From refrigerators to thermostats, appliances the typical homeowner never paid much attention to are now being outfitted with “smart”-enabling technology so as to improve their overall functionality.
The idea of owning a home complete with Nest thermostats or featuring all of GE’s latest smart kitchen appliances, appeals to most, but truthfully, technology like that can only be afforded by a few. Thanks to companies like Munich-based tado, there may soon be a new industry out there, which features all sorts of affordable technology bridges; that is, components that can connect existing appliances with our smart devices.
Take, for example, tado’s new “Cooling” technology. It connects to any existing air conditioning unit vis-à-vis infrared emitters (6 emitting diodes in total for 180 degree detection), and can link up to the owner’s smartphone via their personal WiFi network, thereby giving the user the ability to control the temperature of his / her standard AC unit from their device.
What’s more, the program can also turn the unit off when it detects the user left the home, and turn it on as the owner approaches the house. It can also adjust the temperature as the user moves from room to room.
A humidity sensor is included with the Cooling technology, which allows the user to set the humidity level in their home as well. The device turns the AC system on / off so as to make sure the humidity level is maintained at whatever level the user set it to.
Some of the specifics about the technology: the AC unit it is applied to needs to be remote-controlled. The system itself can be wall-mounted, in-window, or portable, though, so there’s no need to buy a new(er) model in order for it to work.
A discreet LED display shows the temperature when the user is in front of the device. There’s also a capacitive surface to allow manual control of the technology if need be.
As for the app, the user can see the conditions of the room, and control the settings of all different connected ACs from one log-in account.
At the moment, tado has the technology on Kickstarter in hopes of raising funds for production. Backers can purchase their own tado Cooling plus the app for $99 (Android and iOS-capable); it is estimated to see a $149 listing price when it hits the market.
Via Kickstarter
Advertisement
Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine
