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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2016 - 10 - 08 - ID#56i58e
2
Smart home gadgets (self.Blind)
submitted by amanaemonesiaa
Hello everyone, I’m trying to design a smart home device to be used as assistive technology and would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on what you think it should do/help you with. Also, do any of you already use some smart gadgets at home? which ones?
fastfinge 2 points 6y ago
Netatmo for temperature indoor and outdoor. Sonos because it's the most accessible stereo system you can have. Ring Doorbell so I get a notification when someone drops a package off on the doorstep, and doesn't bother ringing the bell. Kevo because bluetooth is cooler than keys. Does Alarm Force count? It's got an app to notify my phone, and is on my wifi. A WeMo smart plug because starting the coffee from bed is cool, and every coffee pot with a built-in timer function is inaccessible, so I just use the plug to do that. Instant Pot IP-Smart, because controlling a pressure cooker with my phone is neat, and I like knowing time remaining, food temperature, and pressure level, all things I couldn't get from a normal electric pressure cooker because I can't see the display. As soon as Google Home comes to Canada next year, I'll probably end up with one of those, too. And I think that's everything!
amanaemonesiaa [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Tnx for the info! I'm also curios to check out Google Home. Do you happen to have any experience with Amazon's Echo?
fastfinge 1 points 6y ago
Unfortunately, I'm a Canadian, and the Amazon Echo is US only.
chicklitter 1 points 6y ago
What we use:

Nest thermostats--my husband (who's blind, I'm sighted) can control them via the Nest app, which is fantastic. The downside is that if they go offline he can't get them back online since that function is done directly from the thermostat, and those don't talk.
iGrill for grilling/smoking meat--we grill and smoke a lot of meat, and this is another device that both of us can use. I can use it because you can still see the display even if you don't have the app pulled up, but he can use the app to monitor temperatures and to know when something needs to be pulled or when more wood needs to be added if we're smoking something.
Google OnHub--We can check our internet connection via the app, which is awesome.
AppleTV--we got rid of cable and just stream things via the AppleTV, which basically creates an accessible TV/cable set up by using VoiceOver.

We're thinking about getting Bluetooth locks and a smart home alarm system.
amanaemonesiaa [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thanks! Very useful info. It's cool that you can both enjoy the benefits of some of these gadgets
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