April 15, 2014
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Michael Radon/
The Premise. Home security and smart home features go hand in hand. Being able to control aspects of a home from a distance using a smartphone is something dozens of companies are trying to make a reality for users, ...
April 2, 2014
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Michael Radon/
Welcome to The Back-Off, where Backerjack contributors weigh in on two or more products being crowdfunded concurrently. What. Smart lighting is becoming a regular craze in the smart home community. What is already ...
March 28, 2014
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Boot Bullwinkle/
The Premise. Home automation, until this point, has focused primarily on controlling basic devices such as switches and outlets. There’s plenty of other devices that, if connected to the Internet of things, would ...
March 12, 2014
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Boot Bullwinkle/
The Premise. Traditional thermostat controls are incapable of adjusting to the constant fluctuations in temperature throughout the house. There have been a few temperature sensors that make the heating and air ...
March 11, 2014
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Michael Radon/
The Premise. In the extremes of seasonal weather, coming home can be less about relaxing and more about suffering in the elements while waiting for the thermostat to kick in. One UK company believes that a home ...
February 18, 2014
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Boot Bullwinkle/
The Premise. Blinds and curtains can often be difficult to maneuver and operate, and they always have to be readjusted for different lighting environments. Even expensive electric blinds still have to be operated by ...
January 28, 2014
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Boot Bullwinkle/
The Premise. The movie Her raises many questions about artificial intelligence (AI) in relation to human interaction. As technology grows smarter, a more capable AI becomes almost inevitable as humans continue to ...
December 28, 2013
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Boot Bullwinkle/
The Premise. Technology is meant to seamlessly intertwine with our lives to make every day living more efficient and productive. But with so many devices, it can be hard to keep track and manage every single one. So ...
December 24, 2013
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Ross Rubin/
The Premise. Everyone has those annoying fire alarms in their home, but many people let their batteries die or unplug them because they continue to beep for no reason. Because their notifications are so annoying, ...
December 24, 2013
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Ross Rubin/
The Premise. Everyone loves the promise of a smart home that can alert us to — and ideally control — things around your home. But many of these products are expensive or complicated. Other systems require apps ...