Holiday Tech 2017
     -- Smart Home for the Holidays

    by Douglas Dixon

Contents

• Smart Home - Home Automation
• Smart Cameras - Home Security
• Smart TV - Bridge Set-top to Online
• Smart Home Wireless - Bluetooth to Wi-Fi
• Smart Digital Assistants - Smartphones
• Smart Voice Control - Wi-Fi Speakers
• Better Watch Out - Security and Privacy
• Digital Decorations - Video Vignettes

Top

Smart Home - Home Automation

• "Smart Home" - Smart Devices
  • Home Automation & Security
  • Consumer Electronics evolution - Living Room Set-top -> Portable Devices -> Smart Home Devices

• Control and Automation of Home Devices
  • Convenience / Comfort - Lighting, heating (smart thermostats), ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC)
    • Randomize lighting while away
    • Monitor energy consumption
  • Entertainment - Smart TVs, speakers
  • Appliances - Washer/dryers, ovens or refrigerators/freezers
  • Security / Monitoring - Cameras & Sensors - leak / smoke detectors, pet care

• Individual devices / Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Integrated -with portable devices and each other
  • Not locked in - Mix and match - Manufacturers or protocols
  • Actions - IFTTT - IF This Then That
    • Actions based on simple conditional statements (applets)
    • Applet = Services - that have Triggers ("This") and Actions ("That")
    • https://ifttt.com/

• Issues
• Security - Open to the Internet, weak security from vendor and consumer
• Privacy - Monitoring in your home
• Obsolescence - Proprietary, lock in to ecosystem
  • Market changes, standards changes, "Abandonware"

• vs. Traditional "Home Automation"
  • Central hub ("gateway") - connected to switches and sensors
• Controlled from wall panel, mobile apps, Web interface
• Communicate locally with Wi-Fi, also Internet cloud services
• Communications protocols-- Proprietary and incompatible
  • X10, Ethernet, RS-485, Bluetooth LE (BLE), ZigBee, Z-Wave
  • https://www.x10.com/

Amazon - Smart Home - Alexa Voice Control

• Echo speakers - with Alexa voice control
• Integrate Alexa - into third-party products
• Sell products - Amazon Cloud Cam
• https://www.amazon.com/smart-home/b?node=6563140011

Apple - HomeKit Platform

    HomeKit-enabled accessories: Alarms & Sensors, Heating & Cooling, Lights & Switches, Video Cameras + Apple TV

• Siri Names, Function and Service groups, Rooms and Zones
• Scenes (combination - "good night")
• Triggers (events - times)
• Control locally (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE), or through iCloud - Keychain
• https://developer.apple.com/homekit/
• Apple MFi Program - AirPlay audio accessories and electronic accessories
  • https://developer.apple.com/programs/mfi/

Google - Nest - "Thoughtful Home"

Nest Learning Thermostat - $249

• Temperature, weather,  time; Energy saving home vs. away

Smoke + CO Alarm - $119

• Voice + alarm, phone alerts, light - turn down thermostat if fire, capture video

Cameras (indoor / outdoor) - $119 - $349

• Cloud video analysis
• Nest Aware - Familiar face alerts

Video Doorbell (2018)

• Ring or detect

Nest Secure Alarm System - $499

• Nest Guard - Alarm / keypad / motion sensor (Remind Me on departure to arm from phone)
• Nest Detect - Door/window/room sensor (motion, open/close), night light
• Nest Tag - Arm & disarm (dog walker)
• Nest app - Security alert, video (with cam)
• Cellular backup - $5 a month

• Works with Nest - Google Home, Wemo, Philips Hue lights, Chamberlain garage door

Find the Nest Learning Thermostat on Amazon.com

Belkin - WeMo - Home Automation

• Power plug, light switch, dimmer, light bulbs, NetCam
• Control from phone, tablet - or voice with Amazon Alexa or Google Home (Nest), IFTTT
• Apple HomeKit Bridge
• http://www.belkin.com/us/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/

TP-Link - Smart Home

• Control From Anywhere
• Kaza app - Control with mobile devices (iOS, Android)
  • Monitor, control, schedule, group
• Voice Control – Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
• No Hub Required - Uses home Wi-Fi

TP-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug - $29 Turn electronics on/off Schedule - Create on/off schedules, timers, countdowns Status - Check to see if connected devices are on/off Away Mode - Switch on/off at different times www.tp-link.com/us/products/details/cat-5516_HS100.html Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini - $34 Compact design - Does not block adjacent sockets http://www.tp-link.com/us/products/details/cat-5516_HS105.html Smart Wi-Fi Plug with Energy Monitoring - $34 Analyze real-time and historical power consumption Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch - $39 Find the TP-Link Smart Plug Mini on Amazon.com

