Sure, Dave, let's do it!
May 21, 2023 6:42 PM Subscribe
I want to take more advantage of the robots, computers and assistive technology available to me living in 2023 for work, life, whatever. What am I missing?
I feel like the amount of digital opportunities out there to ease my workload and make my personal life better has exploded over the past few years. Robots, computers, digital assistants, make my life easier. I want more. What else can I do?
Here are a few examples of things I'm taking advantage of right now:
Using Siri and other assistive technology on my iPhone to read me texts and respond so I don't have to stop what I'm doing, research things quickly, do basic math without taking my eyes off a document I'm writing, look up definitions and synonyms.
Use Google translate to communicate with my children's friend's parents who do not speak English.
Use reminders and iCal to remind me about everything, create lists, tell me what time to leave and organize my life.
Log into my local library for movies, music, newspapers and more.
Use an online program to schedule all of my work meetings for me.
Captions for movies/digital shows/virtual meetings - they have gotten so much better over the years.
Things I haven't done yet or tried and weren't for me:
No Roomba for me - it would get trapped in a corner behind a pile of books.
Connect my thermostat/drier/oven to my phone - my house is too small to need to do this.
I tried using Cortana at work, and it was...not good.
I have Apple products at home and Microsoft products at work. Open to apps, features, settings, ideas, podcasts, articles with suggestions, whatever you like!
I feel like the amount of digital opportunities out there to ease my workload and make my personal life better has exploded over the past few years. Robots, computers, digital assistants, make my life easier. I want more. What else can I do?
Here are a few examples of things I'm taking advantage of right now:
Using Siri and other assistive technology on my iPhone to read me texts and respond so I don't have to stop what I'm doing, research things quickly, do basic math without taking my eyes off a document I'm writing, look up definitions and synonyms.
Use Google translate to communicate with my children's friend's parents who do not speak English.
Use reminders and iCal to remind me about everything, create lists, tell me what time to leave and organize my life.
Log into my local library for movies, music, newspapers and more.
Use an online program to schedule all of my work meetings for me.
Captions for movies/digital shows/virtual meetings - they have gotten so much better over the years.
Things I haven't done yet or tried and weren't for me:
No Roomba for me - it would get trapped in a corner behind a pile of books.
Connect my thermostat/drier/oven to my phone - my house is too small to need to do this.
I tried using Cortana at work, and it was...not good.
I have Apple products at home and Microsoft products at work. Open to apps, features, settings, ideas, podcasts, articles with suggestions, whatever you like!
Seconding Philips Hue bulbs - and a good way to dive in is to do it gradually, one or two bulbs at a time, so you can get used to what they are and how you want to live and interact with them. This also spreads out the cost. I've tried alternatives, but Hue are really the best. Get the Hue Hub as well, so you can fully use all the features the bulbs provide.
Also, this:
Connect my thermostat/drier/oven to my phone - my house is too small to need to do this.
Our last place was just under 1000 square feet, the thermostat was probably 15 linear feet from the couch where I sat most of the time, and I was just like you in the "this place is so small I don't need this" line of thought. But, having a smart thermostat I could run from the phone was AWESOME. It's so easy to control and set up schedules that make logical sense, as opposed to the way a lot of dumb thermostats (at least the older ones) do scheduling.
In short, you may not "need" to do it, but once you do it, you'll wonder why you never did it before. And many utilities offer steep discounts on purchasing smart thermometers, so the cost to acquire one is approaching negligible. I can't speak to washer/dryer or fridge - we have dumb versions of those appliances - but a smart thermostat is a really neat little thing to have in your smart toolbox.
posted by pdb at 8:57 PM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also, this:
Connect my thermostat/drier/oven to my phone - my house is too small to need to do this.
Our last place was just under 1000 square feet, the thermostat was probably 15 linear feet from the couch where I sat most of the time, and I was just like you in the "this place is so small I don't need this" line of thought. But, having a smart thermostat I could run from the phone was AWESOME. It's so easy to control and set up schedules that make logical sense, as opposed to the way a lot of dumb thermostats (at least the older ones) do scheduling.
In short, you may not "need" to do it, but once you do it, you'll wonder why you never did it before. And many utilities offer steep discounts on purchasing smart thermometers, so the cost to acquire one is approaching negligible. I can't speak to washer/dryer or fridge - we have dumb versions of those appliances - but a smart thermostat is a really neat little thing to have in your smart toolbox.
posted by pdb at 8:57 PM on May 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
The nicest use case for a smart thermostat is turning the heat back up or A/C back down a few hours before you return from a trip, so you can leave it at an energy/money-saving temperature while you’re gone and arrive home to comfort.
posted by staggernation at 9:41 PM on May 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by staggernation at 9:41 PM on May 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Rxs on auto-refill with the pharmacy and text messages when ready
posted by archimago at 5:09 AM on May 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by archimago at 5:09 AM on May 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh, here’s one thing that may or may not quite fit your criteria, but I’ve found to be a big help in dealing with paperwork.
