Most of us are looking for ways to make the most of our time with friends and family during the holiday season. And with the proliferation of the Internet of things (IoT) devices, there are more opportunities than ever to streamline and enhance our holiday experience, so we can focus on enjoying time with friends and family rather than worrying about the logistics of the holiday season.
If Santa had an IoT enabled sleigh, he could probably deliver presents to every house in the world in just a few hours! But then again, where's the fun in that? Some things are just better left to the magic of the holiday season.
This article will cover some practical and exciting IoT use cases for the holiday season outside Santa's sleigh, from smart lighting and home security systems to food preparation and gift wrap stations.
When we think about the holidays and technology, we automatically consider tack and tracing our deliveries. Can you remember when we didn't know when something would arrive or how far away the delivery driver was? The days that our doorbell wasn't screening our visitors?
One of the most popular holiday IoT use cases is smart lighting systems to create a festive atmosphere. With smart lighting, you can program your lights to turn on and off at specific times, change colours, or pulse to the music. Especially useful for creating a holiday light display outside your home, as you can control the lights remotely and customize the display to your liking.
How about smart switches to control the holiday decorations, such as tree lights or festive candles? Smart lighting can create a warm and cosy atmosphere inside the home. And it doesn't stop there. Aside from creating a festive atmosphere, smart lighting can also help us save energy and money by automatically turning off lights when they are not needed or used.
While smart lights set the mood, smart thermostats can adjust the temperature in your home to ensure it is comfortable for guests.
Are you going away for the holidays? IoT got you covered. Another helpful holiday IoT use case is smart home security systems. They allow you to keep an eye on your home while you are away or let family and friends check in on the house while you travel.
Smart home assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, can play holiday music, set reminders, or answer questions about holiday traditions and events.
Imagine having a smart gift wrap station that could help you wrap presents quickly and efficiently. You could place your gift on the station, and it would automatically measure and cut the wrapping paper to the appropriate size. It could also dispense tape and ribbon and offer gift tags and bows suggestions.
With IoT devices, you can make preparing holiday meals a breeze. For example, you could use a smart oven or slow cooker to control the cooking process remotely. You could also use a smart fridge to keep track of your ingredients and suggest recipes based on what you have on hand.
We can all agree that the best part about IoT during the holidays is not having to untangle miles of tangled Christmas lights! With smart lighting systems, you can tap a button on your phone and, voila, instant holiday cheer. I mean, who has the time for that?
Now, if only we could use IoT to clean up the wrapping paper mess... One can dream, right?
The holiday season is a time for celebration, connection, and creating memories with loved ones. And with the help of IoT devices, you can make the most of this special time of year. Whether you're looking to create a festive atmosphere, save time and energy, or connect with loved ones, near and far, the possibilities are endless. So why not try some IoT use cases and see how they can transform your holiday experience?
Nassia Skoulikariti
Founder/CEO Apiro Data Ltd
Get in touch, and let’s build something great together!