"Hey Siri, movie time!" Nanoleaf Smarter Kit connects home lighting with voice control

 

Internet-connected LED bulbs offer greater energy efficiency and remote-controlled operation over their standard counterparts. As the use of mobile apps to switch and/or dim lights becomes more mainstream, some companies are taking the next step towards futuristic sophistication. The Nanoleaf Smarter Kit is designed to provide smart lighting control through voice commands given to Siri.

It may not be too long before the smart home becomes the "voice-controlled smart home." Owners can adjust their Nest Thermostat using Google Now's voice commands, Amazon Echo's Alexa understands a host of spoken tasks, Insteon's smart home system interacts through Microsoft's Cortana, and Philips' upgraded Hue Bridge engages with Siri via Apple's HomeKit platform.

While Nanoleaf's Smarter Kit may not be the first to incorporate voice commands with LED lights, its unique bulbs address heat issues and are one of the most energy-efficient. The Nanoleaf One (formerly NanoLight) was recently declared as a winner of the international SEAD (Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment) Global Efficiency Medal competition. Nanoleaf's new Smart Ivy bulbs, included as part of the Smarter Kit, are equivalent to a 60-Watt incandescent and use even less energy than the Nanoleaf One.

The heart of the Nanoleaf Smarter Kit is the dodecahedron-inspired Nanoleaf Smart Hub, which uses the Zigbee protocol to communicate with up to 50 bulbs within a 164-foot (50-meter) range. The Nanoleaf Smart Hub is designed to connect to a local wireless network in order to receive interpreted voice instructions from Siri (Android support with Google Now will come early 2016 as a no-cost software update to the hub) before passing the message along to the appropriate light(s). Those who aren't in the mood for voice control can manually adjust lighting through Nanoleaf's mobile app.

The Nanoleaf smarter app allows users to name bulbs, create rooms and scenes, and assign bulbs to rooms. Once set, Siri will be able to understand commands such as "lights on/off in the bedroom" and "dim the living room lights to 35 percent." Rooms and scenes can be named and configured as desired, so it's possible to have most lights shut off, with a few set to dim, upon telling Siri "movie time!" for the ideal theater experience.

Nanoleaf's Smarter Kit is also designed to grow over time. Although it comes with the company's Smart Ivy bulbs, people are free to choose other bulb brands and HomeKit-compatible iOS apps to work with the Nanoleaf Smart Hub. The Zigbee protocol used by the hub has been tested for compatibility with GE Link and Philips Hue bulbs. Additionally, the Nanoleaf Smart Hub's software will receive protocol updates and/or new features without any added cost or hardware requirements. And as a bonus, users will be able to dim lights with double-clicks of regular switches.

The Nanoleaf Smarter Kit is currently funding on Indiegogo, having raised 26 percent of its US$40,000 goal in just two days, with another 29 days left to go. A pledge of $79 gets one Smarter Kit, which includes the hub and two Smart Ivy bulbs, with free worldwide shipping.

If production goes according to schedule, backers can expect shipments of the Nanoleaf Smarter Kit to start sometime this December.

Check out the video below for the product's highlights and features.

 

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Rand McNally's OverDryve tablet makes any car smarter

 

The average car has been on the road for over a decade and now, Rand McNally wants to make it – or any car – smart just in time for the holidays. The mapmaker's tablet-based OverDryve 7 system adds voice-controlled navigation, connectivity, a dash cam and more to any dashboard.

Centered around a magnetically-mounted seven-inch tablet running a modified version of Android Lollipop, OverDryve aims to add all the features found in a luxury car's connected infotainment system via your existing stereo. The tablet functions like any other slate when off the mount, but when mounted it features a voice assistant and touch interface specially designed for driving.

Even without an internet connection, the tablet offers commercial grade navigation, entertainment loaded from a memory card or apps, forward collision warnings via a dash cam and other safety features to reduce distracted driving on the road. The tablet mount includes a GPS receiver for better location accuracy, but there's no included LTE radio, so you'll need to bring your own data by connecting your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

With connectivity provided by your mobile device and a connection to your car stereo by FM transmitter, Bluetooth or a cable, you get the full functionality of OverDryve including the ability to dictate text messages, check email or social media and ask for news, traffic and weather. Rand McNally says the tablet is equipped with a noise-cancelling system that makes sure it can hear your commands even in noisy driving conditions.

There's also optional accessories for tire pressure monitoring, vehicle diagnostics and a wireless backup camera that can be purchased separately and connected via downloadable apps. The device can be powered through your car's cigarette lighter or through a standard wall outlet in your home. Once unplugged, it can hold a charge for about six hours.

If you've ever thought about how convenient it might be to take your Android tablet or maybe a larger version of your phone and just jam it in to your dashboard every time you get in the car, that's essentially what OverDryve is attempting to offer here with a tablet that has software and some hardware tweaks built in customized for driving.



OverDryve 7 is currently sold exclusively at Best Buy through the end of 2016 before it becomes more widely available. Retail price is US$400. The optional tire-pressure-monitoring kit is available for $150 and the added wireless back-up camera is $130.

 

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Tech giants form AllSeen Alliance to fast track "Internet of Everything"

 

 

A coffee machine interacting seamlessly with different brands of light switches and televisions to form a cohesive network of functioning devices may sound somewhat far-fetched. Indeed, the concept of the Internet of Things brings with it many obstacles in achieving a home full of interoperating gadgets. In an effort to overcome these hurdles, a consortium of technology giants has formed the AllSeen Alliance to fast-track the development of device-to-device communication.

Announced on Tuesday, the AllSeen Alliance comprises technology companies leading the charge toward the Internet of Things such as Haier, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Qualcomm and Sharp, and a host of others.

The objective of the 23-member Alliance is to expand upon the Internet of Things "to include more functionality and interaction across different brands and sectors," according to a statement from the Linux Foundation.

A primary factor hindering development of the Internet of Things thus far has been the inherent difficulties in achieving a useful level of communication between devices from different manufacturers. Yet if the manufacturers of televisions and light switches were collaborating to develop products using the same open source software, it would remove considerable barriers and mark significant progress toward what the Alliance has now dubbed "The Internet of Everything."

An open source project named AllJoyn (currently running on Linux, Android, iOS and Windows) will form the framework for members of the Alliance to work within by contributing their own software and engineering resources. The Alliance hopes this will eventuate in hardware manufacturers, software developers and service providers collaborating to create devices and services with unprecedented communicative ability.

"Open source software and collaborative development have been proven to accelerate technology innovation in markets where major transformation is underway," said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. "The AllSeen Alliance represents an unprecedented opportunity to advance the Internet of Everything for both home and industry."

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