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

[escapegoat]

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.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

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

[vykman]

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

[detaro]

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]

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