The pins inside the locking mechanism prevented the wooden bolt securing the door from being moved. If the correct key was used, it would push the pins up allowing the bolt to be unlocked.

Sound familiar? That’s because locks have changed relatively little over the many years they’ve been in use. Of course, they’ve been upgraded and diversified and we don’t use wood anymore, but the basic idea is the same.

Until now that it is. Smart technology is being introduced into practically every device we use. In the home of the future, every device is connected to the Internet and to every other device in the home through a network known as the Internet of Things or IoT. From thermostats to refrigerators to light bulbs, that technology is already being integrated into our lives.

Locks are not exempted from this trend. They’re currently undergoing one of the few major changes in their history – going from purely mechanical to electronic and gaining the ability to connect to the Internet. Locks with this new technology can do a lot more than non-connected locks can and offer homeowners capabilities and conveniences that traditional locks never could. They also come with potential security risks that have some people worried.

Smart locks are still developing and are gradually becoming more common. They can include a variety of different features, but there are a few characteristics that apply across the board and help define them as smart locks.

Smart locks, while they come in many different forms, are electronic locking mechanisms that are often connected to the Internet in the style of IoT.

Different smart locks are opened in different ways. Some work with a smartphone and connect to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or both. With a Bluetooth lock, you can walk up to your door with your smartphone, and it will recognize your device and let you in. With Wi-Fi connected devices, you can unlock your door remotely from your phone.

Other smart locks use radio frequency identification, also known as RFID. A RFID device requires you to carry a key fob. Your lock detects the key fob when you get close and automatically unlocks. Locks that use RFID may or may not be smart – as in connected to the Internet.

Other smart locks use biometrics to identify the homeowner and open the door for them. Biometrics is the identification of characteristics that are specific to a particular person. Fingerprint scanning is probably the most common form. Another type is voice recognition.

Keypads, which use a pin code, are a technology used in older electronic locks. Some smart locks, however, use it too – sometimes as a backup entry method for a situation in which power or Internet connection is lost. One advantage of using a keypad is that you can create codes for trusted family members, friends, and neighbors or entry codes that expire after one use.

Although most of the attention has been given to front door locks, smaller padlock versions exist as well. Manufacturers are also producing variations for apartment dwellers, bicycle riders and more. This article will focus mostly on front door security systems.

Different smart locks come with different features. Here’s a run-down of some of the common ones.

1. Mobile and Web Apps

Many smart locks come with their own dedicated app that you can use to lock and unlock the door, view information about who’s opened and closed it and find installation instructions. Others don’t come with a dedicated app and require hooking the lock up with a separate home automation system to use it remotely.

2. Auto-Lock

The auto-lock feature automatically engages the lock after the door is closed for a certain amount of time. The time varies by the lock, and some even allow you to choose how long it takes for your door to auto-lock.

3. Geofencing

With the geofencing feature, you won’t have to worry about whether you locked up after your left. To use geofencing, you set up a perimeter around your home. When your smartphone leaves that perimeter, your door will automatically lock. Some locks can also open when you enter the perimeter.

4. Security Alarms

Some smart locks feature security alarms that go off if someone attempts to tamper with the lock or if it detects an unusual amount of force being exerted on the door.

5. Text, Email, or Push Notifications

You can receive text, email or push notifications from some smart locks that alert you when someone locks or unlocks your door.

6. Integration

Many smart locks are designed to be integrated with home automation systems and devices such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Nest products. Some also work with If This Then That (IFTTT), a web-based service and app that allows users to create chains of conditional statements, enabling them to automate the use of various technologies. You can also purchase optional devices, such as security cameras, that your locks can connect with to add to their usefulness.

Best Smart Locks

Although the many different variations of smart locks can make it difficult to compare them, there are a few contenders that stand out from the crowd. Below is a list of some of the most popular and high-performing smart locks on the market.

1. Kwikset Kovo Smart Lock Second Gen

The Second Generation of the Kwikset Kevo Smart Lock is similar to its predecessor, one of the first smart locks on the market, but its all-metal interior makes it slightly more secure. All around, this lock provides both superior security and convenience.

You can use a variety of methods to unlock the Kwikset Kevo. You can either walk up with your Bluetooth enabled smartphone or a key fob and tap the lock or unlock through the Android or iOS app or with a physical key.

It’s also relatively easy to install, and the device’s companion app will walk you through the installation steps. You can also integrate it with various smart home systems. It comes in three attractive finishes – satin nickel, polished brass or Venetian bronze.

The Kwikset Kevo sells for $229.00. There’s also the option to purchase the Kevo Plus upgrade, a $100 in-app purchase that provides you with some extra capabilities.

2. August Smart Lock

The August Smart Lock is easy to install, allows you to track who comes in and out of your home and comes with plenty of high-tech features.

One of the major updates from the earlier version of this lock is increased integration capabilities.The August Smart Lock can be integrated with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Nest and IFTTT.

The lock connects to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and has a geofencing capability. It also has an auto-lock feature that engages after an amount of time determined by the user.

You can also control the lock using Siri voice commands, an exciting feature. It’s controllable remotely, but that requires an additional August device or an Apple TV.

The August Smart Lock sells for $229.99.

3. Lockitron Bolt

At $99.00, the Lockitron Bolt is one of the more affordable smart lock options. It connects to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so it unlocks when you get within Bluetooth range and you can provide others with guest access.

The lock is easy to install and the accompanying app is sleek and easy to use. It operates quietly, reliably records locking and unlocking activity and comes in either Modern Gold or Quicksilver.

Some of the features available on other devices, such as auto-lock, voice commands, and integration capabilities, are missing from this device but that’s to be expected for the price. If you want a simpler and more affordable smart lock, this may be the right choice for you.

4. Schlage Sense

The Schlage Sense provides a lot of convenience for Apple users, but may not be the best choice for Android fans. It connects to Bluetooth and can be opened via a smartphone app, the touchscreen on the lock or Siri voice commands. The keypad allows you to assign unique codes to people you want to give access to.

The app can be integrated with Apple HomeKit-enabled devices. You can also control it remotely but only if you have an Apple TV.

The lock is easy to install, and the simple app is convenient to use. MSRP is $229.00. For Apple users, this may be the ideal choice but if you don’t already use Apple devices, you may want to skip it.

5. Yale Real Living Z-Wave Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock

This smart lock, called the YRD 240 for short, is beautifully designed and allows you to ditch keys entirely. It is a little pricey, however, and may require some additional equipment to get full functionality.

The YRD 240 uses a touch screen keypad that allows you to set up multiple pin codes. Installation and setting up the codes is relatively easy thanks to voice-guided instructions.

There’s no dedicated app for this device, so you can’t unlock it remotely unless you pair it with a separate Z-Wave or ZigBee home automation controller. MSRP for the YRD 240 is $325.00, but you may be able to find it for cheaper. A home automation controller will cost you another $125 or so.

6. Schlage Century Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock

This lock gives you the option of using it with a touch-screen keypad or a physical key. There’s no dedicated app, but if you have a Z-Wave home automation network, you can control it remotely too.

The Century has a useful auto-lock feature and the ability to program up to 30 different codes. It also features quite a loud alarm system, but the lock itself is also fairly loud when it opens and closes.

The Schlage Century Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock will set you back about $199.00. It would cost considerably more, though, if you want to use it remotely and don’t already have a compatible home automation network.

7. Mul-T-Lock ENTR

If you like having a lot of options, this may be the lock for you. You can open the Mul-T-Lock ENTR with your smartphone, a key fob, a pin code or your fingerprint. There’s no option for using a physical key though.

The sleekly designed Mul-T-Lock ENTR also has an auto-lock feature and the ability to provide guests with access by using pins. The device can support up to 20 users. It also uses three-barrel multi-lock technology making it one of the sturdier smart locks.

