Family life can be busy and complicated. Parents these days juggle hundreds of things at once including family activities, appointments, and pet care.
Technology sometimes has a bad reputation. Video games and smartphones are blamed for keeping family members off. Smart home products can help bring your family together.
We’ll show you how a smart home virtual assistant can connect and manage these products in a harmonious smart home.
1. Smart cameras make great baby monitors
A smart camera may offer more functionality and versatility than a traditional baby monitor. Put the Wi-Fi camera in the nursery, and connect it. Many products include a magnetic disk to attach the camera to the wall. You can point the viewfinder down on the crib and take an unobstructed look at the crib slats.
Conventional baby monitors have limited viewing options. They usually only include one device with a screen or in some cases a speaker to listen to a baby. In a smart home, you can see and hear your child in different and convenient ways.
For example, the Amazon Echo Show has a built-in screen where you can see the feeding of your baby monitor. You can also view the feed on tablets, computers, and TVs. You can say things like, “Alexa, show the nursery to the living room TV.”
You can also view the feed on your smartphone using the Camera app. Many smart cameras have motion detection features that can notify you when a child starts to wake up from a nap.
2. Streaming music isn’t just for teens
Now that your baby has taken a nap and you’re checking him in with the smart camera, it’s time for some lullaby music. In today’s smart home, you can play any type of music whenever you want in any room.
With an Amazon Echo Dot in the nursery, you can say “Alexa, play the lullaby music in the nursery.” You can also develop playlists to soothe your child. When you hear a song the child likes, you can say, “Alexa, add this song to the child’s playlist.”
Some smart devices are designed for children’s bedrooms and include additional security improvements.
Music streaming is great for the whole family. Whatever kind of music you and your family like, playing it is just a request from Alexa. Try saying, “Alexa, play good jazz.” Or maybe “Alexa, play some of the latest alternative songs.”
If you don’t like the music available from Amazon, you can choose from multiple streaming services including options like Apple Music, Spotify, and many others,
3. Family-friendly smart home games and activities
Amazon Echo and similar smart home devices have a range of fun games that the whole family can play.
Alexa presents a spin-off of Jeopardy from the popular TV game show, “hosted” by the voice of the late Alex Trebek. Just say “Alexa, play Jeopardy.” There are many entertainment options including trivia and games. Say “Alexa, what are some good family games?”
Some of the fun games you might try include:
4. Smart calendars help you remember all family appointments
It’s hard for parents to remember all of the sports, doctor’s appointments, music parties, birthday parties, and other events without a reminder. The smart home virtual assistant can help you. You can create a calendar that the whole family can check out.
Alexa includes a built-in calendar. You can say things like, “Alexa, add a dance party to the calendar on Monday.”
Alexa will ask how long the event should continue on the calendar for that day. Once you enter your busy schedule, Alexa can remind you of upcoming events. You may never forget to take your child to soccer practice again.
You can also set alarms and timers. Say, “Alexa, set the alarm for eight in the morning.” Alexa will ask if you want this alarm to go off every day of the week.
Your virtual assistant can provide useful timers. For example, maybe you have pizza in the oven for the kids. You can say “Alexa, set a timer for 12 minutes.” Alexa links to different calendar types including Google and Apple.
5. Smart ways to keep your pet healthy
Are you worried that your dog has eaten a glove? Amazon Alexa offers medical advice with virtual home veterinary services. MyPetDoc Gives health tips to your pet and Just answer to help the dog Provides private information for dog owners. Alexa will ask about your pet and give you tips and advice. If your concern justifies professional care or medication, Alexa can help you connect with some of your local vets.
Here are some examples of things you can discuss with these skills:
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My cat is vomiting
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My dog suffers from itching and scratching
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My cat pees outside the litter box
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My dog’s eye is red
6. Entertain the whole family
There’s only so much Jeopardy a family can play, right? It is good if at least one of your family members enjoys a good movie or a good cartoon. Alexa gives great suggestions on what to watch. Alexa can connect your smart TV to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more.
Alexa can help you control not just what you watch, but where you watch it. For example, you could say, “Alexa, open Hulu on the TV downstairs.”
Parental controls can help make sure your kids don’t watch something that you feel is inappropriate.
7. Taking smart technology to the front door
Doorbell cameras help you see the front door when someone rings the bell. Technology can also offer useful knowledge and peace of mind. Have your children come home from school? They don’t always remember to text you.
The doorbell camera can alert you when there is movement at your door, such as when your children have arrived. If you don’t want to set up motion detection, see the live view of the camera when it’s time for them to come home.
A smart home can help bring your family together
Today’s smart products are available to every member of the family from mom and dad to kids, and even pets. There are many fun and easy to use games, cameras, apps, TV shows, music services and utilities.
Technology meets your needs and blends into the background, helping you focus on what’s important: your family.
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