Ask HN: Using a smart light bulb as a phone ringer – Easy?

1 points by escapegoat 5y ago ↗ HN

I want to put a smart light bulb in my desk lamp and use it (change the color) as a phone ringer or text message alert. This seems at a glance like it should be easy. What I am finding is that this is NOT easy. I hope that I am missing some obvious solution here.

4 comments

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detaro 5y ago ↗

Easy on Android with automation apps like Tasker. I would have assumed Shortcuts on iOS can do it too, but I don't have first-hand experience with it.

blastro 5y ago ↗

Yes, it looks like this should be pretty easy with Shortcuts on iOS + the Phillips Hue (or similar app, Home Assistant, etc).

vykman 5y ago ↗

Is this for a land line phone or cell phone ring? For a cell phone ring, I'd write an app that then communicates to the light via bluetooth. For a landline, I'd have to see how to detect an incoming call when the ringer is muted, probably not too hard, then again create something that communicates to the light control via bluetooth

GrumpyYoungMan 5y ago ↗

I'm not sure if this is what you want but there are devices for people with hearing disabilities that will flash a light if a phone call comes in. Versions exist for both land lines and for cell phones, for example: https://www.maxiaids.com/cell-phone-sensor