At around $300, this choice is a bit on the expensive side but for some, opening your door with just your fingerprint may be worth it.

8. Kwikset Z-Wave SmartCode 916 Touchscreen Electronic Deadbolt

This lock works with a pin code and lets you use your old house keys as a backup. If you have a Z-Wave or ZigBee home automation network, you can also operate it with a mobile device.
The Kwikset Z-Wave SmartCode 916 Touchscreen Electronic Deadbolt is also relatively heavy-duty and has a built-in alarm. You can assign up to 30 access codes to the touchscreen keypad. It’s easy to install and looks nice with pretty much any home.

As a stand-alone keypad deadbolt, this device will cost you around $215.

9. Poly-Control Danalock V2 BT

The Poly-Control Danalock V2 BT is a small, round device that’s easy to install and can connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Z-Wave or ZigBee technology. The manufacturer was plagued by some malfunctions on older models but seems to have corrected them with this update.

It comes with its own app, which is easy to use and tracks all the comings and goings through the door. It can be integrated with Nest devices, you can use geofencing to enable the automatic unlock and set up guest access. It is missing a few of the fancy conveniences, though, like voice command capabilities. For $129.99, it’s not a bad buy at all.

10. Haven

Haven is much more heavy-duty than most smart locks and front-door locks in general for that matter. This lock isn’t a deadbolt. Instead, it acts as a barrier across the bottom of the doorframe, making forced entry extremely difficult. It’s also made of aluminum, steel and Nylon 66.

The lock connects via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to mobile devices, which allows you to access it remotely and enable guest access. You can also opt to use a key fob.

Haven, which raised funds on Kickstarter, isn’t available in stores yet. It’s expected to be ready to ship in June 2017, but you can preorder it for $299.00. MSRP will be $349.00.

11. Nuki Smart Lock

Made in Austria and launched on Kickstarter, the Nuki smart lock is designed specifically for European homeowners. If you have a fairly standard European door with a europrofile-cylinder that has around a three millimeter overlap on the inside, you can install the device easily within five minutes.

Nuki locks work with smartphones via Bluetooth. Your door will automatically lock and unlock as you enter and exit your home. All you have to do is keep your smartphone in your pocket. The company also offers a key FOB for those who don’t have a smartphone.

Among the features of this lock are the ability to see if your door is locked or unlocked at any time and let people in and out from anywhere via the smartphone. It’s also secure as it encrypts the information it sends to the same level that banks do. For the basic lock, you’ll pay 229,00 € or about $240 US dollars. Package deals and extras like the key FOB will cost you a bit more, but you’ll gain more functionality.

Sure, smart locks are impressive gadgets, but some critics say they’re not necessary and regular locks work well enough. So, what might make purchasing a smart lock worth it?

If you have a smart lock that doesn’t require a key fob, you eliminate the possibility of losing your keys. With some smart locks, all you need is a pin code or even your fingerprint. Even if it requires a smartphone, there’s probably less of a chance you’ll lose your phone than your keys.
Not having to use keys is also convenient. When you walk up to the door, you don’t have to search for anything. You can just type in your pin or walk right in as your door automatically unlocks.

The ability to grant trusted people access to your home at certain times can also be quite useful. For example, you could let your neighbor in to feed your dog if you’re away for the day without having to hand out a key.

With some smart locks, all you need is a pin code or even your fingerprint

Smart locks can also offer additional conveniences such as the ability to integrate with other smart devices and home automation networks.

Besides the notion that they’re unnecessary, another common argument against smart locks is the potential they have to be hacked. Having a lock that’s connected to the Internet creates a new vulnerability in your security system that someone with the right skills could potentially take advantage of.

To mitigate this security risk, smart lock manufacturers encrypt the locks’ communications. Various smart lock companies use 128-bit AES encryption, the same kind that’s used by banks and for secret-level classified government information.

Of course, the most skilled hackers can still occasionally hack the networks of banks and the government, which means they could also hack into your home. That’s only hackers who are extremely skillful though. Someone with that level of ability would likely go for a bigger target and not spend their time and talents on individual homes. If someone really wanted to break into a home, it might be easier to just kick down the door or break a window.

Another common concern deals with what happens if your phone dies, you lose your Internet connection or the lock’s batteries die. With some locks, this could be an issue. Most of them, however, have a backup access method. This could be a keypad, backup power or a physical key.

If your backup method is a physical key, though, that cancels out the convenience of not having to carry around house keys. Also, if you need a physical key for your car or office, you’ll have to carry around a keychain anyway. Unless one day, every lock is Internet-connected, we might not be able to take full advantage of the convenience of smart locks.

Another concern of some homeowners may be installing and programming their smart lock. In most cases, however, this isn’t too complicated and the locks or their apps will come with instructions to guide you through the process.

For most smart locks, the installation takes around 10 minutes to half an hour. The process, of course, varies by the style of lock you get.

Some models come with their own deadbolt hardware and require removing the old lock completely, including the deadbolt mechanism and strike plate. Others fit right over the existing deadbolt.

Most smart locks are designed to work with the standard, pre-drilled holes used on most front doors. You shouldn’t have to buy anything extra to make your smart lock fit on your door.

The advent of smart locks presents some new challenges to locksmiths, but many are adapting and learning how to install and troubleshoot them. If you need help installing your smart lock, you might be able to call a professional. Although some of the more unusual models, like the Haven, might cause a locksmith more difficulty, someone with smart lock training should be able to help you if you get locked out or your device malfunctions.

The post The Best Smart Locks 2019 – Reviews | Features | Security appeared first on ChipIn.

Today SmartHalo launched a new and improved second-generation version of its all-in-one smart bicycle accessory. The minimalist device securely mounts to the handlebars of any standard bike, turning it into a smart bike. It is now available on Kickstarter for $99 USD.

SmartHalo 2 Kickstarter

After a successful Kickstarter campaign for SmartHalo in 2015, the company is back with a revamped second-gen product that cyclists can customize to fit their cycling style. SmartHalo 2 maintains the core functionality of version one, with a number of hardware and software upgrades and a focus on personalization. Like its predecessor, SmartHalo 2’s five core features include a navigation system, a powerful light, an anti-theft alarm, fitness tracking, and personal assistant.
Central to the tech’s minimalist design is an intuitive halo of light that guides cyclists to their destination with turn-by-turn signals, tracks fitness goals and much more. It even greets users when they hop on their bike. The circular interface has been designed to keep cyclists focused on the road.

Among SmartHalo 2’s over 30 upgrades include a smaller size, discreet 1.5” OLED screen, extensive customization of metrics to suit any cycling style, GPX and waypoints integration, a universal mount adapter compatible with quarter lock mounts, a 5-times more powerful smart front light that now automatically adjusts based on the environment, and more.

“We made these improvements based on customer feedback and so we can further get to the root of why each individual cycles,” said CEO and co-founder Xavier Peich. “From commuters and fitness buffs, to casual cyclists and everyone in between, each cyclist has different wants and needs so tech like this needs to address that.”

Among SmartHalo 2’s most notable upgrade are a universal mount (RoadMount) compatible with any standard quarter lock mounts, GPX and waypoints integration, and a discreet 1.5” OLED black and white display with crisp, luminous digits, which allows cyclists to customize a carousel of real-time metrics specific to their type of biking and “why they cycle” (e.g. speed, distance ridden, time spent biking, calories, timer, weather alerts, CO2 saved, clock, navigation info and battery level). Because ultimately, the cyclist knows why and how they want to conquer the road that day. Plus, it has a horn that can play La Cucaracha.

