‘Tis the season to be jolly, which means it’s also the opportunity for family, friends and to colleagues come together to celebrate the year and enjoy time spent together.
Now, while many of us would like to forget 2020, we’re all looking forward to the prospect of seeing loved ones in a few weeks’ time in a Christmas bubble.
But for those relatives and acquaintances we’re unable to meet up with – in the UK and overseas – we’ve been putting our festive thinking caps on to come up with some of the best social distancing technology ideas (as well as some tech tools that just make life easier) …
All I want for Christmas is… a family video call
When in-person meet-ups aren’t feasible, getting together virtually is the next best thing. And this can be done either via a mobile phone, tablet or computer – as long as all parties are using the same software to access the call.
There’s also the option to FaceTime a loved one if you both have Apple devices, or you can take advantage of WhatsApp video – which is nice and easy to use – but don’t forget the obligatory Santa hat!
We know that due to the unbelievable surge in the use of online video tools this year – such as Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams, to name a few – there’s been a lot of noise about ‘video call fatigue,’ but, arguably, now is the time of year when video communications really do matter!
All I want for Christmas is… an Echo Show
Earlier on in the year, we shone the spotlight on this smart speaker kit from Amazon, and we’re still impressed with its multitude of features – particularly useful in these times of social distancing – and that’s why it’s on our list of cool technology gifts this Christmas.
What we really love about this is the ‘drop in’ feature!
One of the many things we miss from the ‘old normal’, is popping by a friend or family member’s house for a brew and a quick catch-up. And while Alexa can’t make or deliver cups of tea, she can allow you to virtually drop by another household, if they also have the same device, making the conversation more of an impromptu surprise – great for catching grandad’s post-dinner jokes in real-time!
All I want for Christmas is… a voice-controlled tree
Nothing quite conveys the season more than a heavily adorned Christmas tree – and all the cheesy trimmings!
However, wouldn’t it be great if you could decorate your festive centrepiece with your voice? Well thanks to Alexa, that’s possible. Sort of!
Okay, so the smart tech can’t physically dress the tree – that’s the fun part for you to do – but it can activate and deactivate the lights via voice command. Which is a pretty handy feature after you’ve eaten one-too-many mince pies…
All I want for Christmas is… a video doorbell
With smart doorbell sales having rocketed in 2020 – and projected to increase even further in 2021 – this nifty piece of tech had to make our yuletide list.
Whether it’s having a socially distanced conversation with a neighbour about which stuffing recipe you’re using, or what time the street’s socially distant firework display will start, this equipment can really help keep the community spirit in full swing.
But with lots in the news about these devices being hackable, you have to ensure you have adequate security measures in place – such as creating a strong password, keeping up to software updates, and enabling two-factor authentication.
While this Christmas may not be quite the same as previous years, technology is and will continue to play a massive part in helping us spend time together and alleviate loneliness – and that’s why it’s at the top of our wish list this year.
Here at Q2Q towers, we can’t deny that we’re just a little bit excited for the big day – and all the tech gadgets we’ve asked Santa for…
And wherever you are in the country, we’re wishing you a very Merry Christmas! If you have any tech-related queries about your company, or you fancy a chat about how the right IT infrastructure can help you fulfil your wider business objectives, the kettle is always on at Q2Q!
Contact us via T: 01524 581690 or E: [email protected].