TP-Link Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb with Dimmable Light - $19, $24 Monitor power, save energy Away Mode - Switch lights on/off at different times Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb with Tunable White Light - $34 Adjust - Soft white (2700k) to daylight (6500k) Circadian Mode – Automatically matches light appearance to time of day Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb with Color Changing Hue - $44, $49 Adjust brightness and color from soft white (2500k) to daylight (9000k) Define scenes: Reading, Dining, Home Party, Good Night 800 / 1000 lumens http://www.tp-link.com/us/products/details/cat-5609_LB130.html Find the TP-Link Smart Bulb Color on Amazon.com

Top

Smart Cameras - Home Security

• Live Streaming - Continuous
• Motion Detection - Passive IR, video motion, sound ; Sensor sensitivity, zones; Schedules
• Alerts - Text / app notifications
• Video - SD, 720p / 108p HD
• Audio - One-way mic, Two-way speaker
• Storage - Local (SD card), Cloud servers
• Access - Local network, Cloud storage, Web access to camera
• Low-Light - LED illuminator, Night vision sensor
• Sensors - Temperature
• App - Live monitor, Manage / download recordings

    Blink Customer Videos

Blink for Home - Wireless Home Security Camera

• Wire-free - 2-year battery
• No subscription fees or data storage charges
• 400,000 sold
• https://blinkforhome.com

• Live View - Streaming through Blink app - Up to 30 secs. - then continue
• Motion Detection - Triggers video recording - 5 to 60 sec clips
  • Instant Alerts - Push notification w/ video link
  • Manually arm, or auto-arm on schedule, adjust sensitivity
  • PIR sensor - Passive infrared - Temperature in motion (not through glass)
• 720p HD Video
  • One-way microphone - Listen live, record with video
• Video recorded to Blink's secure servers - Can download and save
  • Free - Up to 7,200 total secs (1,440 5-sec events)
  • Clips 5 to 60 secs. - 750 KB / 5 secs
• Temperature Sensor - Built-in monitoring
• Sync Module required - Up to 10 cameras - up to 100 ft. away
• Blink App - Live View, Manage / download recordings
  • Multi-System - Control multiple Blinks from app
• Privacy Assurance - Hardware LED indicator when recording
• Batteries - 2 AA Lithium - Last 2 years (4,000 5-sec events per year)
• Voice Control with Amazon Alexa - Arm, disarm, system information

Blink Home Security - Coming

• Smart Entry Keypad - Arm and disarm
• Water sensors / Entry sensors
• Siren - 105 decibels - Manual, or motion
• 4G Cellular & Battery Back-up
• Local 911 Alert / Multi-tier User Accounts / PIR & Advanced Cloud Based Motion Analytics
• No Per Camera Fee - $9.99 / month
• 24 x 7 Third-Party professional monitoring - $19.99 / month

Ring - Video Doorbells and Security Cameras

• Video Doorbell at your door, Stick Up Cams and Floodlight Cams
  • plus solar panels and chimes
• 1 million lifetime customers, 3 billion motion alerts or doorbell ring
• Stream live HD video and two-way audio straight to your smartphone, tablet and PC,
• Watch over your home and answer the door from anywhere
• Sends instant alerts when visitors press doorbell or trigger built-in motion sensors
• Ring app - See, hear and speak to people on your property from anywhere
• https://ring.com/

Ring Protect Plans - Required for video storage and access

• Cloud Storage - Store videos to Ring account - for up to 60 days
• Video Review - If you miss an alert, review your videos at anytime
• Video Sharing - Share videos with friends, family or local law enforcement
• Protect Basic - $3 per month or $30 per year - per Camera
  Protect Plus - $10 per month or $100 per year - unlimited Cameras
• Protect Base Station - Ring Response 24/7 professional monitoring / Cellular Backup

Ring Video Doorbell Elite - $499

• Profession - 1080HD video, power over Ethernet, flush design

Ring Stick Up Cam - $179

• Wire-free and weather-resistant security camera. mounts to any surface
• 720p HD video, 80 degree field of view, Two-way talk
• Motion-activated alerts, adjustable motion sensors

Ring Spotlight Cam - start at $199

• Variants: Wired, Battery, Solar, Mount
• 1080 HD video, 80 degree field of view, Two-way talk
• Custom motion zones, LED spotlights, siren