SmartHalo 2 Features

• Navigation – SmartHalo 2 uses an innovative navigation algorithm, custom built for cycling. Cyclists enter their destination in the app, choose their path (e.g. fastest, flattest, safest, or recommended) and the circular interface right on their handlebars guides them with intuitive, turn-by-turn, light signals. Cyclists can also set waypoints en route to their destination, and import/export GPX files. Distance to destination and ETA are shown both on the device and in the app.
• Alarm – SmartHalo stays on the bike at all times with the anti-theft lock to ensure theft protection. The internal motion sensor makes sure that any persistent meddling with a bike triggers a loud, 100db alarm when the cyclist isn’t around. When the cyclist comes back, it disarms automatically
• Fitness – SmartHalo 2 tracks distance traveled, speed, time, calories, and elevation. It lets users set fitness goals in the app, view lifetime stats, and detailed metrics in the app and on the handlebars. It also has Strava integration.
• Light – At night, cyclists can see and be seen. As soon as the sun sets, SmartHalo 2’s 250 lumens
• Assistant – Cyclists should be keeping their eyes on the road and not be thinking about missing calls. SmartHalo 2 allows cyclists to receive notifications from various messaging apps (Android), calls on iOS so they don’t need to check their phone at every corner. It also connects with such as Strava, SMS, WhatsApp, Gmail, Messenger, and Slack. Other features include a clock, a horn and other ways to personalize the riding experience.

SmartHalo 2 uses an innovative navigation algorithm, custom built for cycling. Cyclists enter their destination in the app, choose their path (e.g. fastest, flattest, safest, or recommended) and the circular interface on their handlebars guides them with intuitive, turn-by-turn, light signals. Cyclists can also set waypoints en route to their destination, and import/export GPX files. Distance to destination and ETA are shown both on the device and in the app.
For theft protection, SmartHalo stays on the bike at all times with the anti-theft lock. The internal motion sensor makes sure that any persistent meddling with a bike triggers a loud, 100db alarm when the cyclist isn’t around. When the cyclist comes back, it disarms automatically.

SmartHalo 2 Fitness Tracking

To help with fitness tracking, SmartHalo 2 tracks distance traveled , speed, time, calories, and elevation. It lets users set fitness goals in the app, view lifetime stats, and detailed metrics in the app and on the handlebars. It also has Strava integration.
At night, cyclists can see and be seen. At night or in dim conditions, SmartHalo 2’s 250 lumens rechargeable light turns on automatically with the help of its light sensors. When the ride is finished, it shuts down on its own.
Further personalizing the riding experience, SmartHalo 2 can allow cyclists to receive notifications from various messaging apps (Android) and calls on iOS so they don’t need to check their phone at every corner. It connects with apps such as SMS, WhatsApp, Gmail, Messenger, and Slack.

“Cycling is a healthy, convenient, economical, and eco-friendly way to get around so, with SmartHalo, we’re aiming to encourage more cycling by amplifying the experience,” said Chief Design Officer and co-founder Gabriel Alberola.
The estimated delivery date of SmartHalo 2 is December 2019. For more information on pledge breakdown please see the Kickstarter page.

About SmartHalo Technologies Inc

SmartHalo Technologies Inc is a venture-backed, Montreal-based technology and design company. It strives to improve urban mobility by building amazing cycling products that combine sophisticated technologies and elegant simplicity. Launched initially as a massively successful Kickstarter campaign, the first product has been sold so far to 25,000 cyclists in over 70 countries. It is distributed in Apple Stores, Amazon, Best Buy, Gravis, MoMa Design Stores, and more.

The post SmartHalo launches SmartHalo 2 second-generation all-in-one smart bicycle accessory on Kickstarter appeared first on ChipIn.

What I’m talking about here, first and foremost, is that you should solidify your passwords. Again, doesn’t sound like such a big deal, but it is. While there are other steps you can take to thwart cybercriminals — steps we will discuss presently — that is a big one: Erect the first line of defense against these ne’er-do-wells.

That means being creative when you purchase some new gadget. It means setting up a password other than “password” or “1234567.” Be creative, for goodness sake. Use symbols and upper- and lower-case letters. Make it different than your other devices. Doing anything less invites trouble.

Here’s a stat worth keeping in mind: The average IoT device is attacked once every two minutes.

Here’s another: By 2025, it is predicted that there will be 75 billion connected devices in the world.

The point is that the cybercriminals, who are already aggressive, aren’t going away any time soon. Not with that many potential targets available to them. They’re only going to grow bolder, more resourceful, more plentiful.

While there is no doubt that the Internet of Things has added a great deal of convenience to our lives, it has also added a great deal of vulnerability. As cybersecurity expert Michael Gazeley told the South China Morning Post in September 2018:

Most IoT devices … are a hacker’s dream … each smart device is potentially another way into your home – to access your data, abscond with your money and steal your identity.

Some examples of havoc that has been (or could have been) wreaked, as compiled by iotforall.com:

• 2013 — Trendnet, a company that produces webcams, is found by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to have transmitted login credentials to those devices over the Internet from at least 2010, and in January 2012 hackers post live online feeds from nearly 700 of the company’s cameras.
• 2015 — Researchers find that they are able to take advantage of a firmware glitch to remotely control a Jeep SUV courtesy of a cellular network. They accelerate and decelerate the vehicle and even steer it off the road.
• 2016 — The quintessential botnet — i.e., an attack on several small devices that enables hackers to aggregate enough processing power to launch an even bigger assault — is the Mirai Botnet, which shuts down such sites as Spotify, Netflix and PayPal for a time.
• 2017 — Could a hacker kill someone? That possibility is raised when CNN reports of vulnerabilities in St. Jude Medical’s implantable cardiac devices, which might have afforded hackers the opportunity to tinker with a patient’s pacemaker or defibrillator, with potentially dire results. Happily officials developed a software patch to address the problem, and no one was harmed.

On any given day, a cybercriminal could invade your home courtesy of your smart speaker (Alexa, Sonos, AirPlay 2, Google Home, et al.), your smart TV, your WiFi router, your security camera, even your smart cat bowl.

Back in 2014 a study conducted by HP revealed that seven of the 10 IoT devices that had been examined had at least one soft spot that could be exploited by hackers, and that the devices had 250 vulnerabilities among them. They included things like hard-coded passwords, which cannot be changed by the consumer, lack of a secure boot (i.e., a device boots by software other than that which is trusted by the manufacturer) and allowing firmware updates that are not authenticated.

So we return to where we started — to passwords. As was shown in the HP study, some devices are produced that do not allow the customer to change the login information. Steer clear of such gadgets in favor of those whose default passwords can be updated — and then do it as quickly as possible, as the defaults can easily be found courtesy of an online search.

In addition, make sure to rename your router, as the company and model number are often identified in the default name, again giving cybercriminals vital clues as to how they might be able to invade your network.

Other steps include implementing two-step authentication, which adds an extra layer of security beyond the password (sometimes via cellphone code), strengthening the encryption of your WiFi router through means like WPA2 and auditing IoT devices, as more recent models sometimes offer greater security.

But it’s important to keep in mind that the most basic step can often be the most important one — that you need to be vigilant about your passwords.

The post IoT Expert Lyle Hauser Explains How to Protect Your Smart Devices from Cyber-Attacks appeared first on ChipIn.

According to a press release, Degewo Netzwerk GmbH, a subsidiary of Berlin’s leading residential construction company, and METR, a PropTech startup in the field of building automation, recently partnered together to conduct research and development as an “IoT backbone for the Berlin Housing Industry.” Their partnership shows just how interconnected IoT and the housing industry are becoming and promises to bring big changes to construction.

