HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- The Computer Club of Hot Springs Village will hold its February general meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in Room 6 of the Coronado Community Center, 150 Ponderosa Lane.
This month's event will feature a practical application of home automation with the new Z-Wave technology. Z-Wave is similar to Bluetooth, but has a larger range and broader application.
Z-Wave devices can turn on, off or change most anything in a home and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. More than 1,600 devices are now Z-Wave compatible, and utilizing them is the final step in digitally connecting home features including thermostats, light bulbs, garage doors, sprinklers and refrigerators, all from a phone or mobile device via the internet.
The meeting will also introduce the audience to the Amazon Echo, a voice-activated speaker similar to Google Home, that has some advantages over the Google device. Amazon Edge is also compatible with Z-Wave.
The meeting will be preceded by a social time and help desk for computer questions at 5:30 p.m.
Admission is free and club membership is not required to attend.
Local on 02/21/2017