IOL Tech September 2020 by Independent Media Digital Magazines

IOL

TECHNOLOGY

SAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FREE MONTHLY TECH AND INNOVATIONS MAG

The SMART HOME issue

CONTENTS Voice assistance is resonating with baby boomers

How to set up a smart home (on a budget)

Microsoft GBV technology

Top Smart Home Products

Tencent’s ‘smart city’ seen as model for postcoronavirus China

How to build a smart Kitchen

Homeschooling - how to stay connected

Step into a smart bathroom with amazing gadgets

Best gadgets to turn your living room into smart living room

Cooking trends among millennials: Welcome to the digital kitchen

EDITOR’S NOTE WELCOME to the September Edition of the IOL Tech monthly mag. This month, we celebrate an incredible partnership between IOL Tech and the South African Innovation Summit. It is set to be an incredible event and a must-see for all SA start-ups as well as anyone interested to see how the tech industry is evolving in Africa. The summit takes place from Wednesday, September 30 to Friday, October 2, and you can get your tickets here. In addition, you can receive a 10% discount when you use the promo code ANA20. I look forward to seeing you there! In this month’s mag we have decided to bring it home. One can never underestimate how valuable it is to have a connected home and how much extra time you can save. From Alexa and Google home giving you travel times to work and daily weather to fridges that let you know when your milk is running low, there has never been a better time to embrace all that home automation has to offer. The best part is that it doesn’t have to cost a kidney to do so. By reading this month’s mag as a digital copy, you have begun to embrace one

of the key components of smart home automation: convenience. As humans, we strive to make things simpler, better and faster. Home automation allows us to do so much more and so much quicker, and we are seeing devices becoming more interconnected. Wristwatches can detect when you have fallen asleep and switch off your lights, lights can change to studio lighting if you are taking a selfie and so much more. We hope you enjoy this month’s mag while I dim the lights, play some music and chat to a friend – all using voice commands.

Three ways voice assistance is resonating with baby boomers

BOOM BOOM, baby SARA KLEINBERG, WHEN new technology takes off, we sometimes assume the only early adopters are the young. While millennials are talking to the new wave of voice-activated speakers, it turns out Google Home and Amazon Echo are resonating with baby boomers. Here are three key things we discovered when researching boomers who own voiceactivated speakers. It’s a companion Boomers are clearly using their devices for practical reasons.

“Obviously it can be integrated into a smart home,” said one smartspeaker owner, who called his “an overall valet for your day-to-day life”. But the relationship goes deeper than that. “It becomes a device that isn’t a device anymore. “It’s an entity in your life that’s always behind the scenes for things you need.” He’s had his speaker for over a year now and “it hasn’t let me down”. “A lot of people are alone,” another respondent told us. “This device could be their friend, somebody to talk to them.”

It has serious potential Boomers take the “device-as-companion” concept an extra step, laying out developments that could make voiceactivated speakers even more useful to them in the future. “If your wife has an issue with sleep, this device could tell her to roll over when she’s not sleeping properly,” said one. It’s empowering (and they want more) Boomers also see their devices as a source of information. While other audiences were more likely to say they use voice-activated

speakers to multi-task or do things without a screen, a lot of people over 55-years-old said the top reason for using their voice-activated speaker is that it empowers them to instantly get answers and information. “It is split between business and personal for me. Boomers are more likely than millennials to say they want their voice-activated speakers to deliver information about deals, sales, and promotions if it assists them in making informed purchases. Kleinberg is the head of Ads Research and Insights at Google

You can set up a smart home on a BUDGET ONE way to create a smart, connected home is to shop for many components. Sensors, smart bulbs, security cameras, speakers, and a myriad other devices, connect all of them to a hub

Ultra-Link Smart Wi-Fi Enabled IP Camera R499 Been looking to improve your home surveillance and security? The UltraLink IP Camera Range brings intelligence and convenience to modern home surveillance. This home camera system is user-friendly, convenient and has the most innovative features on the market.

that helps them communicate with one another and with you, through your smartphone. Here are devices you can use to create a smart home for under R3 000.