The partnership “includes the joint development of an IoT infrastructure for residential buildings” and aims to develop “three smart building applications [with] submetering (the remote reading of heat and water consumption) as the first application… the long-term goal is to develop an app store for the housing industry.” Without question, the development of IoT infrastructure to support consumers’ growing number of network-enabled devices is going to change the way homes and other structures are built for decades to come.

It can be used to model reality. Architects and construction workers know what they’re doing. Nowadays, buildings are constructed not only to be stunningly beautiful but also perfectly functional. The effort that goes into designing a building could be dramatically simplified with IoT. IoT data makes it possible to mimic energy use, human movement through a building, average temperature settings, and other critical data that helps architects design more livable buildings. Using that data within a model can help reduce the need for research and test runs and make it possible to start building sooner.

It can make the process faster and more efficient. Sometimes it seems like houses are popping up faster than you can blink, but other times it seems like buildings are under construction indefinitely. Many things can delay or halt the construction process, one of them being the lack of necessary components. Prefabricated components can make construction go faster and smoother than traditional building, but it can be complicated. IoT makes it possible to manufacture prefabricated parts for buildings through the use of sensors; data from those sensors can be sent to the building model and laid out before installment.

It can be used to build green buildings. Environmental impact and green building efforts have been an increased focus over the last few decades. Both individuals and companies are working to improve sustainability; unfortunately, the construction industry is one of the biggest offenders, contributing significant amounts of solid waste to landfills, but IoT could change that. IoT can help design buildings so there is a minimal amount of waste, reducing materials taken to the dump. Buildings are also being designed to operate on systems that can recognize when someone is in the room and shut off lights or change the temperature when no one is around, further contributing to the green movement.

It can save money. When more materials are being used, less are being thrown away, time is saved by having more accurate models to work from, the entire building process goes more smoothly, and, in general, things are working more efficiently, it makes sense that money is saved. IoT can have a significant impact builders’ bottom line by making the construction process easier, faster, and more efficient.

It connects everything. IoT is a term used to describe anything and everything that can connect to the Internet or another network device, allowing the things we interact with on a day-to-day basis to communicate with each other, share data, and work together to streamline our routines.

It makes life more comfortable and easy. IoT connects everything so it can work together, which means incorporating IoT into homes, buildings, and apartments can make life a lot more comfortable. Occupants can turn on air conditioning on their way home from work or preheat the oven so they can start dinner right away. Rather than having to manually turn on the shower or flip lights on and off as they wander through their home, occupants can control everything from one central app.

It saves time and effort. Since everything can all be controlled from one location, whether the occupant is in the house or not, IoT can save a lot of time and effort. Occupants don’t have to walk from room to room to turn off lights, run back downstairs to start the dishwasher, or ever worry about whether or not they turned the coffee maker or stovetop off before leaving the house. Even voice assistants save users the time and hassle of logging onto a computer or finding their phone to look it up.

It automates processes. IoT eliminates the need for manual processes and automates mundane tasks occupants would normally have to do themselves. Devices can be set on timers and programmed to run automatically, allowing occupants to spend their time worrying about other, more important matters.

IoT has a wide range of uses that can be applied to virtually any industry, but its application in the housing industry is not only changing the way construction works but also the way people live.

In what other ways do you think IoT has affected the housing industry?

The post From Voice Assistance to Housing Infrastructure: How IoT is Changing the Housing Industry appeared first on ChipIn.

Dojo by BullGuard, the IoT cybersecurity provider keeping the smart connected home secure and private, is announcing the release of its Intelligent IoT Security Platform for Communication Service Providers, preventing external internet threats and attacks from invading smart connected home environments. The platform will be released at MWC 2018 in Barcelona and will provide CSPs the ability to offer their customers premium smart home security and privacy services. Dojo by BullGuard offers CSPs a flexible IoT security platform that can be rolled out as an OTT service or works as a service integrated into a customer’s residential gateway.

Dojo’s Intelligent IoT Security Platform was designed from its early days as an IoT security solution at CSP scale, providing an end-to-end cybersecurity and privacy solution for smart connected homes. The platform is easily integrated into any CSP’s OSS and BSS, via open APIs, using advanced auto-scale technology for operational flexibility purposes.

CSPs can now leverage their existing broadband services and offer enterprise-grade cybersecurity and privacy services to their customers.

Dojo’s Intelligent IoT Security Platform is comprised of three major components:

• Gateway Solution: Dojo offers both OTT and inline solutions; The gateway SDK enables CSPs to integrate Dojo’s intelligent security functionality into any residential gateway, or white labeling of Dojo’s intelligent gateway.
• Platform: Dojo’s cloud-based intelligent platform provides an end-to-end IoT security solution that includes a wide range of services such as subscriber, policy, and device management, as well as real-time alerts, and mitigation. In addition, the platform consists of an intelligent cyber engine that performs network-based anomaly detection and behavioral analysis, using AI and machine learning.
• Mobile app SDK: Dojo’s intelligent mobile app can be co-branded or integrated into the CSP’s existing mobile app using Dojo’s mobile app SDK.

Dojo by BullGuard is an award-winning product known for its premium quality. By using Dojo Intelligent IoT Security Platform, CSPs can offer the most advanced multi-layered security and privacy services to their subscribers in a very simple and consumer-friendly manner.

“It’s getting harder to defend today’s smart connected home environments against cyber-criminals that are able to attack millions of devices at once while collecting consumers’ personal data for their own gain,” says Yossi Atias, GM of IoT Security at BullGuard. “Dojo’s Intelligent IoT Security Platform will transcend digital protection, allowing CSPs to provide cybersecurity and privacy services to millions of consumers around the globe while they continue to adopt smart connected home technology.”

About Dojo

Dojo by BullGuard is the best custom-built solution to protect Wi-Fi enabled devices in the home. Dojo gives customers the freedom to add as many Smart Home devices as they want without compromising privacy or security. Dojo by BullGuard is the cornerstone of a Smart Home, ensuring a connected world where every consumer, in every home, is smart, safe and protected. BullGuard, the company powering the Dojo security product is the leader in consumer cybersecurity and the only crowdsourced community platform on the market.

Dojo’s Founder and GM of IoT Security at BullGuard, Yossi Atias, is an experienced technology executive who has previously held positions as the General Manager Operations at Jajah, as the Head of OTT Strategy at Acme Packet, as the General Manager Nokia Israel, and as the Technical Director at Lucent.

The post Dojo by BullGuard kicks cybercrime to the curb with intelligent IoT security platform appeared first on ChipIn.

Experts in the cybersecurity space expect a continuing and dramatic increase and risk from cyber threats. The world is becoming increasingly connected. New technology including the Internet of Things and enhanced reality are only going to add to the opportunities for and threats from hackers and malware. According to
Symantec, the threat from cyber hackers, ransomware, and DDoS (denial of service) attacks is only on a one way trend: up. And cyber-attacks, particularly those which exploit vulnerabilities caused by a rapidly changing technological environment and outdated software that offers an open door to cyber thieves as a result, will only increase if a new approach is not found and fast.

How expensive and real is the threat? The average cyber ransom attack, by way of example, rose dramatically from $294 to $1,077 in the space of a year between 2015-16. Given the effectiveness of the tactic and ongoing vulnerabilities caused by a combination of factors that are hard to manage by any individual or business, such incidents and the associated dollar amount of damage are only likely to increase.

Worse, government regulation, both on a sovereign and international level is unlikely to provide any relief and may be counterproductive in an environment where cyber warfare is also a tool of modern governments.

PolySwarm is a decentralized threat intelligence market designed to reset the threat caused by the current cybersecurity ecosystem. It is powered by Ethereum smart contracts and blockchain technology.

