Categories
Arts Connected Objects Displays

FRAMED gets famed artwork from around the world into your home

The Premise. People love to decorate their homes. Many choose artwork to pepper their walls with in order to give a room some depth and personality. The only problem is that people are limited to art that they can purchase and transport home easily. The internet offers millions of digital artwork, but these can be difficult to gain access to on an everyday basis.

The Product. FRAMED is a digital frame that allows the person to purchase and display a myriad of digital artwork. The frame comes in 24” and 40” sizes, several finishes and is compatible with many different file formats. Its image can be animated, stagnant or even interactive. FRAMED works with a free iPhone and Android app so that the image can be controlled remotely. The screen is HD and features a 180° viewing angle. 

The Pitch. FRAMED’s campaign video shows the creators talking about the benefits of sharing and buying artwork from around the globe. Artists can sell or give away their work using the FRAMED network. Using one of these frames means that the stream of artwork in your home can change constantly. The rest of the campaign goes through the tech specs of the frame and shows just a few examples of the vast selection of images that the frame can display. This Japanese product hopes to raise $75,000 in a month-long Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. Several early-bird special allows backers to purchase the product for an earlier delivery date of March 2015 at $399 and $449 for the 24” frame. The regularly-priced 24” FRAMED costs $499 for delivery in February 2015. The 40” comes in at a regular price of $1,500 and includes three pieces of artwork. Higher tiers offer multi-packs, custom colors and include free artwork. Reward tiers go all the way up to $10,000.

The Potential. In an ever-evolving digital world, it’s refreshing to come across a product that values the potential of digital with the practicalities of a physical object. FRAMED introduces a way to bring art from around the world home in the easiest way. We’ve seen a similar product recently in Electric Objects, a digital frame that displays artwork controlled by a smartphone app. Electric Objects is meant to completely blend in with physical artwork and its image isn’t animated. FRAMED allows for animated or interactive content, but is clearly digital. Both products are quite interesting and FRAMED is a great way for people to enjoy all the internet has to offer in their everyday lives without being glued to a screen. 

Categories
Arts Connected Objects Imaging

Let the Internet make any wall a museum with Electric Objects

The Premise. The Internet offers so much in the way of art, but these beautiful pieces are stuck on screen. We decorate our houses with art on the wall, but must manually change them when the room’s ambience or our taste changes. 

The Product. Electric Objects is a computer designed to display art. Using apps and online databases, Electric Objects owners can change the image that the product shows. The screen doesn’t look like any traditional screen, making the EO blend in with other framed paintings and photographs. The frame comes in different colors and materials, just like traditional frames. With the app, it’s possible to change the image on the screen easily via wifi. 

The Pitch. Electric Objects’ campaign video shows different rooms and scenes with the product featured. It does well in showing backers how inconspicuous EO looks and how it blends right into any home without looking like technology. The creators talk about how they are partnering with museums and other venues interested in integrating EO into their collections. Logos of different blogs and news sources permeate the rest of the blog along with quotes of satisfied users. Electric Objects is looking to raise $25,000 in a month-long campaign on Kickstarter.

The Perks. Backers can enjoy the EO for $299 at the special Kickstarter price with estimated delivery in May 2015. This comes with a choice of either black or white and a wall mounting kit. The EO costs $499 at its regular price and at this tier, backers can choose between black, white and wood for the frame.

The Potential. Electric Objects has found a way for the beauty of art to meet the convenience of technology. Digital photo frames offer a way for people to enjoy their own photographs at home, but typically look conspicuous. In addition, they only feature photographed images instead of anything else. Electric Objects looks like any other frame, but has so much more to offer. With the vast gallery of images that its online library offers, this product demonstrates its amazing versatility. Its price is reasonable too, considering how much each new painting must cost. However, like most previous digital picture frames, you won’t be able to set it up too far from an outlet without getting creative with the wiring and it may be too bright at night for active use in a bedroom. All in all, Electric Objects is an excellent way for art buffs to explore different images from all around the world in their own homes. 

Categories
Safety Smart Home

NOVI portable security system eases burdens of safety, high expense

The Premise. Modern security systems promise innovation and quick response, but can be too complex in the way they work. In addition, they’re expensive and not portable, leaving renters and office owners at risk. 