Ring Floodlight Cam HD - $249

• Security camera with built-in floodlights, siren alarm, two-way talk

Google Nest Cameras

• 1080p HD, all-glass lens, 130° wide-angle view
• Motion and sound alerts, Talk and listen, 3-hour snapshot history
• Works with Amazon Alexa
• IQ - Video and audio analysis in cloud
  • Person alerts; Supersight: 4K sensor, HDR, Close-up tracking view
• https://nest.com/

Nest Aware Service - Required for recording (beyond 3 hours)

• Store video history - 10 to 30 days
• Activity zones - Mark in frame
• Intelligent video and alerts - Person seen and person talking
• IQ - Familiar face alerts
• Basic - $10 per month, $100 per year - 10-day video history
• Extended - $30 per month, $300 per year - 30-day video history

D-Link Wi-Fi Cameras

• Motion detection intelligence and video storage in the camera
  • No required cloud storage, no monthly fees
• Remote live view with zoom, Camera-based motion detection and alerts, Scheduled recording
• Some: 1080p HD, 180 degree wide angle, Two-way audio, Motion & sound detection, Night vision
• Products for home surveillance (cameras, video recorders, baby monitors),
  smart home (smart plugs, smart motion / water sensors, sirens), and networking
• http://us.dlink.com/

Top

Smart TV - Bridge Set-top to Online

Roku - Streaming TV & Media Player

• Channels - Access 500,000 movie & TV episodes from 5,000+ streaming channels (some subscription)
  • Free and paid programming, broadcast channels, subscription services
  • Movies, Live TV and sports, Cable channels with original content, movies, TV shows
• Free channels - Roku Channel, ABC, CW, PBS, CBSN, YouTube
• Subscription channels - Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, WatchESPN, CBS All Access, HBO NOW, Starz, SHOWTIME
• Cable and satellite (current subscription) - TV Everywhere - ABC, NBC, FOX NOW, Watch HGTV, USA NOW, HBO GO
• Rent or buy channels - Amazon Video, Fandango Now, Google Play, VUDU
• Music services - Pandora, Spotify, and Sirius XM
• Roku Channel - Access all your favorite free content in one place
• Roku Feed - Updates on content availability and price changes
• Roku mobile app - Control and voice search, private listening
• Cast - Display personal media to your TV
• Screen Mirroring - for Android and Windows devices
• https://www.roku.com/

Apple TV

• Brings home the magic of cinema with 4K and HDR
• Four software platforms - iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS - provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices
• https://www.apple.com/tv/

Amazon - FireTV - Streaming Media Player

• Play streaming content and live TV
• Over 500,000 TV episodes and movies
• from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ
• Tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills
• Voice control with Alexa Voice Remote, or pair with Echo device
• https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Fire-TV-Family...

• Play streaming content
  • Access to Netflix, Hulu, HBO NOW, YouTube, Prime Video
  • Favorites and recommendations based on your viewing habits
  • Universal search - Suggestions from over 190 channels and apps
• Live TV - Subscription services including Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW
  • Access ESPN, AMC, HGTV, Comedy Central, CNN
  • Free live, over-the-air HD broadcasts with an indoor HD antenna
• Music - Pandora, Prime Music, and iHeartRadio,
• Games - Hundreds of games from Mojang, EA, and Disney; Fitness apps
• Prime membership - Thousands of movies and TV episodes
  • Ad-free listening to millions of songs with Prime Music
• Alexa Voice Remote included - Voice control
  • Find movies by actor or genre, play party playlist, pause / fast forward content, launch apps
  • 10,000 Alexa skills including Uber, Domino's, Yelp
  • Control smart home devices - Dim lights, set thermostat, view nursery camera
• Pair with Echo devices - Control Fire TV with Alexa
• Plug into HDTV’s HDMI port
• Connect to internet via Wi-Fi or optional Amazon Ethernet Adapter

Google - Chromecast (2nd gen) - HDMI Streaming Media Player

• Stream entertainment from your device to your TV
• http://www.google.com/chromecast

• Play from Android and iOS smartphones and tablets
  • Play from supported apps, select Cast button
  • Don't drain device battery (play directly from cloud)
  • Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Hulu, HBO GO, ESPN, Google Play
  • Google Home app to finds new apps, offers, features
• Display from laptops - Google Chrome browser (Mac, Win, Chromebook)
  • Cast from browser tab, or entire desktop
  • Cast from Chromecast-enabled websites
    • YouTube, Netflix, Google Play Movies, Google Play Music
• Display Backdrop - Google Photos, Facebook, headline news
• Mirror Android screen - Stream what you see on your Android device
• Mirror website - from laptop’s Chrome browser
• Pair with Google Home devices - Stream video with voice commands
• Plugs directly into HDMI port on TV
  • USB power - wall adapter or USB port