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick – Portable Streaming Media Player R699 Never miss a show with this TV Stick. It’s portable, simple, has no cable, and is easy to take out. This device will allow you to quickly cast photos, videos, music, and other content you love, from your favourite device right to your TV, using the built-in Google chromecast.

Google Home Mini Smart Speaker R489 Perhaps one of the most integral parts of smart home automation, the Google Mini offers a handsfree experience around the house. Mini is powered by the Google Assistant. So whenever you need help, it’s by your side, you just have to ask.

Sonoff 1ch Wi-Fi and RF Smart Light Switch R429 Sonoff Wi-Fi switches are controlled remotely using your phone. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which lets you turn your lights on or off with voice commands. Reduce monthly electricity bills by turning lights off using scheduling for auto off.

Connex Connect Smart Technology SA Plug with Power Meter R399 Schedule lights, lamps, fans, and other devices to turn on/off automatically, or control them remotely when you are away. Turn on your security devices on a schedule or manage your pool pump schedule on your smartphone.

Fight against GBV goes hi-tech Microsoft calls on developers to create apps to help women, children YASMINE JACOBS

MICROSOFT South Africa has joined forces with non-profit organisations the 1 000 Women Trust and Tears Foundation to launch the Safe@Home Hackathon to address gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. The virtual hackathon runs from this week to October 19 and invites the developers community to create and develop technologybased solutions to help victims of GBV and vulnerable women and children. Lillian Barnard, managing director of Microsoft South Africa, said: “Together, we will provide the support needed as we call on developers across the country to come together, understand the issues surrounding GBV, and create and develop technology-based solutions that can help save lives.”

Approximately 62% of women say they have experienced abuse during lockdown. A study by the World Health Organization found that 42% of females in the 13 to 23 age group in the country reported experiencing physical dating violence. The incidence of unreported violence is much higher – and getting worse. “This indicates a clear need to take action,” said Tina Thiart, founder of 1 000 Women. Microsoft South Africa has pledged its support to helping address GBV through the Safe@Home Hackathon. Safe@Home in South Africa is replicating the initiative piloted by Microsoft Israel in partnership with the Michal Sela Forum to help victims of genderbased violence. The winning idea

will be developed into a full application that will be deployed to support women across South Africa to make a difference in curbing GBV. The top three teams also stand to win cash prizes. The winners will be announced on October 26. Mara Glennie, founder and director of the Tears Foundation, said: “I look forward to exploring the possibilities that technology can provide to help keep women and children safe@home, and working together to tackle gender-based violence in South Africa. The time for collective action is now.” South African developers wanting to facilitate positive change can enter to join the hackathon here: https:// safeathome.bemyapp. com/ IOL TECH

Top SMART HOME products

YI Smart Home Wide Angle Static Camera (1080P) A hi-definition image quality is crucial to monitoring your home when you’re away. The camera has high-end security with an easy-touse interface. All your videos are encrypted before being uploaded to the YI cloud, preventing critical data being lost or tampered with. https://www.loot.co.za/ product/yi-smart-homewide-angle-static-camera1080p-white/pspn-5669gaa0

Xiaomi Mi TV Box S (For Smart TVs)(Black) Running on the latest

WITH many people feeling the financial strain from reduced salaries due to lockdown, online shopping for non-essential items has become a luxury. These are five items that can stretch your money further

Android TV 8.1 is easy to use, supports voice controls and your favourite apps such as Netflix, DStv Now VUDU and YouTube. Experience stunning 4K HDR visuals and DOLBY DTS for an immersive experience.

Android 7.1.2 Media Player with Voice Control Remote With this TV box, you can change your TV into a multimedia centre by connecting the internet to it via wi-fi or RJ45 port. Turn your TV into a smart TV & get much fun and convenience

Philips SHB3175WT Over-Ear Wireless Headset (Bluetooth) Not everyone in your home needs to hear the latest sales numbers at your company or how many times a day “let’s go back to the drawing board” is mentioned. A good quality pair of headphones makes all the difference in the world. Like the Philips SHB3175WT Over-Ear Wireless Headset. You will get excellent sound quality, while the rest of the house will get peace and quiet.