The Product. NOVI is a portable security system. With three features, this small device looks like a typical smoke detector and attaches to the ceiling. It has an HD camera, motion sensor, siren and smoke detector. Information is sent to an app on one’s smartphone if there is any activity. This allows the user to see exactly what is going on at their home at any time. NOVI is also a learning device, keeping track of typical habits so it knows when to arm itself if the user has forgotten to do so. The app asks for a response when an image is sent including call the police, ignore, or request another image.

The Pitch. The campaign video goes through the downside of working with typical security companies and the upside of NOVI. Scary statistics about the false alarm rate common with regular security companies and the costs associated with that permeate the rest of the campaign. NOVI’s creators also really emphasize that their product requires one payment instead of bothersome monthly fees and contracts. NOVI needs to raise $80,000 for a successful run on Kickstarter.

The Perks. Early birds will receive one sensor and the base station for $149, regularly priced at $199. Higher tiers offer more sensors, great for larger apartments, homes or for landlords who’d like to equip the apartments that they lease. Estimated delivery is set for January 2015.

The Potential. Portable home security systems do exist on the market, but not all take the same approach as NOVI. The Tattletale alarm works remotely as well, but costs $500. Similarly, the SimpliSafe alarm system is portable and connects to one’s cell phone, but the company charges a monthly rate for each added feature. NOVI truly is simple and refined. While it could have more features like a carbon monoxide detector, NOVI’s genius lies in its affordability making it the best option for safety for home owners and especially apartment renters. 

Categories
Home

Ecopad is a smart, affordable housing unit

EcopadEvery year, Americans buy homes that they cannot afford. These homes tend to be larger than they need and not all of them are environmentally friendly. Ecopad is a small home of 384 sq. ft that is built to be eco-friendly. It comes with all of the traditional amenities of a typical home and uses solar and wind power for energy. Ecopad’s creators will help Ecopad buyers build the house. Best of all, the Ecopad is extremely affordable, costing only around $45,000. The Indiegogo campaign offers no reward tier featuring the actual Ecopad, but hopes to raise $45,000 with a stretch goal of $100,000.

Categories
Home

Reason ensures that energy savings come out in the wash

The Premise. The washing machine has seen subtle changes to bring them into the 21st century, but their designs have remained largely the same. One inventor has made the washing machine simpler, more energy efficient, and more compact.

The Product. The Reason washing machine has a slide-out drum, not unlike a trash compactor, and can handle loads of a single garment all the way up to a winter comforter and duvet. The Reason weighs the load of laundry and calculates the appropriate amount of water and detergent, and custom tailors each cycle to only use what is needed to clean garments. The entire device is operated with a single button, and can handle loads up to 12 kilograms.

The Pitch. Based on the feature set and innovation of the Reason, one can’t fault inventor Andrew Reason for being excited about his project. However, with the epic movie-trailer soundtrack and the metaphors to saving enough resources to fill Olympic pools and shut down power plants, the promotional video comes off a little strong. Reason includes a whole array of demo videos however, showing off every aspect of the machine. The Reason needs to raise £40,000 to complete the prototype stage and get the initial production out the door.

The Perks. The Reason washing machine will be sent out in December of this year for those that pledge support of at least £779, complete with detergent and conditioner. A year supply of the detergent and conditioner is available for £150, and those that want to change their laundry routine earlier can get in on the first batch for £4,000, receiving their washer in October.

The Potential. The Reason washing machine is an interesting design that’s a perfect fit in smaller apartments and economy housing because of its small space requirements and the ability to cut back on utility costs. The initial investment price may be a little high for those looking to cut costs, but Reason calculates that within an eight-year time frame, the washer will have paid for itself. While that may seem like a long time to wait to break even, the machine does thankfully come with a ten-year guarantee.

Categories
Accents

Wallure adds panache to paneling with textured wood

wallureWood paneling isn’t just for the 70s, especially when it’s done tastefully and aesthetically. The use of authentic, quality wood can really make a home or office pop with freshness. Wallure, a set of real wood panels that can be used to decorate any wall have arrived to make unique hardwood walls a simple reality. Made from walnut and oak, the surface and finish of the wood is customizable to create 12 different options designed to fit any design motif. The backs of the panels are polystyrene, making affixing these panels uniformly easy. Right now backers can pledge £50 to get a sample pack in May of one of each of the 12 varieties.