Top

Smart Home Wireless - Bluetooth to Wi-Fi

• Smart Home - Connect all devices together via Wi-Fi (not point-to-point Bluetooth)
• See Wireless Media Resources

Bluetooth - Wireless data exchange over short distances

• Point to point - Typically 1-to-1 "paired" connections
• Input (mouse, keyboard), Print, Transfer, Voice / Music (headset, speakers)

Wi-Fi - Wireless Local Area Networking

• Wireless access point (hotspot) - WLAN to connect Wi-Fi compatible devices to Internet
• PC, video-game consoles, phones & tablets, digital cameras, smart TVs, digital audio players, printers

    Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, VT

TP-Link - Range Extenders

• Extend Wi-Fi signal into "dead zones" - Strengthen and expand signal, reduce signal interference
• Boost Wi-Fi coverage up to 10,000 sq ft
• Wi-Fi Extender - Extend existing Wi-Fi signal to hard-to-reach locations
• Wireless adapter - Plug into gigabit network cable and extend wireless network
• Work with any Wi-Fi router or wireless access point
• http://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/network-extenders/range-extenders

Verizon JetPack MiFi - Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots

• Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot - Connect up to 15 Wi-Fi devices to Internet at once
• Doubles as portable charger
• https://www.verizonwireless.com/internet-devices/

Verizon Wireless Data Plans

• Any data only device, including MiFis, provide 15 GB of 4G LTE data. After that, connection reduces to 600 Kbps
  • Best for mobile internet & email -- not streaming
• Data Only Plans - 2GB $20/month, 4 GB $30, 6 GB $40, ... 10 GB $60, ... 20 GB $110, ... 100 GB $710
• 4 GB = 12,000 webpages or 52,000 emails or 12 hrs streaming video or 800 hrs turn-by-turn navigation
  • HD movie can be 2 GB / hour
• https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/data-only-plan/

4G LTE wireless broadband speeds vs. home network

• 4G LTE is 10 times faster than 3G
  • Download speeds between 5 and 12 Mbps, peak approaching 50 Mbps
  • Upload speeds between 2 and 5 Mbps
• Cable commonly 4 to 12 Mbps
• https://www.verizonwireless.com/articles/4g-lte-speeds-vs-your-home-network

Top

Smart Digital Assistants - Smartphones

• Intelligent Personal Assistant - Uses Web services
  • Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana
• Hands-Free Voice Assistance
  • Information, operate applications, entertainment, travel, smart home, in-car
• Natural Language User Interface
• Answer questions, make recommendations, perform actions

Hands-Free Voice Assistance

• Operate apps, get information, access entertainment, travel assistance
• Smart home control - Apple HomeKit
• In-car - Make calls, read texts/email, play music
• Launch phrase / wake word - Optional, or press button
• One Assistant - Across multiple devices
• Quick interactions, Off-load, Personal - Learn about you - proactive (family, home, schedule)
• Visual interaction - Siri waveforms, Google dots, Cortana animated circles

• Get Information (Web) - Time, News, Weather, Stocks, Sports scores, Movie times, Search Web,
        Conversions, Tips/Math, Translate, Spell, Define/synonym
• Access entertainment - Search / play music, Movie information, Read book
• Travel assistance - Address, Directions, Navigation, Stores nearby, Hours open
• Actions / Operate Apps - Call, FaceTime, Launch, Read Text/Email, Where is/Directions, Set Alarm, Settings
  
• Fun - Joke / Knock knock, Trivia, Bark, Simon Says, Easter Eggs

Smartphones - iPhone / Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana / Amazon Fire Tablets

Verizon - Google - Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL - Google Assistant

• Highest rated smartphone camera
• Android 8.0.0, Oreo
• Squeeze to launch Google Assistant for real-time help
• https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_2

Apple - iPhone X - Siri

• Immersive - Entirely screen, All-glass and stainless steel design
• Intelligent - Respond to a tap, your voice, and even a glance
• Face ID - Face is password to unlock, authenticate, and pay; secure and private
• TrueDepth camera - Projects and analyzes 30,000 invisible dots to create precise depth map of face
• Animoji - Captures and analyzes over 50 different facial muscle movements to bring emoji to life
• https://www.apple.com/iphone-x/

