Part of any essential home automation and IoT plan involves a connected lighting system. With a crowded marketplace, its often difficult to know where to start. Philips Hue is a market leader, and with integration to a number of services like IFTTT, that’s for good reason.
Now that successful brand is being updated to the all grown up, HUE 2.0. Designed to give Australians the best lighting experience for every space in the home, it allows you to sync lights with your daily routine. Start the day right by waking to a ramping bedside lamp to wake you in the morning, for a deferred sunrise.
Some of the best utility of a connected light system is only realised when connected with other gadgets in your life, namely your phone. The lights can also be set to automatically switch on when you return home and enter a set distance from the house.
The launch of Hue 2.0 also includes a new app and new website from Philips, and the most impressive features inclusions in this release are:
- Siri voice control
- Geo Fencing
- Better rooms control over groups of lights
- Extended memory and power
Philips are promoting the benefit of light on Aussie lifestyles are performing research on over 1,000 Australians. The results showed a connection between lighting and wellbeing, showing:
Well over half of Aussies see the home as a representation of their overall lifestyle…
- More than a quarter admit their confidence is impacted by the appearance of their home
The home even has an impact on their love life….
- 1 in 10 singles have actively avoided cooking for a date or inviting them into their home because they embarrassed by their living space
- A handful have even missed out on second dates after the first invite into their home being a let down
As a nation, we feel more positive when we live in a light, bright environment
- 1 in 5 Aussies believe their home is too dark and lack atmosphere
Following the research and to demonstrate the impact of lighting, Philips Lighting headed to Tamworth, known as the ‘City of Lights’ House Rules judge, Joe Snell to makeover three homes with light.
The Tamworth properties were made over with a mix of Philips LED Lighting which is hugely energy efficient, along with the second generation of HUE lighting. As you can see from the images, the results are impressive, giving what is otherwise an ordinary home, into an extraordinary, colourful experience.
It’s hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it how great of a change connected lighting can make to your home. Even basic control over color temperature of white lights can make a world of difference. Glad to hear Australia is getting access to the second-generation Philips bridge.