Essential camping gadgets to level-up your next outdoor experience

With travel to far-off destinations still out of reach for most Hongkongers, ever more residents have taken to exploring the city’s hidden corners with overnight camping trips as a means of escaping the confines of home. For these intrepid outdoor enthusiasts, take a careful peruse through our favourite camping gadgets that ensure your next stay under the stars is seamlessly easy.

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors biolite camper stove charger — Image: BioLite

A portable two-in-one camp stove charging station
Meal time in the wilderness is made particularly easy with this electricity generating camp stove. Designed by BioLite, it elevates self-sufficiency to another level with its award-winning CampStove 2+ designed to burn anything from to wood scraps as fuel to not only cook your meals, but also charge your gears and phone at the same time. It uses 3W of power and can boil up to a litre of water in just 4.5 mins.
How much: HK$1,164

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors larq sanitising water bottle — Image: Larq

A sanitising water bottle
In an era of hyper-hygienic, pathogen-eliminating practices, the habitual sanitation of all things in one’s possession makes for a reassuring safeguard against viral infections such as the ongoing pandemic. And while in the wild, keeping an such an item as the Larq Movement Water Bottle might just be the protection you seek. Equipped with internal UV-C lights, it sanitises its interios and contents regularly, discarding the usual distasteful metallic flavours of tin water bottles. It even serves as a sanitising canister for your utensils, offering peace of mind while in the wild.
How much: HK$750

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors portable projector — Image: Hachi

A portable smart projector for an outdoor cinema
Though the days of campfire stories may be long gone, with wireless entertainment becoming increasingly more portable, the perfect way to gather loved ones for your next outdoor staycation may be best done with an evening of Netflix and smores – an experience made possible by miniature portable projectors that eschews the need for cables and oversized screens. The Hachi Infinite M1 Projector, in particular, boasts a full Android tablet system built in for app downloads like Netflix and Hulu — replacing the need for USB and HDMI connectivity. It also features a holographic touch-screen tablet for easy navigation. Simply place it facing your tent and tap on your latest binge-worthy flick and enjoy a holographic cinema experience in the wild
How much: HK$7,761

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors vespera telescope camera — Image: Vaonis

A compact telescope-camera
Enjoying the evening under a blanket of stars might be a highlight that most campers long to share, but if you never posted it on social media, did it even really happen? Thankfully Vaonis’ latest cutting-edge technology delivers an ultra portable telescope-camera that lets any star gazing enthusiast get a taste of being an astrophotographer. The Vespera is a two-in-one device highlighted by its advance telescoping technology designed to deliver impressively clear images in low light, and uses a GPS system to locate and track any star, galaxy or nebulae automatically. The gadget is lightweight device that is compact enough to fit in a backpack and connects to a Smartphone via Blutooth to take pictures and share online.
How much: HK$11,646

Back-to-Work Wares: Must-have gadgets for the city’s on-the-go urbanites

With social distancing regulations relaxing once more, city dwellers can once again venture forth from the confines of their abodes, ready to tackle the world with a renewed zeal. Seeking to help kick start your productivity, the innovative must-have gadgets below will ensure you greet the wider world with your best face forward…

A smart thermal mug
Starting your morning on the right foot can get you ahead in the day and there’s no better way to do so than a hot cuppa to get you up and running. The Ember Travel Mug² not only sets your drink to an exact temperature, but it also keeps it at a consistent temperature for up to three hours, saving time spent downing your fresh brew as you’re rushing out of the house. It can also be connected to your phone to customise preset settings for your favourite drinks, and send notifications when the desired temperature is reached.
Price: $1,528

A stylish set pair of headphone sunglasses
Eschewing the bulkiness of typical headphones, moving with your music even when on the go has become even more stylish courtesy of audio giant Bose’s Bose Trames Tenor. Don’t be fooled by this stylish pair of shades as it subtly hides audio ports on the outside and underside of the temple of the sunnies and delivers wafer-thin acoustics via its intelligent Bose Open Ear Audio technology. An intelligent two-in-one design, this is one gadget that’s truly a stylish amalgam of sound and vision.
Price: $2,099

A portable phone sanitising charger
Did you know that your phone is dirtier than a toilet seat? Fear not, though, because Utah-based company PhoneSoap has come up with an innovative portable phone sanitising charger to help fix this unwanted problem. When the average wet wipe and alcohol spray just doesn’t cut it, this innovative case provides an alternative, incorporating a UV-C light that is clinically proven to kill up to 99.99 percent of all unwelcomed bacteria in less than five minutes. It’s also apparently twice as effective (and works twice as quickly) than any similar products currently on the market. What’s more, the sanitising unit also doubles as a convenient compact charger.

Price: $950

A mind-relaxing headband
Clearing your mind may be the last thing on your priority list when you’re facing a full schedule, but several scientific studies have shown that taking a twenty-minute break between tasks boosts productivity throughout the day and refreshes the system and refuels the mind’s creative juice. This makes the Muse 2 Meditation headband by Toronto-based company InteraXon appealing for professionals who could benefit from a much-needed recess from mentally-demanding tasks. The device, fit with multi-sensors around the band, uses neurofeedback features and artificial intelligence to guide users through relaxation techniques and stress-relieving soundscapes. The smart accessory also allows users to track their mindfulness progress through real-time displays of brain activity and feedback reports via cellphone.
Price: $1,939

Five innovative gadgets to elevate your stay-at-home lifestyle

With the ongoing social distancing and travel restrictions firmly in place for the foreseeable future, the city’s new normal has seemingly encouraged people to get back in touch with their fun, creative sides and discovering new passions. This new stay-at-home lifestyle has also driven Hongkongers to search out new ways of improving their own productivity, with Euromonitor International, a market research specialist, even stating that home-bound consumers have been embracing more digital wellness products than ever before. If you’ve also been tempted to jazz up your home with an innovative gadget or two, these products may help you elevate your stay-at-home lifestyle even further.

Bedside coffee alarm clock

Start your day off right with a stylish innovation that will have you rolling off the right side of the bed. London-based design house Joy Resolve puts forth Barisieur Immersion, a bedside coffee-clock that works in union with its alarm to brew your favorite cuppa. The innovative design combines aesthetics and functionality with its tap that dispenses water over loose leaf tea or finely grounded coffee, and even features a drawer that stores up to a week’s worth of coffee grounds and a compartment for milk to be kept cool and fresh until the morning.
Where to get it: joyresolve.com
How much: HK$3,588

Smart gym mirror

Mirror, an innovative product released by Lululemon Athletica whose reflective surface doubles as a sleek and stylish interactive exercise machine hiding in plain sight, is an AI-powered workout device that offers a library of more than a thousand workout programmes on demand. With offerings ranging between a quick five-minute sweat session to a full 60-minute grind, it also serves up weekly live classes that can connect users to a digital community of like-minded fitness enthusiasts. The high-tech gadget also delivers real-time feedback of your goals and allows users, whether beginners or dedicated fitness aficionados, to personalise workouts to suit their preferences and skill levels.
Where to get it: mirror.co
How much: HK$11,589

Personalised lipstick maker

Yves Saint-Laurent Beauté (YSL) has officially entered the realm of high-tech beauty technology with the release of the much anticipated Preso lipstick maker. This stylish venti coffee cup-sized capsule holds up to three cartridges that mixes and creates bespoke shades from YSL’s iconic Rouge Sur Mesure collection to createa custom-made lipstick just for you. Cosmetic enthusiasts can explore the multitude of possibilities with its dedicated app that samples, previews and dispenses their colour of the day with a press of a button.
Where to get it: yslbeautyus.com
How much: HK$2,318

