If you are thinking of immersing yourself in the benefits of a digital home, you may be thinking that you will have to shell out hundreds (if not thousands) of euros. And you may not know that you can do it step by step, with good results, and for little money. For that you have gadgets that can help you reuse, convert and adapt your existing technology and connect them to your smart assistant (Alexa, Google Home, etc.), apart from the typical smart bulbs that "everyone" knows. It's also a way to keep using your "old" devices, save money and not fill the planet with unnecessary waste.
Voice Devices
Although a "smart home" could be operated with your mobile or pc, the ideal is that you feel part of the 21st century and do it with your voice, feeling a little closer to what we imagined this century would be like after watching a science fiction film. Feel as if you were on the Nostromo (Alien, 1979). The prerequisite for this is that you have a wifi network with internet access at home, which you will have if you are alive. Knowing this, let's see... Personally, I am particularly comfortable with Amazon's Echo devices because you can get them in very affordable versions and at a very good value for money. For example, the Echo Dot is available from €27, and with offers at Amazon events, for even less. With its mobile app you can add and configure routines, special commands and much more to connect other smart devices and use them with voice, as well as ask Alexa "things", access your calendar (e.g. Google Calendar), and hundreds of other possibilities. The limit is (almost) in your imagination. In addition, it also acts as a bluetooth speaker, which you can connect to, for example, Spotify. See Echos and other Alexa Speakers on Amazon
Make your TV Smart
You may already have a TV with internet access. But if you don't and it has an HDMI input, you can convert it for less than €30 thanks to Amazon's Fire TV. You can also use it on a projector or monitor. Even on your laptop or PC with an HDMI capture device. With this device it is as if you had a small android system on your TV, and, in addition to the native applications it contains from where you can access Youtube, Netflix, HBO and other platforms, you can also run Android programmes, such as the Kodi media centre, to access online music and videos or those you have on your network (for example, a pendrive or external hard drive connected to the router's USB). In addition, in the case of Fire TV, you can operate it with Alexa by voice from an Echo. For example, you can say, "Search for SuchAndSuch on YouTube", or "Open Netflix", or "Search for the movie Back to the Future". Amazon's Fire TV
Convert any device with an Infrared Remote Controller
Now then. I'm sure you have a bunch of devices that use a remote control. Well, don't throw them away, because you can also convert them to smart using a smart "universal remote" that you can connect to your voice assistant. From €14 or less you can use all the devices you have in a room of this style with this gadget. It's perhaps one of the cheapest investments and the one you'll get the most out of. And if your device is not among the predefined and compatible ones (ideally, as your voice assistant will recognise a lot of predefined commands, for example "turn up the temperature" on the air conditioning) or not, you can "create" a remote control as these devices are able to copy every button of your original remote control. This is done by putting your remote in front of the "universal", pressing the button, and the "universal" copies the button signal. In other words... any (or almost any) device with an infrared remote control can be connected to your voice assistant. Smart Remotes on Amazon
Turn any device on and off
Whether or not you buy smart lights that allow you to do many things by voice, any device can be switched on and off thanks to smart plugs. Some even have USB power outlets that can also be operated by voice. And you can do this for as little as €9. Switching off and switching on a standard lamp, the 5.1 sony amplifier that still works perfectly, a fan (switching it on for two hours at night, for example), an old TV set, etc. And with Off/On, I'm talking about the current. Because of course, with the routines you can create commands so that something is turned off or on when you configure it, either for a certain time, or when it gets dark, or on X days of the week or at the H hours that you prefer. You can even "reboot" your router by voice if you attach one to your router. And all this, of course, can be done by voice at home, or remotely from your mobile phone. For example, restarting the IP surveillance camera that is stuck in the beach house. Smart Sockets and Power Strips on Amazon
Convert LED Strips to Smart
With the "universal controller" device I mentioned before you could operate your infrared LED strips. But you can also reuse them by using a smart LED controller without having to change the strips. That is, from 8€ you can convert any LED strip... to smart to use it with your voice assistant, routines or your mobile remotely. LED Controller on Amazon
And now... Are you ready to convert your home, while giving a new life to your devices? Remember, it's not just about using your voice to operate them, because with routines you can let your imagination do the rest.
Welcome to the 21st century.
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