Categories
Home

Paca Dryers furballs speed up clothes drying times

Paca DryersEnergy is expensive these days and anyway to cut down on utility bills is always welcome. Paca Dyers are one small way to save money on energy each month. These large hairballs are made of alpaca fur, which are all natural and contain no lanolin, a common irritant for many. With porous fibers, the Paca Dryers soak up moisture, allowing your clothes to leave the dryer earlier. One set of three balls goes for $25 on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery date of May 2014. Paca Dryers hopes to raise a modest $1,500 in a 45-day campaign.

Categories
Tools

U-Hook provides simple, functional way to leave it hanging

U-hookHome improvement could use some improvement with more universal solutions to everyday problems. U-Hook offers backers the chance to hang up their clotheslines, suits, picture frames, and more with one simple product. With several different mounting options including a peg or hook option, this nifty, albeit slightly unattractive, product comes with dozens of hanging possibilities. One of these German-made household items goes for a steep £49 on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery date of June 2014. U-Hook’s creators hope to raise a very low £1,000 in their 31-day campaign.

 

Categories
Sensors/IoT

The Nix Color Sensor makes everyone a color expert

 The Premise. There are millions of different tones and colors that illuminate the world. Getting the exact color you want is difficult with the variety of color types and brands. Color swatches are bulky, expensive, and brand specific, while the human eye is prone to error. There needs to be a reliable color sensor that can provide the customer with an accurate and affordable color reading.

The Product. The Nix Color Sensor may be familiar to designers and color purists. The company already had one very successful campaign that funded the design and production of the first sensors. The creators are now back looking for more early contributors to fund and receive their next batch of sensors. Once the color is scanned, the Nix Color sensor sends the palettes to your phone and direct you to the nearest store to purchase that color paint.

The Pitch. The video is a wonderfully animated two-dimensional video that shows just how the Nix Color Sensor works. The vibrant colors are very appropriate for the purpose of the device, and it’s design can make anyone a color expert. The Indiegogo page keeps it simple, but goes more in-depth behind the scenes of how it was made.

The Perks. The second batch still offers early adopters a great deal. The early bird special, which includes the Nix Color Sensor, carrying pouch, calibration card, and USB cable, is 50% off the retail value at $99.

The Potential. Designers, artists and picture and video editors are clear markets for the Nix. Beyond that, most folks don’t have a pressing need to pursue a Pantone value. Still, the Nix seems well-implemented and could bring accurate color matching to a broader range of professionals or the simply curious.

Categories
Lighting Smart Home

Brightup smart lighting adds context to lighting control

The Premise. The electric light revolutionized everything. Since then there have been several upgrades from a hardware perspective in terms of bulbs or light output, but not much in the way of operation. While several companies are allowing people to control their lights with their mobile devices, one company wants to put the mobile device in charge and make the whole process automatic.

The Product. The brightup smart lighting system avoids the smart home lighting automation equipment that has been promised for decades but has rarely seen adoption. Instead of installing a complicated network for the home’s outlets, brightup has a set of outlet caps that can be plugged in the home. Then, lamps or other lighting systems can be plugged in, and interface with the home’s central unit. The central unit detects the smartphone on which the brightup app is installed, and turns on the lights to greet users. Settings for dimmer switches that detect TVs or travel mode which gives off the illusion of someone in an empty home are also available.

The Pitch. The designers of brightup use their video to make a lot of vague statements about technology, but once the concept of brightup’s functions start, it’s easy to see the appeal. The campaign’s pictures show off the technology and the internal components, as well as feature several seemingly unrelated blocks of computer programming. To meet its goals of keeping prices low and complete the plastic tooling, brightup needs 130,000, or just over $175,000.

The Perks. The brightup starter kit costs €159 (under $220) with approximately an additional $20 shipping cost outside of the European Union. The starter kit comes with 1 central unit and 1 device (a plug or in-wall dimmer). 2 additional units come in the featured bundle for an additional €40, or the entire house can be connected at the €449 (~$615) level with 1 central unit and 10 devices. Higher tiers are meant to be shared among multiple people and come with up to five central units.

The Potential.  Having a home’s light completely set up on the brightup system seems like a great idea, but the price point is a little steep to start with. The system does little to conserve power like competitors unless residents forget to turn lights off when they leave, and the security mode would only work in rooms where brightup plugs were installed. It’s a neat idea, and certainly an innovation where one is sorely needed, but it’s questionable whether or not brightup’s unique features are worth the additional cost. Currently, the technology is not compatible with U.S. electrical systems.