Tech the halls: a digital Xmas

IN theory, at least, Christmas is a time of tradition.

From 16th Century carols to the mandatory family board game, a back-to-basics approach has dominated Christmases gone by.

But not any more. The tech revolution has long since claimed the presents under the tree, and now it’s coming for the ornaments that adorn it.

Don your Santa hat and grab your smartphone, it’s time to decorate your home with some digital Christmas miracles.

Techy trees

Electric lights have long been a seasonal standard, but over the last few years, companies like Twinkly have created new, versatile tree lights by combining hi-tech hardware with the veritable Santa’s sack known as the App Store.

Twinkly’s Smart App Controlled Christmas Fairy Lights (£84.99, festive-lights.com) come with an in-built timer, and a firework display of colours and patterns, which can be easily manipulated from your mobile.

Once your tree is suitably illuminated, you can add audio with a Bluetooth bauble – an app-controlled ornament that looks like a normal decoration, but sounds like your local church choir.

The award for the season’s most inventive festive trinket goes to the Naughty Or Nice Bauble, developed by Australian retailer Myer. A large translucent sphere, children must watch in horror and delight as it glows either green or red, symbolising whether they have been nice or naughty.

Cards and Calendars

For those who don’t want the hassle, expense or clutter, there’s now a range of digital Christmas card options that will keep your home cardboard-free.

Some e-cards are animated, while others can be printed out and placed around the home like normal cards.

Jacquie Lawson sets the e-card standard with its range of boutique, hand-drawn offerings, while the Victorian Trading Company creates printable e-cards inspired by prints and drawings from the Victorian era.

Domestic Decor

Santa holograms are a nice left-turn option. Virtual Santa kits (via virtualsanta.com) can project a festive scene on to your windows.

To the passer-by, your front room will resemble Santa’s workshop, complete with scampering elves and congenial Father Christmas. Alternatively, cloak the walls of your home, inside or out, with a layer of dancing snowflakes, via an Auraglow Snowfall Projector (£29.99).

Even the humble Christmas jumper is becoming computerised. A new jumper from Morphsuits – widely known for making the full-body, spandex onesies so popular at student house parties – comes emblazoned with a flickering, crackling fireplace (£34.95, morphsuits.co.uk).

Christmas connectivity

Depending on how many marauding relatives descend upon your home every year, demanding wifi as well as Christmas dinner, you may want to consider buying a wifi booster.

There’s nothing worse than your Netflix collapsing two thirds of the way through Elf.