Brain-relaxing headband

With the lines between the professional and personal spheres now well and truly blurred, working from home may not always be as relaxing as it seems. Thankfully, the Urgonight headband is a therapeutic accessory that offers users a much-needed break in their daily routine. Its technology was engineered to use neurofeedback therapy to reveal real-time displays of the users’ brain activity, and uses artificial intelligence technology to guide them through relaxation techniques to help quell any underlying stress and anxiety. With a daily recommended usage time of just 20 minutes, this intuitive gadget can help identify negative behaviour and suggest methods to improve them in the long-term.
Where to get it: urgonight.com
How much: HK$3,876

High-definition game table

Arcade1Up debuts the Infinity Game Table, an entertainment gadget featuring digital versions of beloved classic board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, as well as several other puzzles, mini-games and comic books. With no set up required, this digital game table is perfect for gathering loved ones around its HD touchscreen for an interactive game night. Connecting through WiFi, multiple players are also able to play together remotely. The device initially won over US$ 1 million in pledge on Kickstarter and the first batch of deliveries are expected to begin in March.
Where to get it: arcade1up.com
How much: HK$4,651

Sennheiser launches 75th anniversary-edition earbuds and headphones

In celebration of 75 years of producing unrivalled sound quality, world-renowned electronics and audio technology company, Sennheiser has launched its limited edition MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 Anniversary Edition and the collector’s edition, HD 800 S Headphones to commemorate 75 years of superior sound quality engineering. The unveiling of both products truly sets apart the German audio brand from the rest.

MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 Anniversary Edition

Founded in 1945 by Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, the highly acclaimed stereo company has come a long way from a small start-up in a farmhouse to global recognition for unrivalled sound quality driven by a passion for exquisite sound quality.

A global leader that sets standards for premium audio quality and listening experience for its consumers, the German firm presents its anniversary special second generation, MOMENTUM True Wireless, a tribute to the brand’s fans and audiophiles.

At first glance, the exclusive all-black design which features the brand’s original Sennheiser logo on the earbuds’ iconic metallic spin ring and charging case, pays homage to its 75-year heritage. But what truly reflects three generations of exceptional sound quality engineering are the 7-mm dynamic drivers, designed to offer audiophiles a superior audio experience of deep bass, natural mids and clear, detailed treble.

Thanks to the earbuds’ Active Noise Cancellation technology that works in tandem with the passive noise isolation, listeners can choose to either immerse themselves in their audio experience or remain connected to their environment by activating the transparent hearing feature which blends ambient sound with a touch of a button.

The product caters to the needs of discerning listeners with a built-in equaliser and a Smart Control App that is adjustable to the specific preferences of its listeners. It also features customised touch controls for music and voice assistants to adjust the earbuds’ intuitive equaliser.

Ideal for listeners on the go, the special edition earbuds runs on an impressive seven-hour long battery life plus an extra 21 hours with its charging case. Its ergonomic earbuds are made to fit perfectly even the most active users as it even sports an IPX4 Splash resistant design. Priced at HK$2,599, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 Anniversary Edition is a hallmark of the company’s passion and persistence to “put sound first”, a spirit which places Sennheiser atop everyone else in the field.

HD 800 S Headphones

Since its establishment in 1945, the world-renowned audio expert has spearheaded innovative solutions to produce premium sound experience for broadcasting and consumer products. From its humble beginning in a farmhouse set up by German founder, Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, the company chalked up success after success through three generations and passed down the brand’s long-standing passion for delivering unrivalled sound quality to listeners around the world.

The special anniversary edition headphone set was handcrafted at the audio specialist’s home-base in Wedemark, Germany to deliver a truly unique experience. Each one of the new edition, limited to only 750 units, is engraved with its own serial number on the headband and features an exclusive matte gold color way.

An embodiment of elegance and deluxe experience, the design of the exclusive product is presented stainless-steel mesh grills and gold yoke decor ring and shell. It impresses with a durability and comfort level that offers optimal listening experience. Its glass fiber reinforced plastic body provides audiophiles with a durable yet extremely lightweight accessory that provides extreme comfort with its velvet-like ear pads made with velour material.

