LIVE BETTER
From monitoring our air quality to reminding us to meditate, technology is helping us to organise our daily lives.
1 PERFECT SETTING
How it works The Smart Room thermostat
by Wiser allows you to wirelessly control the heating in your home from anywhere in the world via an app on your smartphone. It even lets you set time and temperature schedules for each day of the week. The system is simple to install and works alongside your existing heating system, with no need to change any pipework or valves. The results You’ll enjoy an all-round more comfortable home – and you’ll never need to worry about having to get dressed in the freezing cold on a winter morning again. From £139.99, wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk
2 DIGITAL COACHING
How it works Featuring the famed digital voice assistant Alexa, the Amazon Echo can help with your wellness in a number of ways. You can start a timed meditation, follow a 10- to 15-minute guided yoga session, or even ask Alexa to hook up with your Fitbit to track your fitness and health goals and offer motivational tips. The gadget comes in a wide range of colours, so it looks great in any decorating scheme.
The results Having access to all your wellness tools in one central hub makes it much easier to keep track of your progress. £59.99, amazon.co.uk
3 AIR CHECKER
How it works The affordable Airthings Wave Mini air quality monitor provides insights into three critical air components: total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) (typically created by aerosol sprays, paints, fumes and cleaning products), temperature and humidity. LED lights on the monitor display a traffic light-style overview of the air quality in your room, and the readings are transferred to an app on your smartphone. The results This device enables you to identify and eliminate potentially harmful pollutants in your home. £79, airthings.com
4 FRIDGE WITH EXTRAS
How it works Use the smart touchscreen in the door of Samsung’s Family Hub multi-door fridge freezer to order groceries, find recipes, display your family’s calendar and notes and play music or mirror your TV. What’s more, cameras inside the fridge connect with an app on your phone so you can check what food you already have while you’re out shopping. You can even track the expiry dates, with reminders that appear on the fridge’s screen and on your phone.
The results You can find recipes based on tastes, dietary restrictions and the expiry dates of your food, making meal planning personalised and practical. And it’s always good to know we’re reducing food waste. £2,999, samsung.com/uk
5 TAKING CONTROL
How it works Get your home just how you like it with Hive’s Warm Welcome Home Plan – all with the help of a smartphone app. It includes a smart thermostat, lighting, a motion sensor, a smart plug that allows you to turn appliances on and off via the app, and an Amazon Echo Dot so you can control everything with voice commands. The results You can make sure the house is warm and you have hot water whenever you need it, among many other things. £219, hivehome.com