Automation just got that little bit easier
Google Home can now harness the power of Nest speakers to detect your presence and aid smart home automation.
Now available to opt into through the Google Home app, ‘Presence sensing’ allows you to unlock the potential of devices like the Nest Hub and Nest Audio to detect activity in your home.
What was once a job reserved for the likes of the Nest Thermostat and dedicated smart motion sensors such as Nest Protect Occupancy, then, can now be performed by many more devices in your arsenal.
The location of your smartphone can also be involved in aiding this feature, as is also the case for things like Philips Hue automation, and you’ll get this same op-in choice with every device – this isn’t a catch-all toggle for all the devices in your setup.
Still, how does it actually work? Well, essentially, if you’re to interact with a device using touch or voice control, Google can now register this activity and fit it into Routines.
With more advanced devices like the Nest Hub (2nd Gen), the Soli radar sensor is also able to automatically distinguish when a user is close by.
There are a couple more pointers to be aware of, too.
Google says within the Home app that Nest cameras, doorbells and the Nest Hub Max won’t be able to switch devices between Home and Away modes, while ambient noise also won’t contribute to presence, just commands.
How to enable Google Home ‘Presence sensing’
1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Tap the ‘Settings’ shortcut.
3. Scroll to ‘Features’ and tap ‘Presence sensing’.
4. Select the device(s) you want to include in the ‘Presence sensing’ routines