The Smart Home: App-Controlled Bulbs, Security, Thermostats

Smart devices were all the rage at this year’s CES in Las Vegas. And that includes a new wave of in-home devices, like light bulbs with built-in technology allowing consumers to control them via mobile apps. “And despite the high cost of LED bulbs, consumers seem to be turned on by them,” reports AllThingsD. There were a total of more than 900 exhibitors focused on the connected home at this year’s show.

In November, for example, Philips introduced Hue, its ZigBee-connected lighting system that works with energy-saving LED bulbs controlled over a home Wi-Fi network. Hue allows consumers to control the mood, changing the room to programmed “relax” or “concentrate” modes. It also lets them create color schemes based on photos from an iPhone’s camera roll.

“Sound gimmicky?” asks Lauren Goode for AllThingsD. “I thought so, too, until a few Hue lights transformed my apartment, with its stunning views of brick and cement, into a convincing sunset scene at any time of the day.”

Other companies are also in on this LED fun. Companies like Spark and GreenWave Reality were showing new Wi-Fi light bulbs at CES.

And it doesn’t stop there for in-home Wi-Fi connected appliances. Not only bulbs — but thermostats, locks and alarm systems, and a few NFC-equipped appliances were big at this year’s show.

Since there is a concern regarding fragmentation leading to a less-than-relaxing environment, we should expect to see more platform and home-connectivity hub approaches soon. “It’s one thing to come home from work and fire up a couple of mobile apps. It’s another thing to use one app to turn off the home security system, another to open the front door, and yet another app to turn on the lights. And that’s without even touching the apps for your Nest thermostat or Samsung refrigerator.”

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