STACK #217 November 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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A fully automated home is the definition of convenience, and joining the smart home revolution has never been easier and more affordable. It’s time to embrace the benefits of smart, connected living! Words Adam Colby SMARTHOME STARTERS

T he concept of home automation – comprising video doorbells and voice controlled lights, locks, speakers, TVs, security systems and more – was once the realm of science fiction, from The Jetsons to Back to the Future II . But the future is now, and the popularity of smart home tech continues to grow exponentially. Smart home devices are fully programmable to suit your lifestyle, are energy efficient, and will even learn your daily routine. They can be easily integrated, activated, managed, and customised using a smartphone app – at home or remotely – and carry out your every instruction with a simple voice command. All you need is a good Wi-Fi connection. The good news is you don’t have to be an electrician or IT wizard to build a smart home. Devices are designed for easy installation and connection, although some basic DIY may be required for brackets and attachments. Smart home devices will convert even the most ardent technophobe, and enhance your lifestyle in a myriad of ways. Even better, they are now more affordable than ever, and run the gamut of the entire home, both indoors and out. There’s even something for your pet! Diving into the smart home universe may initially seem daunting, but the beauty of this tech is that it can be installed incrementally, and the more you understand its ingenious

Smart tips A Google Nest Hub Max can be customised to recognise individual family members using Face Match. This is handy for personalising content like event reminders and messages. The camera will need a clear, well-lit view of the user’s face to enable recognition. Face Match works in conjunction with Voice Match (that recognises who is asking a question), which needs to be enabled first – Google will then take you to Face Match set up. Nest Hub Max and Nest owners can also make voice calls to a smartphone or landline from the hub. Simply say, “Hey Google, call [contact name]." you want to automate, be it lighting, speakers, security cameras, locks, etc. Basic devices like smart bulbs and plugs are a good foundation on which to build a smart home bit by bit, and smart plugs can also transform older appliances into smart ones. There are plentiful possibilities to explore. Before you embark down the path to luxurious automated living, here are a few important smart home basics you need to know. interconnection and revel in its convenience, the more you’ll be determined to have the smartest home on the block. Begin by deciding what parts of the home

One hub to rule them all A smart home ecosystem links all the smart devices on your home Wi-Fi network, enabling them to communicate with each other and you to conveniently control them through a single app. A hub is the command centre for management and control. Always ensure you choose a platform that’s compatible with your smart devices. Most will support Google Nest, Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit (Siri), so you’re likely to already be using one of these virtual assistants. Some brands have proprietary platforms that are

Google Nest Hub Max

32 NOVEMBER 2022

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