Today’s enterprises rely on an ad-hoc mixture of anti-virus subscriptions, threat intelligence feeds, and assorted dynamic analysis engines to defend against evolving adversarial cyber activity. Users must weigh the benefits and drawbacks presented by each solution and decide on the least-worst fit – rather than the optimal one. In fact, most security solutions today discourage broad threat coverage but rather focus on a comfort zone of threats.

That, at least in the opinion of the team behind PolySwarm, disincentives effective response and in fact creates incentives for bad actors and malware production. And they intend to attack the issue head on.

The platform incentivizes rapid innovation in the annual USD $8.5 billion anti-virus and automated cyber threat intelligence space by offering precise economic incentives that reward timely and accurate threat intelligence about the malintent of files, network traffic, and URLs.

The platform defines a real-time threat detection ecosystem that encompasses enterprises, consumers, vendors and geographically diverse security experts.

Technologically, PolySwarm will lower the barriers to entry, provide broader coverage options, discourage duplicative efforts and ensure interoperability among products and threat intelligence feeds.

Economically, PolySwarm also functions as a unique “jobs” market. It incentivizes machines and people to investigate the latest in malware evolution at not human but machine speed. And rewards participation with real economic rewards.

PolySwarm’s approach creates a number of unique benefits for any online user – whether they are individuals or corporations. Further, it hopes to offer incentives for White Hat behavior rather than contribute to an environment where bad actors are still economically motivated to wreak havoc. These benefits include:

A legitimate income stream for security experts: Security experts who cannot find legitimate work are often drawn to the Black Hat world by economic necessity. The PolySwarm platform provides a region-free alternative. Global experts can compete to make the internet a safer rather than more dangerous place and do so for an income.

Puts the user first: The PolySwarm platform and market it will create, directs economic incentives to malintent detection, also known as “threat intelligence.” It also as a direct consequence, provides users with timely access to broad, crowdsourced security expertise and triage.

Creates a gambling deterrent: No future data is required to accurately classify a threat.

Incentivize truth telling: The PolySwarm approach requires real expertise to confirm “ground truth” or third-party trustless authorization.

The PolySwarm platform and marketplace set up a bid/ask market that allows security experts to be rewarded for their expertise.

In this model, an “Ambassador” – a person who has a security concern or question, posts a “bounty” in the PolySwarm market for a particular problem they need solving – namely the identification of the digital object as a threat or benign. This can be posted with either a fixed listing fee or a fee proportional to the task at hand.

Experts study the problem and either assert that the item is a threat or not. System arbitrators then decide between experts who assert what they believe to also be the so-called “ground truth” – namely whether the object is malware or dangerous or not. The experts who decided on the same perspective as system arbitrators split the bounty set for this task.

The PolySwarm market runs on Nectar, a token that makes it easy to submit and classify potential threats on the PolySwarm market. Nectar replaces traditional license fees for anti-virus and threat-scanning subscription payments.

Here are the details of the upcoming PolySwarm Nectar token sale:

Token name: NCT

Token base: ERC-20 utility token

Token supply: TBD during the token sale but will be capped.

Token Accepted: ETH only. KYC controls include country of origin, email address, full name, IP address and acceptance of terms of sale agreement.

Token sale duration: February 20 – March 22, 2018

Token sale target: USD $5 million (soft cap), $50 million (hard cap)

Token price: 1 ETH = 31,337 NECTAR

PolySwarm’s Website

PolySwarm’s whitepaper

The post PolySwarm – A Decentralized Cyber Threat Intelligence Market Enabled and Enhanced by the Blockchain appeared first on ChipIn.

The IOTA Foundation, an open-source non-profit foundation from Germany, is announcing that Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC), the corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group, has purchased a significant amount of IOTA tokens. Dr. Hongquan Jiang, Partner at RBVC, will also join the IOTA Foundation’s advisory board. This follows the successful launch of IOTA’s data marketplace, with more than 30 leading companies worldwide participating.

RBVC has made a strategic move in buying IOTA tokens, one of the largest cryptocurrencies in the world. In doing so it hopes to intensify the collaboration with IOTA and help elevate the technology to maturity by bringing it closer to Bosch’s global ecosystem and key partners. RBVC’s investment broadens the potential for new business models for IoT in any number of verticals and uniquely positions IOTA and Bosch to take on the challenges of IoT together.

IOTA, which is the first distributed ledger technology to go beyond a Blockchain, enables machines to securely transact data and money with each other. This is the stepping stone to the new innovative Internet of Things based applications and business models for mobility, energy, Industry 4.0 and more. The IOTA technology has already enabled more than $10 Billion to be transacted and has been utilized for use cases including transparent value chains, secure Over-the-Air Updates and feeless micropayment-based electric vehicle charging, parking and more.

“We have been working with the IOTA team for more than one year. I’m very excited about IOTA’s innovative tangle technology, which could potentially become the standard underlying technology for trustless machine to machine communication, security, and payment in the IoT space,” said Dr. Hongquan Jiang. “There will be much synergy between Bosch and the IOTA Foundation, and I’m looking forward to seeing more industrial adoptions of this technology in the near future.”

“Distributed ledger technology will play an important role in the industry of tomorrow,” said Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, Managing Director at RBVC. “Bosch is one of the pioneers actively driving the adoption of DLT in the automotive and IoT industry. The investment in IOTA’s token, the first ever token investment of RBVC, will help us work closely with the IOTA Foundation to explore the industrialization of this exciting technology.”

“The purchase of IOTA tokens by RBVC is a strong vote of confidence for the technology and the ecosystem we have built over the years,” said Dominik Schiener, Co-Founder of IOTA. ”Distributed ledgers are the future when it comes to truly unleashing the Internet of Things, and with IOTA we see the potential of becoming the backbone of this emerging Machine Economy. We will continue to intensify our collaboration with leading IoT companies and hope to have the first go-to-market solutions ready by the end of 2018.”

“Bosch and IOTA have been in contact since 2015 and are working together on multiple fronts, including the Trusted IoT Alliance (TIOTA) and other projects,” said David Sønstebø, Co-Founder of IOTA. “The decision by RBVC to acquire a significant amount of iota tokens solidifies the idea of the Machine Economy and how significant leaders in this space share our vision.”

About the IOTA Foundation

The IOTA Foundation is a non-profit foundation based in Germany focused on distributed ledger technology and permissionless ecosystem development. Established in 2015, the IOTA protocol is an open-source distributed ledger protocol for the Internet of Things, enabling scalable and feeless Machine-to-Machine payments as well as the secure data transfer of sensors. IOTA has so far enabled more than $10 Billion in payments and is working together with leading organizations all over the globe.

About Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH

Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC) is the corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technology and services. RBVC invests worldwide in innovative start-up companies at all stages of their development. Its investment activities focus on technology companies working in areas of business of current and future relevance for Bosch, above all, automation and electrification, energy efficiency, enabling technologies, and healthcare systems. RBVC also invests in services and business models that are relevant to the above-mentioned areas of business. Additional information is available at: www.rbvc.com

The post IOTA – Robert Bosch Venture Capital Makes First Investment in Distributed Ledger Technology appeared first on ChipIn.

Chances are, your favorite site has been a victim of a denial of service attack or a DoS. And if your favorite site is unfortunate, it would probably be a distributed denial-of-service or a DDoS variant, which means the server went under because of the sheer volume of hits from hundreds or even several thousand client computers at the same time.

In 2016, attackers have successfully upped the ante, hitting target servers with traffic in excess of 1 Tbps. And what’s so unfortunate about it all is that, for potential attackers, it is becoming cheaper and cheaper to conduct such attacks, with so-called “DDoS for hire” wherein attackers can simply pay to target and bring down a website.

You can even find such miscreants offering their zombie botnets for as low as $5. Even legitimate penetration testing services can sometimes unwittingly contribute to the mix.