The audio accessory offers a wide frequency level of 4 to 51,000 Hz which allows for a truly immersive sound experience provided by the audio company’s patented DuoFol-transducer, and its innovative absorber technology which masks ambient noise seamlessly. Its 56-mm transducer brings forth exceptional clarity and sound reproduction with ultra-minimal distortion of only 0.02 percent.

Priced at HK$19,999, this limited edition headset embodies the brilliance and passion of the award winning audio company and its drive to reshape the listening experience of consumers through high-end quality sound systems.

Feeling Blue: blue light from electronic devices causes health concerns

Mobile phones and other electronic devices used by people all the time can pose little-known health hazards

Whether at work, at home or outdoors, people are constantly exposed to blue light from the sun and numerous other sources, like smartphones, tablets, PC monitors and TV sets. Unknown to many, though, blue light can either be a boon or even a significant bane to health depending on the type and amount of exposure to it.

Feeling Blue Mobile phones are causing health hazards gafencu magazine (5)

Medical experts say that natural blue light from the sun’s rays is beneficial to health as it triggers the production of vitamin D in the body. It regulates people’s biological clock to distinguish between day and night. It also stimulates and controls the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin, and increases mood.

Blue light is also helpful in the workplace and is credited for resolving various health issues and a much higher level of productivity and results. Certain studies have also claimed improvements in the treatment of facial acne upon exposure to a LED emitted at 414nm. A combination of red and blue lights is also said to be employed more and more in clinical dermatologic therapies.

“Some studies claim blue and red lights are being used more and more to address dermalogic issues”

However, Prolonged exposure to this artificial blue light, notably those emitted by strong LED lights or mobile electronic devices, can cause alarming side effects. While the benefits of this short-wavelength light are well documented, there is also a growing body of evidence that points to the potential health hazards of this artificial light.

Surveys have shown that many adults, who regularly use electronic devices with illuminated displays, report, or complain of various symptoms of visual fatigue, such as impaired vision, dry and irritated eyes, and even headaches. Meanwhile, contact with harmful blue light between 380 and 450nm is said to cause age-related macular degeneration. Over time, retinal cells can become irreversibly damaged, a common occurrence in industrial countries that can result in blindness.

No matter one’s stature in life or the nature of activities that a person engages in, he or she is bound to come across blue light in daily life since it is virtually everywhere. Changes in lifestyles are unwitting culprits in prolonged exposure to this artificial light. In addition to the natural rays from the sun, many people are constantly exposed to this type of short-wavelength light as lifestyle involves more and more use of smartphones, laptops, TV sets, and other electronic devices for prolonged periods of time.

” Changes in lifestyles are unwitting culprits in prolonged exposures to harmful artificial blue light”

Despite these health risks, there are no reasons, though, to be alarmed at this stage as precautionary or remedial measures are readily and easily available that can be employed to blunt or eliminate blue light’s potential negative impacts. Wearing safety glasses that reduce harmful blue light is recommended at workplaces with electronic screens. Actively reducing the volume of artificial blue light emitted by electronic devices with a blue light filter app or avoiding the use of devices at bedtime can go a long way in preventing adverse health hazards of excessive exposure to blue light.

While blue light poses potential health risks, the most judicious and safest route to take – just like with cancer and other health hazards – is to determine and employ the most sensible precautionary measures, specifically to stay away to the extent possible from an identified hazard and reduce or even avoid prolonged exposure to anything and everything that can cause harm.

Tank Topper: Mesmerizing jellyfish aquarium

Italian developer Cubic Aquarium has unveiled another mesmerizing aquatic home display. The Pulse 160 jellyfish tank is a luxury home accessory that is suited for display in commercial spaces as well as at home.

The aquarium was designed to simplify the maintenance and filter replacement, making it easy to set up by an experienced or new owner of a jellyfish tank. Its high-quality SICCE filtration pump provides an optimal environment for its marine occupants. The Italian-designed pump was designed to perform with excellence and silence, making the aquatic display ideal for the home. The aquarium elegantly measures 50.5inch x 11inch x 23.5inch, making it large enough to house 15 large jellyfish of various species, including exotic types such as the lion’s manes. Made with a 100percent cast acrylic and 10mm thick external frame, its outer design highlights the mesmerizing color-changing LED light system installed within. Adjustable via radio remote control, you can match its light to suit any time of the day.

Most impressive is its external connections that allow for the flexibility to add extra filtration to the system when needed, such as a chiller and inline heater. It also allows the option to connect more than one aquarium to the same external filter which can be easily adjusted via the radio remote control.

Priced at US$3,299, the modern and minimalistic-designed Pulse 160 is built to order and provides a tranquil ambiance to any room in the house or office space.

Helpful gadgets to get sound sleep

Sleep is a natural recurring state for the human body and mind. It is the body’s natural way of healing and recovery, which also helps retain information and counter depressive symptoms. Despite a sound sleep’s benefits to health and a happy life, many people experience difficulties getting a good night’s rest, especially in a city like Hong Kong with a hectic pace of life. Poor sleep can lead to depression, memory loss and even high blood pressure and other serious ailments. These health issues underscore the need to remedy the causes of poor sleep quality.

Minimise sleeping difficulties with these helpful gadgets:

Smart lighting

The body’s circadian rhythm, also known as the body clock, is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and is often the part of the body that is affected most when using smart devices at night or when jet lagged.

Because the body typically associates sunlight with activity and night with sleep, new lighting technology, notably the Philips Hue White, recreates the rise and setting of the sun. It fades out and turns on to signal the body when it is time to go to sleep or when to wake up. This device synchronizes the mind and body to wake up or rest at the appropriate time.

Sleep trackers

Waking up in the middle of the night can be extremely frustrating, especially when fatigued. Analyzing sleep patterns can assist in understanding what interrupts one’s sleep.

Sleep trackers such as the Aura Smart Sleep System and the Lavatech Sleep monitor sleep patterns and provide in-depth analysis on what causes disruptions in sleep. A coaching program is also available to offer tips on how to sleep better.

Electric Oil Diffusers

Even if the body is very exhausted, the mind is programmed to pick up cues from the environment which is a natural survival instinct. There are many subtle distractions inside the bedroom that make falling asleep difficult.

Electric oil diffusers like the VITRUVI’s White Stone Diffuser emits aromatic oils, such as lavender, clary sage and chamomile, in the air which prompts the body to relax.

Body temperature regulator

Changes in room temperature cause discomfort, prompting one to toss and turn in bed as the need to adjust the temperature arises.

It’s a challenge to get the right temperature while sleeping, but experts say this is key to getting a good night’s rest. With smarter technology, sleeping aids are now available, notably gadgets like the Embr Wave Bracelet, a smart bracelet that cools or warms the body or the OOLER Sleep System, a bed warmer which adjusts temperature via a simple phone app.

Professional advice

Sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome are symptoms of underlying conditions such as mineral deficiencies, weight problems and other fundamental health issues. In such cases, it is best to seek the professional advice of a doctor or a sleep expert to understand the causes of restless nights.

The Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance

Professional athletes and fitness fanatics always strive to outperform their last best record. So, it’s not surprising for the fitness world to continue bringing forth gadgets, engineered to produce peak performance. The latest sports gadgets facilitate traditional sports training and continuing advance into the modern world of smart technology. New technologies equip athletes with devices that help boost their performance and put them in better control of the situation.

Here are the latest sports gadgets that will assist athletes and sports enthusiasts:

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan — Polar Vantage V Titan HK$4,580 Up

High-performance multi-feature sports watches

Smartwatches are best to start a discussion on sports gadgets. They are the most common accessory to every sports enthusiast. Aside from time, smartwatches track different types of data and metrics that help athletes analyze their progress.

How it works: Similar to fitness trackers, they are designed to track progress, calorie burns, heart rate, and GPS locations when connected to smartphones. But with more improvements in technology, these high-tech timepieces have been upgraded to enable more features for extreme sports, such as deep water diving.

