Skip to main content

Thanks to the Internet, you can control this family’s Christmas lights

On, off, on off: Alaskan family invites you to control their Christmas lights

alaskan family lets strangers control their christmas lights
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Maybe you were too busy to string up Christmas lights this year, or maybe you live in an apartment and can’t go for the full Griswold effect. Either way, if your holiday lights display is a little lackluster, you can always control the Woods family’s display.

Alaskan residents Ken and Rebecca-Ellen Woods live far from any neighbors in Fairbanks. That’s why, if you head to ChristmasInFairbanks.com, regardless of the hour, you can control their holiday display. For six years, Ken, who works in information technology, has let strangers control the LEDs on his home and trees. Viewers watch via a “Christmas Cam” that streams the show as they flick light on and off, the BBC reports.

The result: Complete strangers are in control of the Christmas lights on this Alaska family’s home.

The couple learned a few tricks after the first year, when they only had a single string of lights. “A week into it, my wife turned to me and said, ‘Next year, these are going outside,” he told ABC News. “It was super annoying in the middle of the night.”

Ken wrote the software for the webcam that uploads the feed to the Amazon cloud and then his site, and built a box with a computer inside to run the lights. Clicking the link sends a signal to the server, which communicates with the power strip and shuts off or turns on the individual ports. He estimates his bill for running a larger display this year will be around $400.

The site gets so much traffic that it sometimes slows down the lights’ response time. It took a few seconds for the colorful tree to blink on when I tried it. Still, it’s nice to see someone’s having both a snow-covered white Christmas, and a colorful one.

Editors' Recommendations

Jenny McGrath
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…
Get this Roomba robot vacuum for $160 instead of the usual $275
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum cleaning a foyer.

Crutchfield is currently selling an iRobot Roomba 694 robot vacuum for a fantastic discount. Usually costing $275, it’s down to just $160 for a very limited time only. One of the best robot vacuum deals around, the sale is only on until March 16 so you haven’t got long to snap one up. If you’re keen to streamline the cleaning process at home, check it out now before the sale ends.

Why you should buy the iRobot Roomba 694 robot vacuum
The Roomba range provides some of the best robot vacuums around meaning it’s the perfect brand to consider. With the iRobot Roomba 694, you get a 3-stage cleaning system with an edge-sweeping brush, dual roller brushes, and powerful suction. Alongside that, there are Dirt Detect sensors that inform it when it needs to give more attention to dirtier parts of your home.

Read more
The Blink Mini 2 features an updated design, support for outdoor use
The Blink Mini 2 placed on two books.

The original Blink Mini was one of the best indoor cameras thanks to its affordable price, 1080p resolution, and support for Alexa. Now, Amazon is making the gadget even more enticing with the new Blink Mini 2, which boasts a sleek new design and is capable of working both indoors and outside in the elements.

While it's still small and compact, the Blink Mini 2 looks slightly different from the old Blink Mini. Its corners are much softer, its entire chassis is white (instead of a white chassis and black faceplate), and its camera takes up a bit more space on the front of the device. The differences are apparent when the two gadgets are placed side by side -- and the minor changes add up to make the Blink Mini 2 look a bit more premium than its older sibling.

Read more
This 4-camera Lorex wireless video surveillence system is $200 off
A Lorex 2K Wireless camera mounted on an outside wall.

One of the best security camera deals today is over at Crutchfield with $200 off the Lorex 2K Wireless NVR System. Usually priced at $550, it’s down to a fantastic $350 until March 17. That means you don’t have very long to enjoy the significant discount. If you need to know more, we’re here to help with some insight about the security system below. Remember to buy it before March 17 if it sounds like the right setup for you.

Why you should buy the Lorex 2K Wireless NVR System
Sure to be one of the best home security camera systems for many people, the Lorex 2K Wireless NVR System is packed with features. It comes with an easy-to-use network video recorder along with four weather-resistant 2K cameras which are battery-powered and wireless. Any time the cameras notice motion, you’ll get a notification to your smartphone. You can then opt to view the live feed as well as talk to anyone on the other side. Its motion-based detection system does a great job of highlighting things only when there are people rather than objects, cutting down on false alarms.

Read more