One thing I really notice, now that we all whisk in and out of the house on a daily basis, is what a change our coming and goings actually have on the HOUSE. On the positive side, it’s a damn sight less messy than it used to be because we are here less and so less things move around and get ‘oops I accidentally forgot to put it away’ed’ but the downside is that it is colder, because there are less bodies heating it and feels rather forlorn when we get home. Sometimes we add a touch of welcome with a slow cooker, which warms and adds some friendly foodie smells but there is no getting away from the fact that often the lights are off, there is the detritus of the morning dash to get out in the hallway and the rooms feel chilly. We are lucky in that we live in a new house with minimum drafts and good insulation but that means there is no good reason to have the heating on lots and it can all feel a little forlorn at times. Not to mention beige. Did I mention the new house beige issue? I’m sure I have.
The Hive system is a way of automating your household heating and water via a super clever thermostat and a phone app (iphone and android). You can change and tweak from your phone by seeing what the temperatures are doing around your home. Forget all that “you must be freezing till 6pm” malarky and hello to walking in to a house where the heating is on and your bath has been run for you. (Well okay, I made that up, it can’t run your bath but it can make sure the water is ready and hot!) £199, all installed and ready to go, still using your choice of energy provider, and you could be saving money on your *weep* heating bills in no time. Seriously, your heating via your broadband.. what next? Fridges that order your shopping(oh… yes, maybe) or perhaps a teddy that tells you when the children have sneaked their ipod under the duvet (hmmmm…. tempting).
And of course, this got me thinking about what other useful gadgets I could do with. I already know someone who has CCTV direct to their mobile but I’m extremely tempted by something (thank you Cara for this idea) which catalogs and counts all my craft materials, preferably delivering everything I need to the front of the cupboard on demand. Or perhaps it could surf Pinterest for me, find projects that need exactly what I already have and produce some form of ready made kit for me. If it could clear a space on my desk to do it, I’d be really thrilled. Now I think about it, there is probably a business opportunity in there. Excuse me while I go and apply to The Apprentice….
What useful gadget do you wish you could have invented for you? Should I try and develop that Pinterest your Craft Cupboard one?
Disclosure: this is a sponsored post and I have received compensation for writing it.