Top

Smart Voice Control - Wi-Fi Speakers

Amazon Echo - Hands-Free Speakers with Alexa Voice Control

• Hands-free speakers - Control with your voice
• Works even in noisy environments or while playing music
• Say "Alexa" to wake - Lights up, streams audio to cloud
• Alexa Voice Service - Play music, set alarms and timers, ask questions, control smart home devices
• Play streaming music - Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn
• Read audiobooks, play radio stations, listen to news briefs
• Play multiple devices in different rooms
• Free audio calls - to US, Mexico, and Canada
• Smart home control - compatible connected devices
  • Lights, fans, switches,, thermostats, garage doors, sprinklers
  • Philips Hue, TP-Link, ecobee, WeMo, Samsung SmartThings, Insteon, Lutron, Nest, Wink, Honeywell
• Play on built-in speaker - or external speakers or headphones - Bluetooth or 3.5 mm cable
• Alexa App (Fire OS, Android, iOS, desktop browsers) - Setup and manage - services and devices
• www.amazon.com/echo

Google Home - Voice-Activated Speakers with Google Assistant

• Voice-activated speakers powered by Google Assistant
• Get answers, play songs, tackle your day, enjoy your entertainment, control your smart home with just your voice
• "OK, Google" - Ask questions, tell it to do things
• Personalized - Get personalized help with your schedule, reminders, calls, news and more
• Play music, podcasts or radio - from services including Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Pandora, TuneIn
• Plays with Chromecast - Stream shows, movies and music on TV or speakers
• Get answers - Weather, traffic, finance, sports, local business
• Get personal - Set alarms and timers, traffic home, flight info
• Family fun - Learning activities and quizzes, games and trivia, classic stories and original tales (Kids Family Link account)
• Control smart devices - Chromecast, Nest, Philips Hue
• https://store.google.com/product/google_home

Microsoft Cortana - Harman Kardon INVOKE - Home Speaker

• Voice-activated speaker with premium sound and Cortana’s intelligence
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/cortana/devices/invoke

Apple - HomePod Speaker

• Elegantly designed, compact speaker totally rocks the house
• https://www.apple.com/homepod/

• Siri natural voice interaction - Search, filter, and find what you want
• Apple Music - Access 40 million songs, from over two million artists
  • "Shared Up Next” - so everyone can control
• Home assistant - for everyday household questions and tasks
  • Timers. Clocks. Measurements. Translations. News. Sports. Weather. Traffic
• HomeKit smart home hub - for controlling smart home accessories
  • “Hey Siri, turn on the lights” or “cool the room” or “lower the shades”

Sonos Wireless Speakers

• Sonos Wireless HiFi System - Fill your home with music
• Stream your entire music library - iTunes Library, Amazon Music
• Play direct from 50 popular music services, Internet radio
  • Apple Music, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Pandora, iHeart Radio, SirusXM, Spotify, Google Play
• Works over home Wi-Fi network, Simple wireless set-up
• Supports multiple devices -- Start with one, add more over time; Stereo pair, play different music in each room or synchronize
• Control from anywhere - with smartphone, tablet, or PC/Mac
• Sonos Controller App - for Android or iOS
• Sonos Desktop Controller software - for Mac or PC
• http://www.sonos.com/

Sonos One - with Amazon Alexa - $199

Top

Better Watch Out - Security & Privacy

Digital Assistant - "Sees You When You're Sleeping, ... Knows When You're Awake" ...

• Security - IoT devices open to the Internet, Cloud storage on the Internet
• Hear you - Voice-controlled speakers upload audio clips
• See you - Wi-Fi cameras upload video clips
• Watch you - Nursery camera

Amazon Echo Show - Drop In - Instantly connect video call

Amazon: Echo audio mic and Echo Show video camera shown in the bedroom

Google Nest Aware service - Continually streams and analyzes live video and audio

• Facial recognition - Same FaceNet technology used by Google photos to identify and organize faces found in images
• Not available in Illinois - Stricter laws governing collection of biometric data

Google: Nest IQ and Nest Aware video cameras shown in the bathroom and bedroom

Digital Companion - "Knows If You've Been Bad or Good"

• Digital Childcare - "Nurture and Enrich Kids"

Mattel Aristotle for Kids - Child Nanny and Companion

• Voice-controlled “smart hub”for child's room - baby monitor to children's assistant, $299
• Infant - Detect baby crying and soothes to sleep with lullaby
• Toddler - Answers questions, reads books, plays guessing games, hosts sing-alongs
  
  • Teaches ABCs, teaches manners (say please)
• School - Helps with homework, gives foreign-language lessons

