When connected technology was introduced to the UK, it was regarded as a luxury. Its benefits were confined to home entertainment and seen as a treat, rather than a practical or economical way to run the home. But now connected technology is revolutionising the way people manage their home life, as well as having broader implications for families. Hive makes the connected home a reality with an ecosystem of products that can be controlled via mobile, tablet or laptop, enabling users to be in complete control, in and outside the home, using the Hive smartphone app.
“When we were creating Hive Active Heating, we thought our customers would want to control their heating outside the home, when they got unexpectedly held up at work, for example, or social plans changed,” says Nina Bhatia, director of Connected Home at British Gas, the business behind Hive. “But the reality is Hive customers use their phones to control their heating from the comfort of the couch – or bed – just as much as they use it outside.”
More than 250,000 people already use Hive and have experienced the revolutionary control and everyday comfort that it brings: they never have to come home to a cold house or waste energy by having the heating on when there’s nobody in. To enhance their experience, the Hive Active Heating thermostat has been redesigned, and Hive has now introduced a family of products designed to give customers even more control of their homes – anytime, anywhere.
Hive Active Plugs give you greater control of electronic devices – brilliant if you want to turn a device on or off from another room in the house, or if you want to make sure that you haven’t left anything on (like the iron or your hair straighteners) if you’re out for the day. Launching soon, Hive Active Lights will enable you to turn lights on or off, wherever you are, so if you’ve gone to bed and left a light on downstairs, you don’t have to get up.
If you want to sleep even easier at night, Hive Window or Door Sensors tell you if doors and windows have been opened. And Hive Motion Sensors can be used to detect movement in your home. As well as giving you greater peace of mind when you’re working away or on holiday, you could use the sensors at night, or when you’re home alone, and you’ll receive an alert if any motion is picked up. The sensors are very handy during the day, too – if your kids are old enough to make their way back from school on their own, for example, you could opt to receive an alert at work when any movements are detected back at home.
Older people can also use connected technology to make life at home more manageable, enhancing their sense of independence. The more flexible heating and hot water schedule of Hive Active Heating can help them control the temperature of the house from anywhere inside, so they don’t need to fiddle with boilers or thermostats. Being able to control all their lights and electronic devices from the comfort of a bed or an armchair can make everyday life less stressful.
Plenty of connected products enhance leisure time at home. But with greater convenience, control and comfort on the agenda, the next generation of connected technologies will help British families live easier and more independent lives.