When someone sends you a form electronically and tells you to print, complete, sign, scan, and return it, you almost never need to do most of that. The Preview app on the Mac lets you add text annotations and signatures to any PDF, even if it’s not a “fillable” one. You can type your responses, pop in your signature (draw it once with trackpad or mouse and it will thereafter be available in the Annotate > Signature menu), save a copy of the completed form, and send it back.
Except for the occasional legal or financial document that requires a “wet” signature, I can’t remember the last time I’ve hand-filled a routine form.
posted by staggernation at 5:52 AM on May 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
When someone sends you a form electronically and tells you to print, complete, sign, scan, and return it, you almost never need to do most of that. The Preview app on the Mac lets you add text annotations and signatures to any PDF, even if it’s not a “fillable” one. You can type your responses, pop in your signature (draw it once with trackpad or mouse and it will thereafter be available in the Annotate > Signature menu), save a copy of the completed form, and send it back.
Except for the occasional legal or financial document that requires a “wet” signature, I can’t remember the last time I’ve hand-filled a routine form.
posted by staggernation at 5:52 AM on May 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
Automation is great....when it works. This article about how a hundred little problems add up to a smart home being much more a troubleshooting black hole than ultimately a time saver rings true to me, based on friends who've got into home automation and had the same issue.
It doesn't feel like a lot of smart home tech is standardised or ready for the long term yet - how many (essentially software) products survive for a long time in a new market? Not many. And we don't really know yet which will have staying power, both in terms of consumer demand and supplier support.
That being said, everyone I know who's got one seems to appreciate their smart doorbell with camera, and everyone appreciates their smart thermostat if they don't have a regular routine (because if you do, just put it on a timer).
posted by underclocked at 6:03 AM on May 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
It doesn't feel like a lot of smart home tech is standardised or ready for the long term yet - how many (essentially software) products survive for a long time in a new market? Not many. And we don't really know yet which will have staying power, both in terms of consumer demand and supplier support.
That being said, everyone I know who's got one seems to appreciate their smart doorbell with camera, and everyone appreciates their smart thermostat if they don't have a regular routine (because if you do, just put it on a timer).
posted by underclocked at 6:03 AM on May 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
I also like my smart thermostat.
Hue is great. There are Hue-compatible plugs that can operate lamps and any other device I want on a timer, or to turn on remotely. (One friend has set up an automatic monthly recharge of his emergency backup battery via Hue, for example.)
Rechargeable motion-detecting LEDs are not smart, but very nice. I have wand-style lights in the closets, and am working on lighting the hallways (like in a couple asks down).
A friend who is invested in keeping turf grass alive has a 'smart' sprinkler system and really likes that.
posted by mersen at 6:15 AM on May 22, 2023
Hue is great. There are Hue-compatible plugs that can operate lamps and any other device I want on a timer, or to turn on remotely. (One friend has set up an automatic monthly recharge of his emergency backup battery via Hue, for example.)
Rechargeable motion-detecting LEDs are not smart, but very nice. I have wand-style lights in the closets, and am working on lighting the hallways (like in a couple asks down).
A friend who is invested in keeping turf grass alive has a 'smart' sprinkler system and really likes that.
posted by mersen at 6:15 AM on May 22, 2023
I get Chat GPT to meal plan for me, I tell it that I need budget friendly healthy low carb (or whatever) meals for a family that are (dairy free, high in protein, whatever you desire here) complete with links to recipes and it sends me a weeks worth of meals. I imagine it could do the same with a workout plan, cleaning schedule etc.
I have friends who use it to plan trips and say it does a great job.
posted by Jubey at 7:29 AM on May 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
I have friends who use it to plan trips and say it does a great job.
posted by Jubey at 7:29 AM on May 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
>everyone I know who's got one seems to appreciate their smart doorbell with camera
I have a Ring doorbell, and I don't like it. I wouldn't recommend it. For one thing, the instructions that came with it were pretty poor, though that's par for the course. The biggest problem with it is that it's very laggy. Someone rings my doorbell, and I get a notification. By the time I open the app, and the app connects to the camera, the person is typically gone. The only real use for my Ring camera is to have a record if someone steals an Amazon package from my porch, though this has never actually happened to me.
posted by akk2014 at 12:38 PM on May 22, 2023
I have a Ring doorbell, and I don't like it. I wouldn't recommend it. For one thing, the instructions that came with it were pretty poor, though that's par for the course. The biggest problem with it is that it's very laggy. Someone rings my doorbell, and I get a notification. By the time I open the app, and the app connects to the camera, the person is typically gone. The only real use for my Ring camera is to have a record if someone steals an Amazon package from my porch, though this has never actually happened to me.
posted by akk2014 at 12:38 PM on May 22, 2023
I liked this article when it came out last month: "35 Ways Real People are Using A.I. Right Now" (from the New York Times).
posted by alex1965 at 12:41 PM on May 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by alex1965 at 12:41 PM on May 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
Having ensmartened the light bulbs in our old place with Hue bulbs, and having thought about this question more overnight, here's a few more tips based on what we learned about Hue bulbs through a few years of use.
