Are you using smart home devices you own effectively? The answer is probably not. There’s a whole world of fun and convenience available. Smart home devices like smart speakers can be used throughout your daily routine. You just need to put some time into learning how to use them effectively.
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To get more out of your smart home appliances, plan a small weekend tech project. In just three to four hours, you can learn new techniques and technologies that will make your life more fun for months and years to come. Getting started is easy. The first step is to plan your project.
1. Make a List of Your Smart Home Devices
Look around your home and write up a list of all of the devices you have. Don’t rule out anything. You might have a smart heating and cooling system. You could have a smart device connected to your phone or laptop by Bluetooth. Some smart home devices, like smart lights, might be in drawers, so check there as well.
2. Ask Yourself If You Know More Than One Way To Use a Smart Device
Depending on the device and your creativity, there are usually many different ways to use a smart device. For instance, you could use a smart light to save power. You can also use it to support your home security measures. If you look at a device like a smart speaker and only use it for one purpose like listening to music, then you have an excellent chance to get more value from it. Find out how in the next step.
3. Locate The Manual and Resources From the Smart Device Manufacturer
Without information on a smart device’s basic features, you will be stuck with trial and error. That’s usually a waste of time. Instead, do an online search for your product (e.g., “Amazon Alexa manual” or “Amazon Alexa instructions”). Once you find the official manufacturer website, spend some time reading the documentation and viewing any videos.
4. Write Down Two Smart Home Device Ideas To Start With
In the final step, write down two ideas for how you could use your smart home devices better. For example, you might struggle to wake up in the morning. In that situation, programming smart lights for your living room could help you start your day effectively, even when it is dark outside.
Your mission is clear: get more convenience, entertainment and benefit from the smart home devices you have purchased. To illustrate what’s possible, let’s use two examples — a smart speaker and a smart home kitchen appliance like a refrigerator.
There are several ways to get more value out of your home speaker. Review this list of ideas and see which approach looks promising to you.
Getting more value from your smart kitchen appliances takes a bit of creativity. They are not as common as other smart home devices. However, there are still a few ways to get more out of these devices.
Want More Challenging Ways To Enhance Your Smart Home?
After a few hours of tinkering, installing new apps, and studying instructions, you are going to be highly skilled in using your smart home appliances. After a certain point, there is not much convenience or fun to get out of these devices. In that case, your next step awaits! Check out one of our DIY electronics tutorials and build something yourself. For beginners, we recommend reading Top 8 Smart Home Electronics Projects You Need This Year next.