• Product withdrawn Oct. 2017 after complaints
• “Attempts to replace the care, judgment and companionship of loving family members with faux nurturing
  and conversation from a robot designed to sell products and build brand loyalty”
• https://news.mattel.com/news/mattel-s-nabiR-brand-introduces-first-ever-connected-kids-room-platform-in-tandem-with-microsoft-and-qualcomm-aristotleTM

• Fully functioning Amazon Alexa assistant
• Can answer same adult questions and has same smart-home capabilities
• Say "Aristotle" to talk to different voice assistant designed to interact with kids
• Wireless camera streams 256-bit encrypted video to phone
• 2015 - “Hello Barbie” talking doll recorded kids’ conversations and transmitted them to third parties
• 2015 - Wi-Fi-enabled Barbie was found to be easy to hack into, allowing access to the doll’s system information,
  account information, stored audio files and direct access to the microphone

• "Will Help Nurture and Enrich Kids as They Grow While Assisting Families with Their Ever-Changing Needs"
• “Help to soothe a crying baby … reinforce good manners in kids, and even help kids learn a foreign language”
• Interact extensively with young children - Answer questions, play games, do singalongs, and teach the ABCs

• Automatically recognizes baby wakes up, soothes to sleep with lullaby, white noise, favorite song, night-light
• Logs wet diapers and feedings via voice commands or phone app
• Automatically orders more diapers or formula from Target, Babies R Us and other participating retailers.
• Automatically looks for deals and coupons on consumable baby supplies.
• Actually recognizes and answers young kids' questions after a brief voice recognition training session
• Answers questions until your child falls asleep.
• Plays guessing games with kids based on animal noises (say the name of the animal)
  or shapes held up to the camera (say the name of the shape), then lights up with the correct answer.
• Reads aloud from a selection of dozens of children's books, accompanied with sound and light effects that match the stories
• Hosts sing-alongs and teaches ABCs and 1-2-3s.
• Recognizes specially designed kids' toys with embedded NFC chips, or with its camera,
  and provides sound effects when kids play with them ( Hot Wheels racetrack)
• Optionally requires kids to say "Please" when they ask for things, to help teach manners
• Helps kids with homework
• Gives foreign-language lessons
• https://www.cnet.com/products/aristotle-by-nabi/preview/

Digital Childcare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NBm1YVbVGE

• Morning to night - Put the child to bed at night, chat with them in the morning
• Displace essential parenting functions - like soothing a crying baby or reading a bedtime story ("faux nurturing")
• Children could form an attachment - and build brand loyalty
• Collect information - Collect from child in bedroom - and upload to cloud

• Using Amazon Echo In Your Child’s Bedtime Routine
  • Use it as the bedtime timer
  • Let it read your little one a bedtime story
  • Let it play a few lullabies
  • Use it to gradually dim the lights
  • Use it to talk to your child from another room
  • Baby Sleep Site - https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/amazon-echo-bedtime-routine

Mobile Companion - "Knows When You've Been Bad or Good" ...

• Mobile Companion - Entertains, learns, shoots video - Personality

Kuri - Intelligent Home Robot - $799 (Spring 2018)

• Kuri - "Adorable home robot with a cheerful personality"
  • "Designed with personality, awareness, and mobility"
  • "Brings a spark of life to your home by creating a joyful and inspiring sense of personality"
• Personality and mood - Expressive eyes, friendly robot language of beeps & bloops, multi-color chest light
• Mobile - Follows you around the home, explores your home
• Entertains - Plays music, reads the kids a bedtime story, follow you around playing podcasts
• Personal videographer - Automatically capture short videos of your life
• "Preserves the best rare candid moments of your life at home"
• Capture moments you might have missed - pets daytime antics, kids playing while you’re making dinner
• Learns - Home's floor plan, which room belongs to whom; Rhythm of household - wake for work, greet you when return at night
• Video & data stored in the cloud; Can invite others to watch with camera
• Mayfield Robotics - https://www.heykuri.com

Top

Digital Decorations - Video Vignettes

AtmosFX - Digital Decorations

• Video vignettes to display indoors or outside
• View on monitor, project on surfaces
• Founders are former MTV animators
• Holiday themes - Halloween, Christmas, Easter, New Year's, Valentine's Day, Fourth of July
• Also - Birthdays, Football
• Halloween - Witches, ghosts, skeletons, zombies, movie monsters, creepy crawlies
  • Singing pumpkins; skeletons that dance, play music and perform silly slapstick
• Collections ~ $19.99, $29.99, $39.99 ~ 3 to 11 clips
• Individual scenes - $9.99, $7.99, $5.99 ~ Under 1 min. to 2:30
• Digital Download, some DVD, SD card $49.99
• www.atmosfx.com

Display Modes

• Clips designed for different display modes
• Full color and silhouette / shadow - Project onto curtains or wall
• Vertical mode - Project on window, Monitor on wall as portrait (set of 3)

• TV/Monitor - Hang on a wall, or position in a window to play outside.
  • Great for animated portraits, or overlay the display with window panes so that it looks like a window to another room.