Such botnets are mostly made up of a global network of computers compromised through other means, such as Trojans and malware. Attackers can thus remotely control their collection of computers, which will end up doing more damage.

The sad part is that DDoS attacks cost businesses an average of $400,000 per hour in damage, including lost business opportunities, lost sales, and even lost customers due to some damage in reputation. Another unfortunate thing is that it can be expensive to hire even a cloud-based DDoS protection service. Small businesses might be forced to fork out hundreds of dollars per month, even if they end up not using it (which means they are lucky enough not to get under attack).

I will spare you the boredom of yet another discussion on what blockchains are.

What we can focus on, this time is how blockchains can help fix the internet by leveraging on the distributed consensus and smart contract mechanism.

One such technology is being introduced by Gladius, which is a decentralized network for DDoS protection and CDN. Currently, companies that offer DDoS protection have a centralized approach. Even if they offer cloud-based services, they still own the infrastructure and are extremely expensive.
With a blockchain-based approach like Gladius, no one actually owns the network. Rather, it is built with individual nodes from around the world, forming a global network that can essentially absorb any traffic from a DDoS attack.

It’s simple, really – users install the Gladius software on their computers, and their machines will now act as nodes in the blockchain by sharing their bandwidth.

In other words, you are donating and monetizing your underutilized bandwidth to protect and accelerate websites through the world.

But the beauty here is how the network will compensate these users for being the nice guys – for sharing their unused bandwidth and storage. With its Ethereum-based smart contract mechanism, nodes that share their resources get paid with Gladius’ tokens, which can be spent as payment for services or exchanged for fiat money.

DDoS attacks do not happen all the time, however, which is why the platform also acts as a content delivery network, which speeds up website access by caching content across its global network of nodes.

Thus, Gladius is essentially a marketplace where bandwidth can be shared and sold, all with the aim of making the internet a better place for both users and website owners. The company is raising funds through an ICO and has set its sights for a product launch early 2018.

Bonus tip: Emails are ripe for disruption, too

We’ve talked about bandwidth and blockchains improving web access. But what about other popular internet applications, like email? It turns out that email servers – which are also prone to bandwidth-based attacks and spam – can also benefit from blockchain tech.

A startup called Cryptamail is launching an email network that has no centralized servers. By using a pure blockchain approach to sending and receiving emails, the system is not susceptible to attacks on any single node on the blockchain.

This also means that messages cannot be read without the private key – which makes Cryptamail more secure than regular email, wherein there is a risk of compromise if an attacker is able to access the email servers somehow.

One key benefit here is that through blockchains, nodes get to earn tokens for participating in the network – this is how Bitcoin miners have been getting their reward, after all. And with tokenization, there is some cost for sending messages across, which can discourage spammers. Meanwhile, users can get compensated fairly for receiving legitimate marketing material that they may like.

Blockchains are already changing the way we send money, share information, and secure our networks. The benefits are clear – as a decentralized and distributed system not just for consensus but also for value exchange, we can address the shortcomings of centralized systems, which are the potential single points of failure.

Blockchains also enable us to share excess resources and sell them back to the system, which is probably an economist’s dream come true. This means blockchains will enable us to attain a true sharing economy, wherein there is no wasted resource. Hopefully, DDoS attackers and other malware authors would get discouraged.

The post Here’s How Blockchain can Make Spam and DDoS Attacks a Thing of the Past appeared first on ChipIn.

These innovations in technology are now embedded in the consumer, public and industrial sectors.

What would feel better for you? A security guard or knowing you can see anything that happens in your house and you can control it from your Smartphone?

33 of the Best Internet of Things Gamechangers 2017 to Look out For
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Individual smart devices equipped with cloud security cameras and Wi-Fi thermostats are surpassing consolidated home automation systems that only perform basic monitoring thereby enabling you to control every smart device in your home from a single console.

Amazing isn’t it? Below are 33 of the most intuitive, well-thought-out IoT products that are causing waves in the tech industry.

Internet of Things Gamechangers 2016

1. Ring Video Doorbell

After the introduction of doorbells, it took quite a while before surveillance followed and you could see who is ringing your doorbell before you open it.

However, this process required you to walk to wherever the monitor and the button to open the door are located. With Ring Video Doorbell, you will be able to open your door from anywhere through your Smartphone.

It has an HD camera equipped with night vision enabling you to have a clear sight of your front door whether day or night.

Additionally, it has motion sensors that alert you of an approaching target even before they get to the doorbell.

With this technology, you can track anyone that goes into your house or open the door for someone without moving an inch.

2. ConnectSense Wireless Sensors

ConnectSense has enabled the creation of robust sensors that can help you monitor different aspects of your environment.

These sensors help you watch over your home, business and any other location important to you.

The sensors are battery powered and Wi-Fi-based with secure cloud-based communications that notify you the instant something in your location requires your attention.

Picture this, you had a long night and woke up late for work, the plumber did not come to fix your water and in your rush to leave for work, you leave the tap open.

ConnectSense is set up to text, tweet, call or email you. So you leave home and head for work, the instance water starts running you will receive a call or a text depending on how you set up your instructions.

A text like, ‘Hello Dave, water has been detected in your basement’ will help you figure out how to combat the leak before it is too late.

3. Lapka Pem

Imagine having the ability to collect measure and analyse hidden qualities in your surroundings.

Always knowing the humidity, temperature, altitude (in case you’re flying) and toxic gases just to mention a few.

Lapka Pem enables all that; the smart personal environment monitor is a product to look out for in 2016.

With globalization and industrialization still on the rise, this item will come in handy as you traverse different countries or continents and get to know of the changes in the environment as they happen, thank me later. Recently acquired by AirBnB, we expect more good things to come.

4. GlowCap

Imagine you are at work or busy running errands and have this dosage to clear that has strict regulations concerning time for full and proper recovery.

Missing a dose is not good for you, what’s worse, you cannot change the time of medication or change the dosage and take more tablets to counter missing a previous dose.

The GlowCap adherence tool uses escalating sounds, daily lights and interactive reminders to remind you to take your medication on time.

A mobile app on your phone can also help you research on all you need to know about the medicine you are taking as well as refill and manage prescriptions anywhere, anytime with the patient portal.

Say hello to the future of pharmacy.

5. Kiwi Ki

Some smart locks have emerged in recent years but none of them is as ideal for an apartment building like the Kiwi Ki wireless entry system.

The reason it is so appealing is because it is very light and requires just proximity as opposed to contact.

A high level of encryption ensures no hacking can happen and can allow time-based access enabling you to give or deny access to your home from anywhere.

This product is ideal for apartments that require people such as genitors and mail carriers to get in and out at will.

You will surely love this product as it not only improves apartment security but is keeping up with technological advancements about locking systems around the world.

6. C2C or Car To Car Communication Technology

Just when you thought it could not get any better after cars could read your mood and drive you home, now they can talk to each other as well.

Don’t get too imaginative, I am not speaking in the sense of actual communication but relaying important messages while on the road.

This product will reduce accident rates exponentially, as soon as these smart cars hit the streets.

What awaits this venture becoming a reality is a law yet to be passed to ensure all new cars are fitted with this new technology.

With C2C, cars will be able to communicate with each other so as to establish proximity hence aiding in preventing collisions.

There are vehicles out there that have proximity sensors but that will only work for those models of cars.

However, if all cars are fitted with this technology, driving will be safer for everyone no matter what type of automobile they are driving.

7. Drift TV

There is one form of entertainment that most people cannot get enough of, the T.V.

Even with the emergence of large-sized tablets and laptops with the best resolutions, the T.V just keeps getting better and better.

There is a hazard that all medical and eye health professionals always stress out, blue light emission from your television.

