In my memory, winters always used to be really unpleasant. You had to wear more clothes just to keep warm when you went outside. You were often cold and wet. If you didn't have a terrible slide, you'd arrive home to an ice-cold house. And that would mean turning on the heating and waiting. It's a miracle （奇迹）you didn't get cold to the bone.
Fortunately, things don't have to be so challenging any more. Technology, engineering and design have advanced giving us new solutions to old problems. It means dealing with winter needn't be like skating on thin ice.
With a smart thermostat（恒温器）, our homes can be comfortable when we need them. Many models feature smartphone apps that allow you to regulate temperature remotely, so we can warm up the house before we arrive home. According to techradar. com, the largest UK- based consumer technology news and reviews website, Tado's model features voice control, while the Nest 'learns' your habits and automatically heats the home for you.
Clothes have been given an upgrade, too. Electronic thermal jackets heat up when you turn them on. What better way to keep comfortable in the dead of winter? At the touch of a button, or through an app on our phones, the clothing generates heat from elements placed inside. Many models offer three levels of heating which stay warm for over 12 hours.
Finally, there is the headgear—Beanies （女帽） and earmuffs （耳罩） that feature speakers included in the fabric using Bluetooth technology so we can listen to our favourite music or, in some cases, have a phone call using the in-built microphone. At the same time we can keep the head warm and avoid cold.
For many, the thought of winter used to be enough to make their blood run cold. But using technology, life needn't freeze up. With the right solutions, there's no reason why winter can't be really, really cool.
