PLAN IT
HOME TECHNOLOGY
Philips 'Hue' 2m base
Bluetooth smart light
strip with plug, $129,
I/N: 0241480
Lights
Smart lights and light globes
let you set the mood by
changing their colour, shade
and brightness. You can also
connect them to sensors and put them
on timers so the house looks lived-in
Smart speakers can deliver
news, recipes, music and more.
Amazon 'Echo Dot' 3rd gen
smart speaker with Alexa
in Charcoal, I/N: 0116369
while you're away. Smart assistants are
clever enough to know which room
your lights are in, so you can say "Turn
off the lights" as you leave a room or
"Turn off all the lights" at bedtime.
Sensors
SMART MOVES
Smart sensors notify you when
something moves, or a door or window
opens, and can be used for security
or to trigger events, like turning on
a smart device. It's important to
fine-tune the sensor's sensitivity, says
Alex. "While you definitely want to
know if criminals are about, you
CHECK OUT THE TECH GIZMOS THAT CAN
ACTUALLY IMPROVE YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
Words ADAM TURNER
he latest smart home
don't want your phone to ping every
HomePod speakers with a built-in
smart assistant, look for compatible
gadgets. "This way you're not tied
to a single brand of smart home gear
- you can mix and match if it's all
compatible with your smart assistant,"
explains Alex. "Think of your smart
assistant like a digital butler which
orders around your other smart
devices, so you're not constantly
reaching for your smartphone -
simply tell your assistant to turn up
the music or turn down the lights,
gadgets are designed to
genuinely make your life
easier. From speakers and
lights, to security cameras
and locks, there's a gadget for every
time a cat crosses your yard or
a magpie flies through the carport!"
4 Plugs
Smart plugs turn any device into
a smart device, so you can control it
from afar. Setting them up is simple;
for example, plug your bedside lamp
into a smart plug, and the smart plug
into the wall, and always leave the
lamp and wall switch turned on.
To control the lamp, ask your smart
assistant to turn the plug on and off.>
room and every occasion. Here are
our top picks for your shopping list.
Speakers
I The real trick is uniting smart
devices into a truly smart home, says
Alex Kidman, co-host of the podcast
Vertical Hold: Behind the Tech News.
and it takes care of the rest."
The modern home is built around
smart speakers from the likes of
Google, Apple and Amazon. These
bring to life smart assistants like
Google Assistant, Apple's Siri and
Amazon's Alexa. If you already own
Amazon Echo, Google Nest or Apple
"Make
sure you
have a decent router to protect
your tech, but also to keep up the internet
speed with all those gadgets in your life"
Leigh Stark, pickr.com.au
bunnings.com.au |O bunnings |O bunnings 41
Photography Brigid Arnott, styling Tilly Roberts. Some photographs
feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings,