Topic library
What is smart home technology?
This course explains what a smart home is and how you can create a smart home of your own. You’ll be introduced to the voice assistant and learn how it can be used to control devices and appliances in your home.
How to set up smart home technology
This course shows you exactly what you need to set up a smart home of your own and explains that you don’t need to spend a fortune to control your devices and appliances with your voice.
You’ll be introduced to the Google Nest Mini and learn how a smart speaker is the heart of any smart home.
Using a voice assistant
This course will demonstrate how you can train your new smart speaker to recognise your voice and process your commands and requests. You’ll also learn about some of the basic tasks a voice assistant can help you with throughout your day.
Using smart home devices
Now that you understand the basics of the smart home set up, it’s time to learn some of the fun and useful things you can do with a voice assistant in your smart home. From checking weather reports and listening to news headlines and internet radio, discover it all here!
Using smart TVs
Ever wondered how to tell if your TV is a smart TV? This course explains how to easily identify if a TV is smart or not. It also explains that you can use a smart TV to not only watch free-to-air channels but also catch-up TV and view your own photos via a streamer.
What is the cloud?
This course explains what the cloud is and how it is used to store and back-up your important documents. Chances are you’re already using the cloud without even knowing it! You’ll discover how the cloud is used in everyday life and how it can benefit you.
The cloud and you
Now that you know what the cloud is, this course teaches you how you can safely and securely create a cloud account of your own. You’ll learn how cloud providers keep your personal information and files safe and how you can manage the notifications your cloud account sends you.
Apple iPhone: Get started
The courses in this topic are for anyone with a new or pre-owned iPhone. We show you how to set up your phone safely, and customise it to suit your needs.
We have a fun interactive guide where you can learn about the features of your phone, step-by-step videos for you to watch, and handy guides for you to print and keep.
To ensure you can easily follow our courses, and to keep your device secure, we recommend you keep your software up to date. Our handy printable guide shows you how to do this.
If you’re unsure if you have an iPhone or an Android phone, you can easily find out by looking at the back of your device. You may need to remove any additional protective wallet first. This can be fiddly, so you might like to ask a friend to help you do this.
If you can’t see the Apple logo, you most likely have an Android phone and should look at our Android phone courses. If you can see an Apple logo on the back of your phone, then you have an iPhone and you are ready to begin.