D-Link Dual Band Wireless AC750 ADSL2+/ VDSL2 Modem Router Naturally, the place you use the internet most in your home will be the spot with the worst wi-fi connection. Fix that with the DSL-2877AL DualBand 11AC VDSL/ADSL2+ 4-Port Wireless Router that provides high-speed internet and wireless coverage to smart devices. With concurrent dualband 802.11ac, it allows you to stream HD video, make internet voice calls anywhere in your home.

RINA CHANDRAN CHINESE tech giant Tencent is creating a “smart city” that uses technology to put people and the environment first, a model that could be applied to other urban developments after the Tencent’s ‘smart city’ coronavirus pandemic, the seen as model for post- project’s architect said. Net City will be a 2 million coronavirus China square-metre neighbourhood in the city of Shenzhen, comprising Tencent offices and homes for its employees, and public amenities such as parks. With fewer streets for cars, garden roofs on buildings and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), Net City is a model for the “future of city building”, said Jonathan Ward, of US-based architecture firm NBBJ. Construction is set to begin later this year. More than 500 smart cities are being built across China, according to government data, equipped with sensors, cameras, and other gadgets that can crunch data on everything from traffic and pollution, to public health and security. Net City will use technologies such as AI and autonomous vehicles, said Ward. The use of AI has, however, raised concerns about data privacy and surveillance. Last month, Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs scrapped its Toronto smart city project that had visualised sensors feeding data to AI-enabled computers to run traffic and drainage systems. However, given the need to monitor the pandemic, technology will not be “any less ubiquitous or any more democratised”, said Kris Hartley of the Education University of Hong Kong. “Technology will shape the post-Covid-19 world.” | Thomson Reuters Foundation

Hi-tech cities BUILDING blocks for future

How to build a SMART KITCHEN

LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s InstaView Door-in-Door Fridge With LG Smart ThinQ, you can control your refrigerator using your smartphone even when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not at home. Easily set the refrigerator temperature, control HygieneFRESH+, and diagnose your refrigerator with a simple touch on your smartphone. InstaView Door-in-Door has a sleek mirrored glass panel that illuminates with two quick knocks, allowing you to see inside the easyaccess compartment without

opening the door. Samsung Flex Duo Slide-in Range with Dual Door This stove gives home cooks the freedom to control their meal preparation times and temperatures without having to stay in the kitchen. It allows you to remotely monitor the stove top and oven functions on your smartphone using a simple app. You can preheat and adjust oven temperatures, set a timer, receive alerts on

FLOYD MATLALA THE world of tech allows creative minds and innovators to broaden their horizons as there is always room for upgrades and new gadgets. The birth of 4IR saw many businesses rely on technology to do things. Many people have also taken it upon themselves to enhance their lives with homemade tech creations. Have you ever wondered how to build a smart kitchen? Well, with these tech electronics you can do just that.

oven temperatures and turn the oven off, all from your smartphone. BNETA IoT Smart WiFi LED Bulb GU10 BNETA Smart Bulbs give you the ability to control the lighting in your home remotely and set your room atmosphere for different occasions with your smartphone. Working with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, simply order Alexa and Google to turn your lights on or off.

How to beat wi-fi and DATA BLUES

Tips that can save you time and money in the long run THE PANDEMIC has caused a new normal with many schools and businesses having moved online. This has made our wi-fi connectivity and data crucially important. Here are tips on how to make the most of your data while homeschooling and boost connectivity so data woes do not get in the way of education. Place your router in an open space It should be in the centre of your house, if possible. Configure it Configure your network’s administrator interface and make sure you set for optimum performance. If you have a dualband router, you’ll probably get better throughput by switching to the 5GHz band instead of the more common 2.4GHz band. Put key devices on the 5GHz band Most home wi-fi routers are dual band. This means they broadcast signals on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Connect the most important devices to the 5GHz band – it’s faster and less congested. It has poorer range though, so you will need to be close to the router. Download and avoid streaming Most major streaming services let you download shows and movies for offline viewing. If this is an option on your devices, take it. This will free up your network. Check the programs needed Adobe Acrobat Reader is free and is often a requirement for school. Some companies offer some online programs and services free during the Covid-19 period. You may also need to download teleconferencing facilities such as Zoom. | IOL

