How smart devices can keep you close to home when lockdown’s lifted
3rd February 2022
Looks like many of us will be back at the office and socialising with our workmates again this spring. But when we’re out and about, we’re still going to want to stay close to home. And that’s where smart home devices can really help.
What are smart home devices?
Smart home devices are essentially everyday electronic devices that you can control using your smartphone, via an app – or even your voice. Think lights, plugs and thermostats.
Add a layer of security, with a smart light
Smart light bulbs work – and look – just like normal light bulbs. But the difference is you can control them from anywhere. So if you’re at the shops or away on holiday, you can turn them on or off from your smartphone to make it look like someone’s home.
They’re great for saving energy too, because you can always check if lights have been left on. Then turn them off if you need to.
Know when the kids are home, with smart sensors
Smart sensors are a great way of knowing if anything’s happening at home when you’re not there. The moment they detect movement, they send a notification to your smartphone.
So if you’re back at the office and the kids are old enough to make their way home from school, you’ll know the moment they walk through the door.
How to keep my home safe when you're out and about
Smart technology has completely changed the game when it comes to home security. Now you can build a security setup that’s just right for your home using any combination of sensors, lights and plugs.
This makes it more affordable and completely personalised to you. Plus, you control it all from your smartphone.
Start your smart home with our friends at Hive
If you haven’t heard of Hive, they’re one of the UK’s favourite smart home brands and they’re also a sister company of British Gas. Their smart thermostat is used in over 1.6 million homes around the country. And they have a whole family of other smart devices like lights, sensors and plugs.
Most of their devices work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so you can control your home with your voice too. You can find out more about Hive here.
Getting ready for the office again?
Our homes have been our offices, our social lives and our sanctuaries all winter. So once we're back in the office, being able to check in on things at home with a smart device or two could help us worry less, and focus on getting back into the swing of things.