STACK #180 Oct 2019

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THE SMART HOME

The popularity of smart home technology is increasing at an exponential rate. STACK takes a look at how you can incorporate the smart home into your entertainment space. Words Paul Jones

N ot just another media buzz word or gimmick, smart home technology is both convenient and efficient, and Australians are adopting it at a phenomenal rate. The tech is being used for security cameras, lighting, entertainment, even garden irrigation, but it’s the entertainment space we’re going to discuss here. Whether you’re a film buff, a gamer, or a music fan, it doesn’t take much to enhance the entertainment experience within your own four walls.

MOVIES For the budding cinephile, setting up a smart home movie system has never been easier, and can also be cost effective. If you’ve made a hardware purchase recently, chances are you’re halfway there already. IN THE MOOD: LED lighting in the entertainment space is an addition you really don’t know you need until you install it – and then you can’t do without it. So, what is smart lighting? In a nutshell, lights that can be controlled wirelessly via a hub or smartphone. These range from regular household bulbs to lighting specifically designed to enhance your media experience, and it’s the latter we’re going to illuminate.

to increase length), two Hue Play smart light bars, and two Hue Go portable lights. Choosing where to place your lights is trial and error, as every space is different. The best result for our set up included attaching a Lightstrip (which comes with adhesive backing) to the rear of the TV, and placing the two light bars fixed down low to either side of the TV cabinet. The two portable Hue Gos were sited on either side of the couch to project some rear lighting. Don’t be deterred by the set up process. The beauty of modern technology is that manufacturers make connecting new hardware simple – even the most incorrigible Luddite can make sense of it. Connection is made via the Hue Bridge – a small box that can either be bought separately or as part of a starter pack – that plugs directly into your modem. The Bridge is the brain that allows all of the lights to be connected and

The Philips Hue range is ideal for this purpose. These lights offer 16 million different colour options, allowing for

complete customisation to suit personal tastes and needs. An ideal starter kit here would be the Hue LED colour Lightstrip (you can add strips ad hoc

operated via the Hue app. Up to 50 lights can be added to each bridge – plenty of room for expansion.

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OCTOBER 2019

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