Bathroom MAGIC

Step into a smart bathroom with these amazing gadgets SMART showers, toilets, mirrors, toothbrushes, and even soap pumps – the options are endless. Here we list gadgets that will turn your bathroom into a smart one: Oral B Power Toothbrush Smart 6000N The toothbrush connects with the Oral-B app in your smartphone and guides you with real-time feedback on how to brush your teeth better. It has a SmartRing that alerts you when you brush too hard. Simplehuman 8 Oz. Sensor Pump The pump is an automatic soap

dispenser that is hands-free so it doesn’t leave germs or smudges, providing clean and effortless soap dispensing. It senses the amount of soap desired by positioning your hand up close to the sensor for little soap and further away for more soap. It is rechargeable and one charge lasts up to 4 months. Smart Bathroom Toilet Nightlight LED The nightlight has a motionactivated sensor, so as soon as you enter your bathroom the lights will turn on, it also has 8 colour emissions . Ihome All-in-one ICVBT8

Mirror Ihome ICVBT8 is a smart mirror that has full-colour lighting with high and low light settings. It has a Bluetooth, built-in MIC with Integrated media controls with talk/end button, and a USB port to charge your phone. Smart BMI Scale The scale measures body weight and analyses body fat percentage like water, muscle mass, bone mass and protein. The scale allows you to track your family’s weight and health information through multiple accounts or profiles. Download the Gennec app on Apple Store and Google Play.

Best gadgets to turn your lounge into a smart living room MASABATA MKWANANZI

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the smart way to RELAX

IF YOU are thinking of turning your home into a smart home, the living room should be the first place to start since we spend most of our time there. You probably have a few smart items already. A lot of activities take place in the living room so turning it into a smart one is a great idea. Whether its gaming, family movie night, or simply binging on your favourite series, the living room is where its at. There are several items that can make your living room smart. Here are some of the gadgets that can help you get started:

Saudio Smart Wi-Fi Bulb The Saudio smart light bulb works with Alexa, Echo and Google Home Assistant. You can control the light bulb using your voice. All you need to do is give a voice command to turn on/ off or dim/brighten your light.

Alexa Alexa is a virtual assistant and it is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic, sports, and giving other realtime information such as news. Alexa also controls several smart devices using itself as a home automation system.

Smart TV If you are going to buy yourself a new TV in 2020, it should certainly be a smart TV. A smart TV has to have an internet connection and app support so you can stream services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and ShowMax. Smart TVs offer ways to connect to smart home devices, even integrating with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant.

SmartThings Wifi Smart Plug This plug makes your home instantly smarter. You can use it every day for small appliances and electronics. You can even use it to turn your lamps on and off through your SmartThings app on your phone or tablet. It also has a voice command that works with Bixby, Google Assistant and Alexa.

Cooking trends among MILLENNIALS

Welcome to the digital kitchen JENNY COOPER,

THE SMARTPHONE is becoming the ultimate souschef for millennials who are taking an I-want-to-do attitude into the kitchen. Twentyfive- to 34-year-olds prefer the culinary process as much as the finished dish: they want to dive into everything, experiment with new recipes, and learn new skills. We’ve boiled the fragmented consumer journey down to three phases – the initial spark, preparation and cooking. The spark phase The cooking journey starts with a spark—a curiosity about what to cook. They turn to search for help, and the top 100 food search terms tend to be broad (“dinner ideas”, “healthy recipes”, and “slow cooker recipes”, for example). Search interest for “best recipes” on YouTube is up 48% year over year. The preparation phase Millennials have subscribed en masse to food channels on YouTube, and 75% of the growth in viewership is coming from cellpone devices. “How to cook that” is one of the 10 most popular how-to searches on YouTube. The cooking phase In the kitchen, the am-Imaking-this-right moments strike, and millennials search for guidance. Questions like “What temperature to bake chicken?” are increasingly asked from cellphones, and 68% of millennial moms said that they also watch videos. More than likely the dinner guests are in the kitchen, too. This is helping millennials see cooking as an opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends. | Cooper is the sales development manager: Food & Beverage, Google

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IOL Tech September 2020

Articles inside

How to beat wi-fi and DATA BLUES

CONTENTS