Gadgets for work: 5 smart home gadgets to ease hybrid work

The hybrid work culture can be best defined as the fusion of in-office and remote work, and has given birth to an era where we are surrounded by technology. When it comes to integrating work with personal life, one has to depend on various devices that could assist in dealing with various situations, be it taking care of the home or just for relaxation in the middle of work. Here are five devices that may fit such requirements: 

Home security camera

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have always played significant roles in home security. But not everyone wants to fit an entire network of CCTV cameras at home. 

For such users, the 360-degree view from Xiaomi’s Home Security Camera could be a great fit. There are other options too, from brands like Realme and more. 

They provide artificial intelligence-powered motion detection with a 360-degree panorama view and a talk-back feature, which allows two-way communications. With up to 64GB SD card storage, the device provides 1080p resolution through the 20-megapixel camera with infrared night vision if you leave the lights off when you’re not at home. 

Robot vacuum cleaners

You’re on Zoom calls when you’re at home, and you’re at work otherwise. How does one keep their house clean? 

Robot vacuum cleaners are perfect for such situations. They sit silently at their charging stations and can be programmed to go about cleaning the room silently at a fixed point every day. They even charge themselves automatically when they’re running low on battery power. 

The Eureka Forbes Robo iVac, a host of Roomba vacuum cleaners from iRobot, and even the Mi Robot Vacuum might fit the bill here. 

They don’t do as well in India as they do globally though, since our homes aren’t particularly suited to what these vacuums are designed for. But even though you will probably have to give your house a quick wipe down during the weekends, but at least something is better than nothing, right?  

TV streaming stick 

The idiot box is a good companion for those who live alone. Do you stream content literally all-day while you work? You might want a streaming stick for that. The Amazon Fire TV Sticks or the Fire Cube, and even the Mi Box can make for a good device. If you’re locked into the Apple ecosystem, an AppleTV might be a good idea too. 

Smart bulbs 

A smart home is just what the doctor ordered in these stressful times. Companies like Xiaomi, Wipro, Syska, Philips and many others have been selling smart bulbs that connect to smart speakers from Amazon, Google and Apple, and can be operated through voice commands.  

Imagine your colleagues complaining that your face isn’t particularly lit during a call. Do you want to get up from your seat and show them that you’re really not wearing a suit at home? Smart bulbs can be operated by voice, and even scheduled to turn on and off at set times during the day to solve that problem. 

True wireless headsets 

Devices like Apple’s Airpods, Google’s Pixel Buds, or cheaper offerings from companies like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Realme and others are perfect for those long video calls. After all, who wants to disturb their family while they’re on day-long calls, right?