Georgie Barrat co-hosted the Gadget Show on Channel 5 and has now revealed her top 10 must-have tech to save time around the house
A star of the Gadget Show says Brits should be using robots to help with housework. Tech expert Georgie Barrat, who co-hosted the Channel 5 show, reveals that she deploys bots in her home to do the leg work while she tackles her to-do list.
She says that robot vacuums scouring for dust and crumbs while robot lawn mowers keep gardens neat helps to free up more time to tackle other jobs, relax or play with the kids.
If the droids aren’t physically keeping the place neat and tidy, AI bots including voice assistants, such as Alexa and Google Nest, play a vital role in helping the mum-of-two stay organised.
And it’s not just the humans being looked after, with an automatic timed pet feeder ensuring the TV host’s beloved furry family members get their grub in time. Other smart tech innovations she uses at home include a smart meter, a heated laundry dryer rack and smart plugs.
Georgie says: “I love that my robot vacuum cleans the floors for me while I’m catching up on work or looking after the kids. It saves me constantly sweeping up crumbs and the house feels so tidy without me lifting a finger.
“Sometimes it feels like the laundry never ends with two little ones and a heated drying rack is a great timesaver. It dries clothes quickly, even in winter, so I don’t have piles of damp washing taking over the house.
“I don’t have to send meter readings now as my smart meter does that automatically, and I’m never surprised by big bills because I can keep an eye on the energy we’re using. It’s one less thing on my to-do list, which feels like a relief.”
Georgie has teamed up with Smart Energy GB to discover how the nation feels about their tech upgrades. The Smart Energy GB survey quizzed 2,000 Brits, with more than half (52%) considering mobile internet to be the biggest improvement in tech over the last 15 years.
Snapping at heels for second place was GPS and navigation apps (41%) while contactless and mobile payments came third with 38%. Other innovations to make the list include streaming services (35%), video calling (31%), smart home tech (29%), AI (28%) and online shopping (26%).
Of those quizzed, 43% said they’re nostalgic about old-school tech, 37% admit that they overlooked how slow tech could be while 32% forgave its frequent glitches. Upgrades to older tech have been embraced, with almost two thirds (62%) stating that emails are more efficient than fax.
Almost half (47%) said that dial-up internet connections were painfully slow, and more than a third (36%) agreed that satnav is easier than printing out directions before a trip.
A whopping 88% agreed that their smart meter is reliable and helps them avoid unexpected or incorrect bills, accurately monitor energy usage and submit automatic meter readings.
Almost all respondents (97%) said it’s important to them that the new tech they use is reliable, because it’s used for important daily tasks, it keeps their personal data safe and helps to maintain routines and schedules.
Georgie said: “We get nostalgic about the gadgets we grew up with, but rose-tinted glasses mean we forget long loading times, fragile connections and how unreliable old tech could be.
“Lots of the newer tech upgrades are more reliable and save us time in our busy daily lives. Take energy meters for example. The shift from analogue meters to smart meters brings many benefits.
“They give you a clearer picture of how much energy you’re using and what it costs. Because meter readings are sent automatically to your energy supplier, you can tick that job off your to-do list.”
Georgie’s top 10 time-saving tech:
1. Robot Vacuum
2. Heated Laundry Drying Rack
3. Smart Meter
4. Smart plugs
5. Air Fryer
6. Robot Lawn Mower
7. Clothes Steamer
8. Voice Assistant (e.g., Alexa, Google Nest)
9. Smart doorbell
10. Automatic Timed Pet Feeder