With so many smart home technology products out in the market, the latest smart technology is no longer exclusively used by younger generations. Many seniors choose to invest more in smart home technology because of its ability to make daily life a breeze. Because smart home assistants are embedded with artificial intelligence (AI), living independently will be much easier and more fun for boomers and seniors. Here are ten tips on how seniors can make the most out of the features of several smart home assistants.
1. Get to Know Your Voice-Activated Smart Assistant
The so-called smart speakers have come a long way in recent years. Though it might still be a bit challenging for non-tech-savvy people to set up, their lives become significantly easier once they start working. The most significant benefit of the smart speakers is the voice-command feature, which practically turns the smart speaker into a smart virtual assistant. Voice assistants like Google® Home and Amazon’s Alexa® are the core of almost every smart home. When programmed correctly, they allow seniors to control nearly every aspect of their home with their voice.
“A lot of older adults are drawn to devices with voice-command functionality because of its hands-free control and ease of use,” explains Claire Garcia, a journalist at 1Day2Write and Write My X. “It can help seniors with poor vision, mobility issues, and save them from a lot of frustration.”
2. Ask Your Smart Assistant to Set Reminders for You
The good thing about having a voice-activated smart assistant is they can perform the tasks of a regular assistant. Older adults can benefit greatly from asking Alexa or Google Assistant to set timers for them when they cook, set reminders to ensure they don’t forget to complete a task or schedule important events into their calendar. Smart assistants are capable of reminding seniors of literally anything if they ask.
3. Use Your Smart Assistant to Make Calls
Smart assistants make communication with loved ones easier than ever. Gone are the days when you had to remember phone numbers and dial them yourself. Smart assistants like Google Assistant, Alexa, and SIRI can instantly make hands-free calls to anyone on your contact list. They can even find the number of restaurants and other businesses for you.
4. Connect Your Smart Home Assistant to Voice Command
Connecting your smart home assistant to voice can greatly improve the usability of all home appliances. WIFI-enabled smart light bulbs, when connected to your smart home assistant, allow seniors to control their lights with their voice. It takes the concept of the clapper light switch and makes it even more effortless. With smart light bulbs, seniors can instantly turn lights on and off without having to get up.
Voice command can also turn out to be a major safety feature, allowing the elderly user to set reminders and complete tasks, such as opening or locking the door, without hasty movements. Voice assistant can also dial phone calls, such as an emergency call or call to a relative. Help and assistance is now accessible 24/7 by request.
5. Invest in Smart Outlets
Smart outlets are a good investment for older adults who sometimes forget to turn off appliances. With smart outlets, seniors can turn devices off through their smartphone or smart assistant. This is a potentially life-saving gadget that is worth the investment.
6. Get A Smart Garage Door Controller
Smart garage door controllers save seniors the hassle of having to physically check whether or not they forgot to close the garage door. The ability to control your garage door from your smartphone can save many worries whenever you leave your home.
7. Task A Robot Vacuum to Clean for You
Robot vacuum cleaners allow the elderly to sit back and relax while a robot cleans their floors for them.
8. Replaced Old Locks with Smart Locks
Smart locks are a useful tool for greater peace of mind as a senior. They allow you to check the status of your house lock remotely on your smartphone. In the event of a fall, seniors can let family members or emergency responders in remotely. Many have built-in cameras as well so elderly people can check to see who is at the door before getting up to open it.
9. Get Your Pet a Smart Feeder
Seniors who have pets should contemplate getting a smart feeder for their pets so they never have to worry about forgetting to feed them.
10. Consider A Smart Pill Dispenser
Smart pill dispenser allows seniors to program their prescription schedule to keep better track of their medications. “A lot of smart pill dispensers are expensive,” according to Lisa Seifert, a health writer at Britstudent and NextCoursework. “However, those who can afford it should consider getting one to stay on track of multiple medications.”
How Ambiq Contributes
Ambiq’s ultra-low power multi-protocol Bluetooth Low Energy wireless microcontrollers are at the heart of millions of edge devices, including smart assistants. Ambiq’s leading ultra-low power SoCs can support key technologies required by connected homes, such as Bluetooth Low Energy. Future generations will include additional multi-protocol communications such as Bluetooth® Mesh, ANT+, RF4CE, and Zigbee®.
Built on the patented Subthreshold Power Optimized Technology (SPOT®) platform, Ambiq’s products reduce the total system power consumption on the order of nanoamps for all battery-powered edge devices.
Simply put, our solutions enable edge intelligence everywhere.