• Wall - Project directly on surfaces including walls, ceilings, doors, or floors.
  • Great for creepy crawlies or zombies that appear to burst out of the surface.
  • Project animated faces onto uncarved pumpkins - Jackolatern Jamboree.

• Window - Rear project onto translucent material for viewing outside.
  • Great for short vignettes with silhouettes of monsters in the house.
  • Project at least 1800 lumens onto translucent material - bedsheet or shower liner.
  • Project shadow effects directly on curtains.
  • Fit center of image, or use vertical mode clips.

• Hollusion - Project onto semi-transparent material for the illusion of characters that hover in mid-air,
  • Show in doorway, archway or yard.
  • Semi-transparent mesh material (bridal mesh, fine gauze, mosquito netting, scrim).
  • Great for ghosts and other spectral creatures.

• Prop - Project a character video onto a draped human form, so the body comes alive, including hand gestures.
  • AtmosGEAR 3DFX Form

• Doorway - Project onto a closed door or open doorway to create the illusion that something is going to appear.

Setup

• Play clips from computer, DVD player, projector that plays from a SD or USB , or portable device
• Some collections have buffer clips with black or background lighting, set scene and build tension before action starts
• Build playlist of multiple clips that loop and repeat

Also

• Window Projection Material - white semi-translucent nylon sheet ($24.99)
• Premium Window Projection Material - 3 x 5 ft. ($39.99)
  • Reusable flexible vinyl, sticks to windows through static cling
• Frosted look, Designed for rear and front projection
• Hollusion Projection Material - 5.5 x 9 ft ($49.99)
• 3DFX Form - for Prop display mode ($59.99)
  • Human-shaped inflatable vinyl form, 68 feet tall, fabric shroud
• AtmosFX Media Player - with motion detection, SD / USB ($69.99)
  

