Five awesome gifts that connect to the IoT

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to stock up on those gifts. Below are five IoT gadgets just about anyone could use, no matter if they’re looking for better health, peace of mind, or a new device to tinker with in the new year. 

Tile 

Great for the forgetful person in your life, Tile is a tiny Bluetooth tracker and easy-to-use app that locates your missing items in seconds, such as your keys, wallet, and phone. Simply stick Tile on your personal items and, by working through the accompanying app on your phone, the device will help you locate misplaced items by sound text or clues. At $25, it’s an affordable IoT gift, and if you purchase multiple Tiles, the price per each one goes down.

LIFX

This energy-efficient light bulb is controlled with your smartphone. Called LIFX, these bulbs are Wi-Fi enabled and multi-colored, making it easy to slowly turn on the lights or set a certain mood in the room by changing the color of the bulbs directly from your phone. According to the company’s website, the bulbs can last up to 23 years, and don’t require an extra hub for control, unlike many other smart home gadgets. Currently this IoT device is selling for about $60. 

iRobot Roomba 980 

While we’re aware that Roombas can clean up floors enough to make them sparkle, the latest robot unveiled by iRobot is even smarter. Called the Roomba 980, this hi-tech vacuum combines adaptive navigation with visual localization. What that means is not only is this robot more intelligent than its predecessors, it can also map and clean an entire floor on its own.

Being the first of the bots to be connected to the cloud, you can control the 980 from iRobot’s new “HOME” app, which lets you kick off cleanings from anywhere, while also managing the bot’s schedule. Right now this device is going for about $899. 

Robomow 

Summer may be months away, but if lawn mowing responsibilities interfere with barbecues and sun-bathing by the pool, Robomow may be just the thing to free up that time. This device operates similar to a Roomba vacuum, with an app that allows the homeowner to set lawn size, weekly schedule, and mowing zones. Depending on the model, prices range from $1,199 – $2,099. Perhaps in the future they can come up with an autonomous snow-blower, too. 

Hapifork 

Know someone who’s looking to clean up their diet? Enter Hapifork, an electronic fork that helps monitor and track eating habits. By connecting through Bluetooth to a mobile device, this smart utensil alerts the consumer with indicator lights and gentle vibrations if they’re eating too fast. This device promotes the message that eating quickly leads to poor weight control and digestion, and it even comes with a coaching program to help the user improve eating behaviors. The 8-inch fork measures hand-to-mouth movement and runs in an ARM Cortex-M processor. Currently it’s selling for about $79 and comes in green, blue, pink, and black.