This light affects not only your sleep and quality but mood as well. Come to think of it that explains a lot.

However, Drift TV, a product from Saffron enables you to reduce the blue light emitted from your television.

You can connect it via your TV’s HDMI port or another specified connector and enjoy better sleep and uninterrupted productivity.

8. Energy Aware Technology Neurio

In recent times, there are a whole lot of electrical appliances that have made way into our homes that aid both entertainment and work related activities.

With these devices becoming cheaper by the day, you never really know how many electrical appliances you have until you see your electricity consumption by the end of the month.

However, with Neurio, you can monitor each electrical device in your home and know the exact amount of power they use at any given period.

I feel this is one thing every man should have in their house. A Wi-Fi enabled sensor is implanted into your electrical panel by Neurio and identifies every electrical appliance by their power signatures. Pretty amazing isn’t it?

What sounds better than an application that can tell you the actual amount of electricity every electronic device in your home consumes accurately?

Like I said earlier, all men should have this one.

9. Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker

Now this one will get the ladies excited. Imagine you are late to cook dinner, you have prepared everything and your favorite show on television starts.

Alternatively, you can have some guests who require your attention but cannot join you in the kitchen and shouting is the only option left right?

Well, not when you have the Crock-Pot Smart Cooker. The cooker has inbuilt functions that enable you to cook directly from your Smartphone.

As long as the cooker and your phone are connected to the Internet via3G, 4G or Wi-Fi signals, you can turn the cooker on and change the temperature setting directly from your phone.

10. Brain Organoids

I am sure you can name some brain-related diseases that affect people and have no cure yet. These few include; Bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.

Most persons with these diseases painfully await their demise while watching their families struggle with hospital bills and medication that only slows down the inevitable with no actual cure.

Well, not anymore, science has found a way to induce brain cells and they start working immediately.

Brain Organoids analyze aid in re-growing of brain cells as well as supported by technology that scans and analyses brain cells.

This is an important scientific breakthrough; let us hope it gets integrated into the healthcare system as fast as possible so that we can conquer some of these incurable diseases.

11. AdhereTech Smart Bottles

Earlier on, we discussed GlowCap, the meditation reminder. There is a better solution to taking medication on time rolled out by AdhereTech that makes automated phone calls to caregivers and listed patients if they miss their dose in real time.

The bottles are equipped with chimes and lights as well as wireless tracking so you can track your medication in case you misplace it.

If you have a tendency of forgetting to take your medicine, which almost everyone has, this product is the best you will have, in 2016 at least.

12. Zipato Smart Home Control

Up until now, most people have pictures of their homes in their minds or mobile phones. In the case of an emergency, you have to wait until someone notifies you.

Moreover, when you miss your home, you have to wait until you get there. Zipato Smart Home Control takes care of all that by not only aiding in security but enabling you to access any part of your compound wherever you are.

It is equipped with motion detection, energy metering, lights, fire, burglary, access control and vehicle detection just to mention a few.

13. Adrenaline dress

The fashion industry is buzzing with this technology from Intel designed to ape the fight-or-flight response of animals.

The adrenaline dress has a 3D-printed carbon fibre design shaped like butterfly wings on its back.

These wings contract and expand depending on the wearers’ body temperature, adrenaline and stress level.

How about that? A guardian angel aura embedded in a dress.

14. Sphero

Every child’s life revolves around playing, learning, eating and sleeping.

Truthfully, parents spend a lot of money on toys and learning aid just to keep their children occupied.

Imagine a small ball that can play all those roles by itself, that ball is Sphero. This robotic ball from Orbotix features speed, spinning as well as color control.

It is controlled from your tablet or Smartphone and can be used as a pet, toy or learning aid.

15. OpenEnergyMonitor

Developed by Megni, the OpenEnergyMonitor is the office version of Neurio. This monitoring system enables you to not only track your energy use in the office but turn appliances on or off as well.

However, it is only compatible with Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

16. Internet Beaming Drones

I can bet you have been stuck in a place where there is no network coverage; you cannot make calls, send texts or connect to the Internet.

I relate to the feeling, a dead battery sounds far much better.

Well, Mark Zuckerberg will not stop in his quest to make sure everybody in the world is connected to Facebook, his plan to beam Internet connection to marginalized/unconnected village attests to it.

The Internet connection is beamed via laser by flying drones. You have to admit this is a pretty ingenious idea, more to follow in the course of the year.

17. SmartyPan

Have you ever tried out a new recipe and the food was the opposite of what you expected?

I know I have, the reasons behind the failed cooking operation are either overheating, improper mixing of the ingredients and time taken to cook the meal.

Worry no more, SmartyPan, the first ever pan to use Bluetooth gets rid of all these errors with its cutting edge technology.

SmartyPan helps you cook with the precise amount of ingredients while maintaining the exact duration and temperatures required to cook the meal.

Pancakes will now be real easy to make even for an amateur with SmartyPan.

18. Lucis Wireless Lamp

There are those moments in your life when you need an ambiance that reflects your mood to feel fully alive.

Such as a date, this would require the perfect color coordination to elicit a romantic atmosphere.

The Lucis Wireless Lamp is the ideal item to have in case it is a home date or you are meeting in a place where the lighting is just plain.

All you need to do it touch it to switch between its different colors until you find the one that matches your mood.

What’s even better, it is portable meaning you do not need to look up the best lit places on the Internet where you are, you can be your lighting coordinator.

19. August Smart Lock

Home lock systems have evolved from wooden planks to bolts to key and lock systems and lately smart locks.

However, nothing is as close to perfection as the August Smart Lock.

Operating primarily via Bluetooth, this system ensures that even in the event of little to no Internet connection or power shortage, you can still access your home.

Some smart locks have keys as alternatives but this one is totally keyless, additionally, you can cancel or extend digital keys whenever you need to.

The August Smart Lock also keeps track of your movement and will notify you instantly if someone else tries to access it.

20. Digitsole SmartShoe

From intelligent dresses, now we have intelligent footwear as well. The huddle about shoes is that you have to bend down and adjust your shoe laces every time.

Digitsole has combated that problem by coming up with a shoe that can not only automatically tighten itself around your foot but lace itself and warm your feet up to 100 degrees.

Admittedly, 100 degrees would be too much heat to have on your feet but it is good to at least know it can warm your feet right?

The sensors embedded in the shoe are controlled by a companion app that aids all those functions.

Personally, I will get this one just for the automatic fastening system.

21. Koubachi Plant Sensor

There is a good feeling that comes with having plants in the house or the home garden.

Whether it is flowers or groceries, it becomes quite upsetting when one day they look healthy and the next are dying and you can’t help it.

The Koubachi plant sensor works by placing it on the soil surface next to the plant then feeding it information about the plant via Wi-Fi.

The sensor then regularly gives information on soil moisture, temperature, and sunlight.

It also sends notifications reminding you to water the plant, weed it, move it or fertilize it.

22. Fogo

This product is specially designed for bikers, hikers or explorers.

To go for any of these, you will need a variety of items such as a flashlight, GPS, communication (walkie talkie) and maybe a charger for your phone just to mention a few.

Fogo has all these features plus an army knife and the ability to send an emergency beacon in case you are stranded.

The future of hiking will never be the same again with this product.

23. FishBit

Most people who have aquariums in their home experience the ultimate sense of bliss just by looking at the fish swim as the plants sway and the water bubbles.

However, maintaining that ecosystem is arguably the biggest challenge every fish tank owner has.

FishBit enables you to measure salinity, temperature and PH levels of the water as well as control all your other aquarium related electronics.

Aquariums will be revolutionized by FishBit in this year as most people will be able to keep track of their source of joy at home wherever they are and make necessary changes in real time.

