Get smart assistance Control your

Get smart assistance

Smartphone crowded with apps? A smart home assistant clears the clutter and gives you new control over your home

One of the fastest growing and most useful trends in technology is the smart home assistant. What started as a device you could ask questions about the weather has turned into a means of controlling our appliances, lighting and even our watering systems. All corners of the home can be modified to be smart, but many of us are still yet to get started. Here’s what you need to know.

What is it? In essence, a smart home assistant is a tool that makes your home ‘smarter’, bringing all your high-tech gadgets together and making them easier and more intuitive to control. This might be a single app, like Grid Connect, that brings all the devices under one-touch control, or a voice assistant that obeys your every vocal command. These, like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, are accessed through a smart home hub (such as Google Home or Amazon Echo), a little device that sits on the kitchen bench or in the living room – or one in every room – waiting to be ‘woken’ and called to work. “When humans first designed computers, the end goal was to be able to speak to them and hear an intelligent response,” says Megan Smith, PR manager for devices and Alexa at Amazon. “Mice and keyboards were a stepping stone to 

Amazon ‘Echo Plus’ 2nd Gen smart speaker with Alexa in Charcoal, I/N: 0147422

Read it!

Find out more: bunnings.co.nz/ smart-hub-everythingyou-need-to-know

This Bluetooth turntable can stream audio directly to your wireless speakers

PRO TIP

Over time, your smart home assistant will learn more about you – your preferences and routines. It will offer suggestions for activities, places to visit, or music choices

How does it work? Setting up a smart home hub is easy and usually all managed through an app on your smartphone. Once you’ve followed the set-up process of your smart home assistant, begin your experience with basic questions, things you might normally type into Google when you have a debate with friends. Build the habit of talking to your smart hub instead of looking at your phone or computer to find an answer. You’ll be surprised how much faster it is. A smart assistant can also use the speakers to play your favourite music through Spotify, Apple Music, listen to podcasts or stream radio stations from anywhere in the world.

this dream, but technologies like Alexa are getting us closer to making this a reality.”

Smart home hubs come in all shapes and sizes. Small speakers from Google or Amazon can listen and respond, while others feature displays that can listen, respond and even show content. A smart display, for example, allows you to adjust requests from “What is the weather today?” to “Show me the weather forecast for this week.” The displays can also be used to show you things, such as who is at the front door, walk you through a cooking recipe and play videos.

Setting the scene By playing with settings, you can set up your home to activate a ‘scene’, triggered by a tap on your smartphone (through

Security

1 3

Smart plugs

1

4

5 2

1 Arlec 5 outlet smart powerboard, $59.98, I/N: 0074830. 2 Deta smart rewireable plug with Grid Connect, $24.98, I/N: 0098810. 3 Arlec 10m smart extension lead with Grid Connect, $34.98, I/N: 0098824. 4 Brilliant smart wi-fi plug and USB charger, $19.98, I/N: 0091644. 5 Deta touch activated smart double power point switch with Grid Connect, $59.98, I/N: 0098813.

4 2 5

Smart lighting can set the mood in your home – creating ambience or even a party vibe

1 Swann wire free security camera, $300, I/N: 0163667. 2 Yale ‘Assure’ keyed digital deadbolt in Satin Nickel, $338, I/N: 8909722. 3 Swann ‘Pan and Tilt’ wireless security camera, $229, I/N: 0035121. 4 Ring ‘Stick Up Cam Battery’ 3rd Generation security camera, $208, I/N: 0173106. 5 Ring video doorbell in Satin Nickel, $174, I/N: 4211388.

Remote notes Smart plugs can be used on power points to help control the power to that device. Using your voice or smartphone anywhere in the world, you can check on the home remotely and even turn off that forgotten iron! Security cameras and doorbells can also integrate with your smart home. When someone rings the doorbell they will appear on your Google or Amazon display and your smartphone. This is handy when you’re not at home and a courier or an unexpected visitor arrives – you could have a two-way conversation with them via your smartphone or smart assistant. Indoor cameras work the same way, for example allowing you to see the kids arrive home. Caroline Rainsford, country director of Google NZ, says, “Being able to control these devices from your mobile phone, whenever you want, wherever you are, gives you a helping hand so you can get on with all the other important things in your life, like spending time with loved ones.” Sensors can also be added; a motion sensor could trigger a light to turn on, while a contact sensor could advise you if a window or door is ajar.

Smart security cameras and doorbells are great tools for keeping a watchful eye around the home

Lighting the way Having mastered the basics, you can use your smart assistant to control many of the practical functions around your home, such as your lighting. Smart bulbs can plug into your existing lights and can connect to your voice assistant via wi-fi or with a compatible hub. Amazon Echo, for example, can work with Philips Hue and Brilliant LEDs among others. Voice commands are especially handy when you have your hands full, or if you’ve just arrived home at night and need the lights to come on quickly.

Commanding a dark path to light up when you get home late is a great safety feature of smart lighting

Grid Connect) or with a single voice command (to Google Assistant or Alexa). Greet your home with a cheery “Good morning”, which might prompt lights to switch on, blinds to rise, the kettle to boil and your voice assistant to update you on the latest news headlines. Or use your smart assistant to take care of your home while you’re away – tap your smartphone as you leave the house to have appliances and lights switched off and the security system armed. With a minimum of set-up, your home can take multiple tasks off your daily to-do list.

1

Lighting

4

2 3 5

1 Philips Hue 9.5W A60 E27 starter kit in White Ambiance, $198, I/N: 0029154. 2 Arlec 9.5W 806lm RGB+CCT ES smart globe with Grid Connect, $24.98, I/N: 0111501. 3 Verve Design 36W smart LED ceiling light with Grid Connect, $71.99, I/N: 0119807. 4 Philips Hue ‘Go’ smart LED portable light, $122, I/N: 0326166. 5 Arlec smart up and down LED wall light with Grid Connect, $84.99, I/N: 0119823. 6 Philips Hue ‘Impress’ outdoor pedestal light base unit, $368, I/N: 0137557. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Soon you’ll be able to control ovens, fridges, freezers and more with your voice assistant

Appliances of science Most new appliances – fridges, ovens, washing machines, vacuum cleaners – are smart home compatible. While you finish cooking, you can ask your voice assistant to send the vacuum to clean the kitchen floors, and the vacuum will get to work. These aren’t future products, these are available today. Further into 2020 and beyond, our entire kitchen will start to connect to the smart home. The fridge will know what is inside, will recommend recipes and even command the oven to start preheating. Your washing machine will detect the fabrics, the weight and dispense its own detergent based on those factors, then it will notify your smartphone when it’s finished. By starting with the smart home today, you’ll be well prepared to integrate your whitegoods when the time comes. ◆