Developing our home to be SMART for my 82 year old father over the past few weeks (click here to read Part 1) has been an interesting experience in perseverance and patience but we are getting there. As I have added more devices and capabilities to the range of #Alexa skills that are available to use my father has become more confident. His love of listening to Classic FM has developed his confidence inn using Alexa by saying “Alexa play Classic FM”. Gradually he is now moving to interacting with the other devices we have to make his care and operation of the house more automated.

At present we have the following devices that can be used int the house in different zones. These are all networked to the BT Broadband Full Fibre with EE Mobile connectivity hub. In addition we also have a Blink network sync module and a Senglet modem, although have had trouble connecting Senglet lights to this and Alexa.

• Alexa Echo Show 5 3rd Generation 5 upstairs where I have access and be reached and make announcements from as well as see a the front door camera with its flood lights
• Alexa Echo Show 5 3rd Generation next to his chair also allows the front door camera to be viewed have this set up so just catches a limited area and not set off by passing traffic, haven’t yet persuaded the local cat to not walk past at 4.50 am yet
• Alexa Echo Echo Pop in the hallway
• Alexa Echo Pop in the Office
• Alexa Echo Echo Dot in the Kitchen
• Alexa Echo 1st Generation in the garage
• Blink Outdoor + Floodlight | wireless, battery-powered HD floodlight mount and smart security camera
• Tapu Cameras 1 and 2 Covering the Lounge Dining Room and Hallway to front door
• Tapu Light bulbs in the Extension Area/Sleeping Area and Hallway
• Smart Plug in Kitchen for controlling Slow Cooker
• Smart plug with Standard LED Light for Extension Area
• Smart Plug in Shed to control outside Garden Lights
• Alexa App on Mobiles and three Amazon Fire Tablets
• Alexa enabled BT Phone connected
• Lefant Alexa enabled robot vacuum cleaner

We are gradually starting to use the full range of possibilities with these device. The Alexa Skills accessed through the More menu is proving to be quite a powerful automation tool. When we did have carers visiting it was possible to set up a message just for them informing that we had cameras and were monitoring to aid in my fathers’ care when I am out at work. 

New Years Eve is now upon us so our Christmas Tree decorations are now consigned back to the cupbaord. This has now freed up the SMART Plug to return back to the shed to control the Garden lights. We are in a Dark Sky area so maybe have a chance to get the Astronomical Telescope over next few nights without having to walk around with a torch or be very still while solar powered motion sensitive lights are used. 

  Will be adding more parts to this thread but just about to go out and use the Discover Suffolk App to record the walk while I contribute to the New Year Plant Survey.