24. BeClose/Alarm.com Wellness

Old age is a factor that every human being gets to handle.

How fast time flies, one day you are a toddler sucking your mother’s nipple the next you are an elderly person in need of the same care you got as a toddler.

To most seniors, it is apparent that you need that care, what sometimes proves hard is seeing your children juggle work and their daily routines to tend to you.

For a caregiver as well or a family member to an elderly person in need of constant care, this juggling can sometimes prove cumbersome.

Wellness will alert the enlisted family members to sleeplessness or changes in sleep patterns, erratic or unusual habits, wandering, sedentary lifestyles and night-time falls just to mention a few.

25. Momit Thermostats

When thermostats were introduced to replace older forms of temperature regulation, it was considered a landmark achievement.

However, almost all of them were manual and broke down quickly. Momit thermostats are the digitalized version of thermostats.

They use Wi-Fi so you can control the temperature levels in your house directly from your phone.

This one item is worth getting in 2016, choose from 6 different designs and be in control of your environment from your phone.

26. ORVIBO Wi-Fi Remote Control

Thank the heavens for this device.

We have all faced that moment when your favorite show is about to come up but you cannot find your remote, or you need to access a remote-controlled appliance in your home but cannot find its remote.

ORVIBO remote control to the rescue, this product links all your remote controlled devices to your iPhone so you don’t waste time looking for the remote.

Every man would love to have the ORVIBO Wi-Fi remote control in their home.

27. ORVIBO Wi-Fi Smart Socket

After finishing up using an electronic device, it is advisable to not only switch it off but turn off the socket too.

Imagine a socket that can turn off all your electronics remotely, you do not need to find the remotes or do so manually.

The smart socket has an app for Android and iOS that enable you to control any electronic device in your home from your phone or tablet.

This socket reduces time wasted plugging devices in and out of sockets as well as switching them on and off.

28. Webee

We have reviewed products that control various aspects of your home, now imagine one that can control all devices in your home from the comfort of your phone.

Such an item is Webee; all you have to do is connect as many devices as you wish, from lamps, surveillance cameras, doorbells, sockets, and thermostats.

With Webee, you will be able to control every device in your home remotely from your phone.

29. It Bed

Now this is interesting, a bed that gathers sleeping data such as heart rate, sleep status, movements and breathing has been unveiled.

Debuted by Sleep Number, the bed can also be connected to other devices such as the thermostat so as to alter temperature levels so as to suit sleeping patterns.

You can know how you sleep with this bed as it records all the data at an impressive a hundred times per second.

The bed comes in six sizes allowing you to not only track your sleep but that of your children as well.

30. Eight Sleep Smart Mattress

The It Bed may cover your sleeping patterns but the eight sleep smart mattress will cover your sleep.

Aside from monitoring your sleep, it acts as an electronic blanket that adjusts temperature between the sheets for better sleep.

Moreover, you can sync it to your Smartphone to ensure you are safe in your sleep.

It regulates the house temperature, locks windows, and doors and can make coffee for you in the morning if your smart coffee make is synched to it.

31. Mimo

Let’s take a short break with this quick riddle: Apart from a running stomach, what else has can keep you floating in between sleep and spontaneously waking up?

That’s right, a baby.

Now imagine it’s not even at night, it is a hot afternoon, you have been through with all your household chores and just want to sit on the porch or balcony and sip some cold juice.

The baby is asleep upstairs and it may be a while before you hear it cry. Moreover, you have to check on it to make sure it is sleeping in the correct position.

Additionally, discomforts such as a rise in temperature can disrupt the baby’s sleep and cut short your relaxing time as well.

Mimo is one IoT that uses sensor technology to inform you of your baby’s activity level, breathing, sleeping temperature as well as body position.

Additionally, it can tell you if your baby is asleep and send nightly reports of your child as they sleep to you and your caregiver.

With Mimo, you can do more around the house with an eye on your Smartphone, which in return is tracking your child’s every move.

32. Wireless Scale

When it comes to health issues, most are used to consulting their doctor for everything. However, there are some things you can manage such as monitoring your weight and blood pressure using the smart wireless scale.

The app linked to the weighing scale keeps data taken over time enabling you to keep track of your weight as well as set fitness goals.

33. Spiroscout

It is said that prevention is the best cure, but then again when it comes to diseases steered by the environment, it is hard to prevent them and such is the case with Asthma patients.

All you have to do is attach this small device to your inhaler and every time you use it in the event of an impending attack or when it happens, the information is uploaded to Asthmapolis servers.

The data collected enables you and your doctor to know exactly where and when you experience asthma attacks. Additionally, it can send a text alert to your phone to remind you in case you forget it.

Internet of Things Q & A

. Conclusion

The post 33 of the Best Internet of Things Gamechangers 2017 to Look out For appeared first on ChipIn.

Roadie is an easy and affordable way to allow you not only to keep track of your car, bike, keys, and even children, but to customize the information you want sent to you.
Roadie lets you track the things you care about, to make sure they never get lost again.

High precision and autonomy

Unlike the majority of existing trackers, Roadie does not use a SIM card, but instead utilizes low-power networks (like LoRa1), which allows it to be more autonomous (with a battery life of up to eight months) and more efficient than any other trackers.
Roadie combines GPS and nearby Wi-Fi network locating technologies to offer the highest precision in every environment: city and countryside, inside and outside.
Roadie’s price includes a 3-year subscription to a low-power network.

Invoxia co-founder Serge Renouard says “With Roadie, we wanted to make essential geolocation technology available to everyone: individuals as well as companies. We’ve imagined so many ways to use Roadie to make people’s lives easier, and we expect that our customers will come up with their own inventive uses, too. The potential is truly staggering.”

Infinite customization

Roadie integrates several functionalities. Users can define “security zones” and receive notifications any time Roadie enters or exits these areas. They can also access the exact location of Roadie on their smartphone with GPS precision, and even trace its routes in a selected time slot. Imagine the possibilities for tracking a stolen bike, or keeping an eye on your kids after school!

Users can activate several modes according to their needs:
– School Mode: In this mode, you’ll be notified every 5 minutes if Roadie goes out of a specific geographic area (such as a school, your home, or a sports field or gym).
– Everyday Mode: In this mode, you’ll be notified every 10 minutes if Roadie makes a movement.
– Intense Mode: In this mode, you’ll get a notification every minute if Roadie makes a movement outside a specific geographic area.

Whether it’s to keep an eye on a car, a suitcase, or your kids, Roadie adapts to hundreds of situations to give you peace of mind.

Features:

• A 3-year subscription to a low-power network
• Battery life of up to eight months
• Several customizable tracking modes: intense, everyday, school
• High-precision tracking: outdoors as well as indoors thanks to a combination of GPS and Wi-Fi network technologies
• Ultra-thin black aluminum case with leather cordon
• Micro-USB charging, cable provided

Availability:

Roadie will be available late fall 2017 at 99€, including the 3-year subscription to a low-power network.

About invoxia

Invoxia designs and develops connected devices, speakers and telecommunication products to improve and simplify day-to-day life.
To improve efficiency at work, Invoxia has developed a range of conference phones that combines stylish design with superior sound and voice capture capabilities.
To improve family life and comfort at home, Invoxia has launched Triby; a smart hub that integrates the latest web services to control connected home.

Now, Invoxia launches Roadie, a new generation of tracker that uses Low-power Wide Area Network (as LoRa) and offers incredible battery life and simplicity of setup and use. Roadie tracks your valuable belongings (luggage, purse, bike, car), pets or kids to provide you peace of mind.

The post Invoxia Roadie Review – The Next-Generation GPS Tracker That Works on Low-Power Networks appeared first on ChipIn.