets…and none where you really want them.
S said the best “cool” technology in his dorm was his mini-fridge. He didn’t study much in his dorm room, but he liked to be able to get a go-gurt or another snack in his dorm, in between his mini-naps.
Don’t overthink this.
We bought Dd her own printer and she has to connect it to her laptop via a cable bc wifi is through the school and she can’t connect it that way. I don’t know anything about Echo Dots, but is that a way to bypass that issue?
Dd was also missing not being able to watch the news , etc bc she didn’t have a tv. She downloaded our cable provider’s app and can now watch the equivalent of cable on her laptop.
I do not think it is possible to put anything other than a phone or computer on the wi-fi at my kid’s school and personal wi-fi routers are not allowed.
Some people bring TVs (some of them large, especially if there is a suite with a living room) and may have apple TV, a fire stick, roku or one of those if it isn’t a smart TV as well as a gaming system.
Internet video camera so your parents can check you out any time? Add a speaker so they can call too. 
And self cleaning water bottles. https://www.clearlyquartz.com/ 
Just star with whatever you use now and thrown in a laptop that meets your college specifications if you don’t have one. Get additional technology if it turns out you need or want it. Honestly, and this is coming from a self proclaimed robotics nerd, I dont see why a student would need an alexa etc.
A 4K monitor, mouse, and full size keyboard can be very useful if you work on large documents or code in your dorm or apartment. Otherwise a 15" screen/16Gb/quad-core laptop is desirable for engineerings/CS if you load your own SW. Many colleges provide workstations so that may not be necessary at all, and a 13" lightweight laptop is preferable.
One of the “coolest” things I’ve seen was a doorbell a MechE student rigged up using an old alarm clock. Very simple and practical considering the suite setup.
Usually school WIFI will prevent you from using some IOT devices - you could bring your own router to try to get around that, but that may be against university policy (do so at your own risk). I would recommend a minifridge, coffee maker (or kettle for tea if that’s your thing), microwave, and large monitor (if you plan on working at your desk).
Some schools don’t allow microwaves.
Boy, do I feel like a Luddite. I have no clue what half of the stuff mentioned on this thread is or does.