Benefits: Information is key to improvements. Knowing your weaknesses, strengths, and progress go a very long way in helping an athlete attain his goals. With easy connectivity via smartphones and Apps, users can gather significant data helpful in tracking progress, including weaknesses.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan Garmin TacX cycle — Garmin Tacx Neo Bike Smart Trainer HK$24,801

Smart trainers

From mirrors that double as a functional interactive digital gym to stationery cycles that mimic the high-speed inertia of a professional road bike or even smart technology kettlebells that adjusts its weight magnetically, smart trainers aim to help athletes resolve the shortcomings of traditional training and urban lifestyles, such as road traffic for cyclists and gym closures for weight trainers.

How it works: Smart technology, often available in digital devices, provide traditional training, including the neuromuscular type that mimics real weights and realistic road bike inertia and offers the conveniences that urban life demands, like customized programs, Bluetooth, and mobile phone connectivity.

Benefits: Smart trainers enable serious athletes and casual sports enthusiasts to overcome urban life obstacles in busy cities by making workouts personalized and convenient to users with the myriad of digital features and connectivity that don’t fall short from traditional training.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets FORM smart swim goggle — FORM Smart Swim Goggles HK$1,542

Fitness trackers

Apart from waterproof smartwatches and heart rate monitors, other sport-specific fitness trackers such as the FORM Smart Swim Goggles, Nike Air Vapor Max Shoes, and the Tangram Smartrope LED showcase technology with the most functional features that every serious athlete needs in training for better performance.

How it works: When connected to the app, users track anything from calories burned to distance traveled. Sensors are embedded into the devices to collect data on how much distance was covered and how much calories were burned.

Benefits: Convenient as wearable fitness trackers that enable athletes to easily and accurately collect data of their training and progress without carrying any bulky accessories with them.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan Hyperice Vyper 2.0 — Hyperice Vyper 2.0 HK$1,542

Muscle recovery accessories

Muscle recovery is probably the most underestimated contribution of high-tech gadgets to physical performance for those unfamiliar with competitive sports training. Proper recovery is essential to any fitness program and is detrimental to fall short in this part of the workout.

How it works: Modern technology has taken traditional forms of muscle recovery and incorporated it into smart devices like the Hyperice Vyper Foam Roller and Powedot 2.0 Uno which allows athletes to save time and recover at home. These devices were engineered to deliver powerful vibrations to target sore muscles and promote blood circulation

Benefits: Athletes can save time going for sports massages and recover muscle fatigue faster at home with devices that are twice more effective than regular methods, giving them the opportunity to perform at their peak in their next workout. They also relieve soreness and promote blood circulation after workouts.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan Skulpt Scanner — Skupt Scanner HK$767 Up

Body Scanner

It’s now a well-known fact in the health and fitness world that the number on the scale doesn’t mean much unless the number tells how much fat, water, muscle, and bone the body is made up of.

How it works: Gadgets like the Fitbit Aria 2 smart scale and Skulpt Scanner offer athletes accessible tools to scan their bodies and analyze their body composition. When touched with the skin, these scanners use weak current but high- frequency electrical impulses that travel through the muscle fibers, measuring the level of resistance against the body’s muscle tissue and determining the body’s composition.

Benefits: Not limited to just athletes, this tool benefits to anyone who wants to lose fat or gain some muscle mass as it gives users a better understanding of their body and highlights the areas that need improvements.

Breathing Trainer

Another noteworthy device that can be used for various types of sports training is the Airofit Breathing Trainer Bluetooth mouthpiece. Active sports can cause the body to tire, especially in competitive sports. A fatigued body affects breathing which can be detrimental to performance.

How it works: When breathing becomes difficult, the muscles get less oxygen, ultimately affecting performance. The device improves users’ breathing techniques and increases lung capacity during training with programs that let you adjust the airflow duration, intensity, and resistance level via pressure sensors to suit every user.

Benefits: This device trains breathing techniques to strengthen the respiratory muscles to get stronger, faster, and more efficient, allowing for better performance.

Smart living: Smart gadgets for your home

Every year, innovative technology in home gadgets introduce functions and features that bring lots of convenience in the home. These include automatic home systems that control air-conditioners and TV sets, as well as automatic locks that allow remote access to whoever comes in and out of the home.

Here are some of the latest smart gadgets to elevate homeowners’ living spaces:

Smart locks

Technology has come a long way in terms of improving home security. From biometric locks to automatic WiFi locks that can be remotely controlled on the phone, these can now be integrated with security cameras to identify who goes in and out of the home. Smart locks also offer a solution to cases of emergency or the age-old problem of having to rush home because a family member forgot his or her keys.

Home management system

When the universal remote first came out, the invention threw people into a frenzy because of how impressive one remote can control multiple televisions. Fast forward to today, home lighting, entertainment systems, security devices as well as shades can all be controlled by an App on the phone to offer homeowners an all-in-one solution to home management.

Smart Lighting

With recent improvements in technology, smart systems now allow homeowners to dim or change lighting hues remotely. Some lighting systems even function as part of the security system, being turned on when a sensor detects movement and immediately alerts homeowners’ phones prompting them to remotely inspect their home via the home’s connected security camera.

Smart Windows

Enjoying a sun-lit room, while valuing privacy? By using panels of liquid crystals sheets and electrical current, some companies have invented windows that can switch from transparent to translucent with a press of a button. This system also functions to bounce off harmful infrared light from the sun but still allow visible light to shine through, something curtains and shades tend to block out completely. These windows can be used in offices and homes in which people like to maintain their privacy while still enjoy the luminous daylight.

Where to get smart gadgets for your home:

Smart Lock: August

Smart Home Management System: Homi & Somfy

Smart Lighting: Ring , Philips & Dyson

Smart Window: Easy System & EHD

These compost home appliances will solve your food waste problem

Hong Kong homes are typically small and composting food often requires outdoor settings with large bins and easily accessible organic scraps, like leaves and dirt. Although food compost initiatives like the Nicole’s Composting Machine have been introduced, those equipments are often used in hotels, restaurants, or cafeterias.

In recent years, innovative zero-waste solutions have increasingly emerged in the market. They include food composting machines that are as small as your household rice cooker, and they work as easily as a regular bin. Food composting machines can recycle food waste into fertilizers that can be used for your own indoor plants and rooftop gardens. The following food waste composite machines are convenient home-composting solutions. These easy-to-manage appliances also encourage children to learn a zero-waste lifestyle and develop a habit of upcycling amid an increasingly circular economy.

Food Cycler

This user-friendly home-composting system is a drastically smaller and simpler system to operate than larger machines like that of Nicole’s Composting Machine. It needs little composting knowledge and maintenance and functions with a simple press of a button. Its compact size was designed to fit onto any kitchen counter-top. It uses agitators and heaters to dehydrate and break down food scraps into your own backyard fertilizer. Though odorless, some users said the machine isn’t very efficient in breaking down scraps. Unfortunately, this shortcoming has been said to form molds in some cases.

These compost home-appliances will recycle your food waste oklin GG02 gafencu — image from oklininternational.com

Oklin’s GG02

The Oklin GG02 offers a low-carbon footprint zero-waste solution to our food waste challenge. Unlike the Food Cycler, the Oklin GG02 imitates the natural process of food composting as it uses microbes to turn dinner scraps into compost within just 24 hours –a process that would typically take weeks. Although twice as big as the Food Cycler, it holds a daily capacity of 4 kilograms of fruit and vegetable scraps, bread, eggshells and small fish bones. However, it doesn’t take well to large bones, seafood shells, fruit stones, and heavy amounts of oil.

Zera Food Recycler

The Zera Food Recycler by Whirlpool won the 2017 Best Innovation Award for Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies at the CES Innovation Awards. Like the Oklin GG02, it takes almost all types of food waste with the exception of large bones, fruit pits and other scraps. The system uses oxygen, moisture, heat, and agitation to speed the decomposition of up to a week’s worth of dinner scraps and recycles it into rich home fertilizer for your house plants. This device also features digital connectivity to its mobile app to provide live updates and reports.