- If you have animals that roam the house, motion detecting lights (to illuminate hallways/rooms when you enter them or whatever) are probably not worth the hassle, at least at first. Setting up the Hue motion detector to avoid animals yet detect humans can be...finicky.
- Don't be overwhelmed by what a bulb can do. Yes, they can run a bazillion different colors, and they can do a whole bunch of preset light patterns/qualities when done in concert with other bulbs (Philips calls them "scenes"). At first, though, if you choose to get smart bulbs, focus on what you want them to do for you and don't worry about all that.
- Related: The fact that a Hue bulb can produce 37 different shades of green is...neat? But it's also a bit of a party trick, at least for most average users. So if you don't think you'll ever need colored illumination, just get the white bulbs - you'll get a lot more use out of the many shades of white they offer (we used to brighten the tone in the winter and lessen it in the spring/summer) than you will out of purple, green, blue, or any other novelty shade it can produce.
- When thinking about how best to use the bulbs, at first, focus more on things like scheduling. You can set up Hue bulbs to come on at a consistent time in the morning, for example, so if you wake up 20 min before you head to the living room/kitchen, set the living room/kitchen lights (as appropriate for your house layout) to come on 15 or so minutes after you wake up. It sounds like a small thing, but not having to fumble for a light switch in the dark of winter, for instance, is one of those little helpful things that makes mornings easier.
- Don't overdo it at first. As I mentioned in my last answer, start with one or two, get them set up to do some basic stuff, and see if you like them and what they can offer. If so, get one more. Once you get a sense for how they work for you, not just how they work, you can get more and do more with them.
posted by pdb at 3:18 PM on May 22, 2023
- If you have animals that roam the house, motion detecting lights (to illuminate hallways/rooms when you enter them or whatever) are probably not worth the hassle, at least at first. Setting up the Hue motion detector to avoid animals yet detect humans can be...finicky.
- Don't be overwhelmed by what a bulb can do. Yes, they can run a bazillion different colors, and they can do a whole bunch of preset light patterns/qualities when done in concert with other bulbs (Philips calls them "scenes"). At first, though, if you choose to get smart bulbs, focus on what you want them to do for you and don't worry about all that.
- Related: The fact that a Hue bulb can produce 37 different shades of green is...neat? But it's also a bit of a party trick, at least for most average users. So if you don't think you'll ever need colored illumination, just get the white bulbs - you'll get a lot more use out of the many shades of white they offer (we used to brighten the tone in the winter and lessen it in the spring/summer) than you will out of purple, green, blue, or any other novelty shade it can produce.
- When thinking about how best to use the bulbs, at first, focus more on things like scheduling. You can set up Hue bulbs to come on at a consistent time in the morning, for example, so if you wake up 20 min before you head to the living room/kitchen, set the living room/kitchen lights (as appropriate for your house layout) to come on 15 or so minutes after you wake up. It sounds like a small thing, but not having to fumble for a light switch in the dark of winter, for instance, is one of those little helpful things that makes mornings easier.
- Don't overdo it at first. As I mentioned in my last answer, start with one or two, get them set up to do some basic stuff, and see if you like them and what they can offer. If so, get one more. Once you get a sense for how they work for you, not just how they work, you can get more and do more with them.
posted by pdb at 3:18 PM on May 22, 2023
I've been using the Canary Mail app for work emails. You can tell it to summarize an email, or to draft an email for you (you need to give it at least 5 words for direction). So far it's saved me at least 5 hours of typing out business-speak-bullshit.
Also a big gamechanger: "ChatGPT, please take the following 5 bullet points and expand them into approximately 5000 words of text for a [corporate newsletter/mommy blog/marketing copy/whatever]."
posted by gakiko at 10:13 PM on May 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also a big gamechanger: "ChatGPT, please take the following 5 bullet points and expand them into approximately 5000 words of text for a [corporate newsletter/mommy blog/marketing copy/whatever]."
posted by gakiko at 10:13 PM on May 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by jonathanhughes at 7:45 PM on May 21, 2023 [1 favorite]