Smart homes, smarter gadgets

Jaison Lewis

From garrulous garbage cans to weather forecasting umbrellas, from sassy spoons to talking toothbrushes, from cool water purifiers to hot date finders, these quirky technologies are about to make your life more comfortable and satisfying. An insider’s peek into the best gadgets you should opt for in 2018.

A kitchen without a microwave; a clean home without vacuum cleaners; man sans phone. Spot the odd one out. (There is none. All are odd.) Aha! And you thought you knew it all. Technology has transformed the way we live. While modern gadgets have already ingrained themselves in our daily life, there are new ones that may turn out to be just as vital. Check out these wicked wonders... 

A remote that deserves 7 hugs 

While modern technologies and all its paraphernalia have us nod and naff in equal measure, we must credit some gadgets for their innovations. The downside of having many devices at home is the plethora of remotes. There is a remote for the AC, one for the TV, one for the audio system, one of the TV box and the list goes on. What if you had just one remote to control them all? Voila! Our tech team has discovered a Smart Remote.

After a hard day’s work, all you need to do is let your hair down and relax, while the smart remote does everything for you. The remote comes with three sensors that you place in your room. These sensors automatically map the room in 3D, so the remote always knows where you are and what you are pointing at. Don’t worry about losing it. The charging base comes with a button that helps you find the remote.

Sure, there have been universal remotes in the past, but setting them up is a pain. The smart remote is different. Just point at the device you want to control and smart remote gives you a menu that matches that device, out of its database of 25,000 products. It works with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Infrared devices. The remote costs Rs 14,700. A small price for those free hugs, right?

Link: sevenhugs.com Video: https://youtu.be/jB7iuBKcfZw

Talking trash can

They say, a person’s trash can teach you a lot about their life and the way they live. But not if you have a  talking garbage can and flying broom straight from Harry Potter’s closet. All you need to do is install the  GeniCan device on your dustbin smart. It clips to the side of the trash bin and scans the barcodes of items you throw away. GeniCan then connects to your cell phone via an app and adds these items to your grocery list. Don’t worry if the trash doesn’t have a barcode, just hold it in front of the device for a few seconds and it will ask you what you want to add. The machine recognises your voice and will add the item to your grocery list without any additional interaction. 

Believe it or not but this talking trash can also tells you when your trash is full and sends messages directly to your phone, or your kid’s phone asking them to empty it. The device runs on 4XAA batteries and connects to your Wi-Fi, so it’s completely wireless. That’s not all, if you are feeling too lazy to go to the supermarket, the trash can automatically connects to an online retailer and orders your groceries. Yes, but all good things in life come with a price tag. So you pay Rs 9,500 cash to get talking with your trash.

Smart DIY homes

Technology isn’t stopping at getting to places. It’s revolutionising future homes as well. Today, it is possible to buy an entire home in a “flat pack” format — essentially dismantled and stacked onto standard shipping pallets, ready to be easily transported wherever needed. And these aren’t meant as temporary structures or refugee housing either — these are proper homes with verandahs front and back!

Australian company SmartSpace homes is offering such DIY homes that can be easily assembled with minimal manpower. The structure is made of prefabricated steel beams that can be bolted together, walls made of fibre cement panels and everything is designed to bolt together. You could theoretically assemble anywhere between a 1-BHK house and a 4-BHK house in a matter of days!
The costs of these pre-fab homes isn't competitive with something local workers could put together on your small farm plot, but with government subsidies and localisation, this can be the answer to quick and affordable housing today.

Cost: Rs 11 – Rs 24 lakh.

Water woes solutions

Not many know that the air houses approximately 3,100 cubic miles of potable water. Simply put, enough water to solve humanity’s water woes. The WaterSeer device uses solar energy and condensation to collect water. The device can be used in areas where drinking water is scarce and can also be used in farms and other situations that require clean water. But how does it work? Well, part of the WaterSeer device is placed under the ground. This is where the collection happens as the temperature underground is always cooler than the ambient air temperature. A solar-powered fan directs moisture-laden air through the chamber, which condenses underground and is then collected by a reservoir and is ready to drink without additional treatment.

The founders claim that the purity of the water exceeds the environmental protection agency’s standards for water purity and is cleaner than tap water. WaterSeer, could indeed be a perfect solution to help villages that face water scarcity. The WaterSeer costs Rs 50,000 but if you aren’t completely sold, you can reserve one for just Rs 31,000.  

Link: www.waterseer.org
Video: https://youtu.be/mchIdbLCjsY