TL Tech’s Smart Home Week at ONE Tech Hub

Throughout the year Opportunity North East have been showcasing the work of innovative businesses from across the North East of Scotland. We were delighted to be chosen for the last tech showcase event of the year at the ONE Tech Hub and as you can see from the event round-up we really made the most of the opportunity!

Day 1: Set-up and Student Insights

The week kicked off with a flurry of activity as we prepared for the exciting days ahead. Amidst the bustle of setting up tech and displays, we had the pleasure of collaborating with three enthusiastic students from North East Scotland College. Their energy was infectious as they shared insights from their courses and college life, adding a touch of fun to the day’s preparations.

Day 2: Young Minds, Big Ideas – STEM Future Skills Day

Imagine a room buzzing with 29 primary school pupils, each a budding smart home designer! Using recycled and craft materials, these mini engineers crafted smart home prototypes, thinking inclusively about different abilities. Their presentations showcased not just their designs – ranging from smart wardrobes to robot therapy pets – but also their impressive imagination.

Day 3: Coffee, Community, and Smart Care – Support in the Home Day

The day began with One TECH Hub’s monthly coffee morning, a staple in Aberdeen’s tech scene, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. This set the stage for a day dedicated to understanding how smart homes can enhance care and wellbeing. Interactive demos included talking wooden trees, a tech-upgraded retro phone, a hands-on smart dollhouse, and even sound-reactive LED lights. The highlight? Showcasing how voice assistants can support mental health, a testament to our ongoing research through Kindspace.

Day 4: Saving the Planet, One Smart Home at a Time – Environment Day

In collaboration with Home Energy Scotland, we hosted a lunch and learn session about energy-saving and smart home benefits. The day continued with drop-in sessions, engaging discussions, and hands-on experiences with various smart technologies. The lunch and learn session delved into practical use cases:

•  Smart Heating: Adjusting home temperatures for efficiency and comfort, reducing unnecessary energy usage.
• Smart LED Lighting: Using energy-efficient lighting, controlled by sensors or remotely, to minimise electricity consumption.
• Smart Appliances: Monitoring energy usage to switch off appliances not in use and optimising laundry and dishwasher cycles for off-peak hours.
•  Renewable Energy Integration: Integrating solar panels, wind turbines, and heat pumps to support electricity flow for home use and grid contribution.

Check out the slides below.

Day 5: Festive Fun and Future Tech

Our final day was wrapped in Christmas cheer, complete with crafting LED-lit wreaths and homemade mince pies.

We even debuted our special event song, “Tech the Halls”! Check it out below.

The festive spirit didn’t overshadow our tech showcase, as we continued to engage visitors with smart home technologies and practical tips on adopting them. Visitors left not only with ideas for their own homes but some gifting inspiration as well. Check out our Christmas wishlist here: https://www.tltechsmart.com/christmas-wishlist/

As the week concluded, we packed up not just our equipment, but the memorable interactions, innovative ideas, and the warmth of community engagement. TL Tech’s Smart Home Week was not just a display of technology, but a celebration of creativity, learning, and community spirit in Aberdeen.

Thank you to all who attended and to Opportunity North East for kindly hosting us.