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Holiday Gadgets Articles

• 2018 - Better, Faster, Cheaper
  • Holiday Tech 2018 - Better, Faster, Cheaper
  • Article: Gift Ideas to Light Up the Holiday Season (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 14, 2018)
  2017 - Smart Home
  • Holiday Tech 2017 - Smart Home for the Holidays
  • Article: Make a List, Check It Twice: Gifts for a Smart Home (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 15, 2017)
  • Article: You’d Better Watch Out – Secret Santa’s Watching (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 15, 2017)
  • Article: AtmosFX Digital Decorations (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 15, 2017)
  2016 - Digital Assistants, Digital Health, Smart Home, VR & Drones
  • Holiday Tech 2016 - Riding the Digital Revolution
  • Article: High Tech for the Holidays: The Mobile Digital Revolution (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 16, 2016)
  2015 - Holiday Giving with Internet Crowdfunding
  • Crowdfunding Examples - People and Projects
  • Crowdfunding Sites - Charitable and Creative
  • Article: Holiday Giving: A Digital Twist to Coins in the Kettle  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 24, 2015)
  • Holiday Gadgets 2015 - Audio, Power, Storage, Accessories
  • Article: Gift Ideas for the Mobile Tech Crowd  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 2, 2015)
• 2014 - Wearables and Body Tech
  • Holiday Gadgets 2014: Wearables and Body Tech - Smart Watches and Eyewear
  • Holiday Gadgets & Wireless Accessories 2014 - Audio, Storage, Power, Accessories
  • Holiday Gadgets: Are We Wearing Watches Again? / Wireless Accessories - Full issue (PDF) (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 26, 2014)
  • Article: New From Verizon: Personal Mini-Drone For Home (or Yard)   (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 26, 2014)
• 2013 - Wireless Accessories / Digital Health
  • Holiday Gadgets & Wireless Accessories 2013 - Portable Storage, Audio, Power, Cases, Imaging, Digital Health
  • Article: Gifts for a Techie? It’s Time to Accessorize - Full issue (PDF)  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 27, 2013)
• 2012 - Cloud Services
  • Holiday Gadgets 2012 - Cloud Services - Store, Share, Sync in the Cloud
  • Holiday Gadgets 2012 - Handheld Devices - Portable Players, Smartphones, and Tablets
  • Holiday Gadgets 2012 - Portable Accessories - Portable Audio, Imaging, Storage, Power, Cases
  • Article: Holiday High Tech Gift Guide 2012 - Full issue (PDF)  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 21, 2012)
• 2012 - Portable Accessories
  • Portable Accessories - Mid 2012 - Portable Video, Audio, Photo, Power, Cases
  • Portable Accessories 2012 - Portable Storage, Audio, Power, Cases, Imaging, Digital Health
• 2011 - Smartphones, Tablets & E-Readers
  • Holiday Gadgets 2011: Portable and Wireless
    • Smartphones, Tablets & E-Readers, Media Players, Wireless Audio, Portable Video, Portable Storage
  • Article: Holiday High Tech Gift Guide 2011 - Full issue (PDF)  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 16, 2011)
• 2011 - New Year
  • 2011 Trends from CES
• 2010 - Portable and Wireless - 3-D - Apps
  • 3D - The Next Dimension
  • Smartphone Mobile Apps Gallery
  • Holiday Gadgets 2010: Consumer Electronics Wish Lists
  • Holiday Gadgets 2010: Portable and Wireless
  • Article: Holiday Gift Guide: What Techies Want (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 1, 2010)
  • Article: High-Tech Gadgets Get Down To Business  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Oct. 13, 2010)
• 2010 - New Year
  • Gadgets and Trends 2010: Wireless Devices, Smartphones and Apps, Portable Devices and Accessories
  • Wireless Trends 2010 - Smartphones and Apps
• 2009 - Accessories
  • Holiday Tech Gift Guide 2009
  • Digital Media Trends - Holiday 2009
  • Article: If the Wish List is an E-List, Think Small & Portable (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 25, 2009)
  • Article: Accessories for Portable Devices  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 25, 2009)
• 2008 - Home Media
  • Holiday Gadgets 2008
        Smartphones, Portable Players, Personal Audio,
        Personal Camcorders, Sharing Media Within The Home
  • Article: Holiday Gadgets 2008: Santa Delivers: Digital Fun for Everyone / Dancing in a Digital Wonderland
       (U.S.1 Newspaper, Dec. 3, 2008)
• 2007 - High-Def
  • Digital Holiday Trends 2007: High-Def at Home
        Digital TV - High-Def and the Analog Sunset
        Digital Cameras and Accessories - Beyond Megapixels
        Video Camcorders - Memories in High-Def
  • Digital Holiday Trends 2007: Portable Media
        Portable Media Players - Video playback, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
        Mobile Media - Video and Internet everywhere
        Audio Accessories - Headsets, Wireless, Noise Reduction for music on the go
        Portable Power - Universal Chargers to fuel all these electronic goodies on the go
        GPS Navigation - Goes Mobile
  • Article: High-Def Holiday Trends - TV, Cameras, Camcorders and Accessories
        (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 5, 2007)
    
  • Article: Hi Tech Stocking Stuffers - Portable Media and Accessories
        (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 28, 2007)
• 2006 - High-Def, Mobile Media and Navigation
  • Digital Holiday 2006: Home Entertainment Goes High-Def
• Article: What to Carry: Portable Data Storage  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Jan. 3, 2007)
• Article: Home Entertainment Goes Hi-Def  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 6, 2006)
  
• Article: Digital Holiday: Mobile Media and Navigation  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 29, 2006)
  
• 2005 - Portable Storage and Media Players
• Digital Holiday 2005: Portable Storage Drives and Media Players
• Mobile Internet Connections: You Can Take It With You
      Handsets, smartphones, and wireless modems ( palmOne Treo 650 & Samsung i730)
• Article: A Digital Holiday: Portable Storage and Media Players  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 14, 2005)
• Article: Digital Holiday - Part 2  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 14, 2005)
  
• 2004 - Accessories
  • Article: Gadgets as Gifts 2004:  Gizmos for Your Gadgets
        DVD Recorders, Snapshot Printers, Cell Cameras, Portable Players
  • Article: Stocking Stuffers: Gizmos for Your Gadgets  (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 8, 2004)
    
• 2003 - Gadgets to Go
  • Gadgets to Go:  Traveling Light for the Holidays
  • Article: Gadgets to Go: Traveling Light for the Holidays / High Tech Stocking Stuff
        (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Dec. 3, 2003)
• 2002 - Gadgets as Gifts
  • Gadgets as Gifts: Phones, PDAs, Cameras
  • Article: Gadgets as Gifts: Smaller, Smarter and Cheaper / As Gifts, Digital Can Be Dazzling
        (U.S. 1 Newspaper, Nov. 27, 2002)

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