While technology shapes the way that we live and work throughout the entire year, there are plenty of ways that we can leverage the full power of tech to make the holiday season even brighter! From AI assistants to online subscription services, let's dig into a few of the ways that you're able to use devices already at your disposal to cut down on your busywork and free up time to enjoy the holidays with friends and family.
AI Assistants 
Alexa, Google, Cortana - whether they're built into your phones and tablets or if they live in a small device sitting somewhere in your home, AI assistants have been designed and implemented to make common pain points in our lives a little bit easier. Throughout the holiday season, companies often take the chance to bring seasonal features that bring some laughter and happiness to the family! Whether you're queuing up holiday classics, making a grocery list on the way to the store, or ordering gifts via voice on Amazon, these AI assistants are a fantastic way to cut screen time and spend more time enjoying the season.
Rewatch Holiday Favorites 
From Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to HBO Max and Disney+, there are a plethora of streaming services available on devices around the world. With many of these offering free trials for new customers, jumping onboard with a streaming service or two, even if just for a month, provides access to an entire catalog of classic holiday favorites to watch with the family!
Make Your Smart House a Smart Home
From Christmas trees to outdoor decor, smart plugs and bulbs combined with a smartphone or AI assistant can cut the hassle of plugging in the tree or making sure that your lights are twinkling each evening. With programmable names and sayings, smart plugs can let you turn on any compatible light or set of lights in your home effortlessly. "Alexa, turn on my lights!" One statement and you're ready to ring in the season.
Warm and Toasty All Season Long 
With the temperatures dropping, making sure that the heat kicks on not only keeps you comfortable, but also ensures that pipes don't freeze and cause damage throughout the winter. Whether you're running errands or going on vacation, it's easy to forget to keep the heat on to keep a comfy temperature in your home. With an internet-connected smart thermostat, keeping your home at the ideal temperature has never been easier. With a variety of options on the market, smart thermostats are able to connect to phones, tablets, computers, and AI assistants to make changing the temperature easier than ever. No more chilly mornings in a drafty home! "Hey Google, set my thermostat to 70."
Staying Connected with Family and Friends
Being apart from family is difficult during any year, but 2020 is presenting plenty of unique challenges that are keeping loved ones apart during the holiday season. While technology can't take the place of spending time in-person, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, and many other services are offering the chance to virtually visit with friends and family from phones, laptops, and tablets. With a free account, users are able to enjoy the holidays with family while continuing to social distance and do their part in protecting the health of those that they care about.
While these are just a few of the ways that technology enhances the holiday season, companies and their developers are just getting started. As research is performed and users get their hands on technology that is just beginning to break into the mainstream marketplace, new ways of leveraging the resources that are at our disposal will continue shaping the way that tech is used in our everyday lives. The holidays are always going to be one of the most stressf- I mean, wonderful - times of the year. Making the most of your tech makes it even better!
