Enabling ordinary objects to become extraordinary tools via an internet connection is the next frontier of high technology. The Internet of Things keeps growing and expanding with the introduction of Knocki, a stick-on sensor that lets you – you guessed it – knock to initiate programmed actions. It eliminates the need for switches, buttons, and remote controls.

As long as it’s within wi-fi range, the Knocki can be stuck to just about any solid surface and activated with a pattern of knocks and taps on that surface. One knock on the dresser can tell the device and its app to turn on your sound system in the morning to get you up and moving. Three spaced-out knocks on the bedside table could tell Knocki to start the coffee brewing.

The system works by detecting vibrational patterns on a surface via an accelerometer. There’s no chance of the Knocki “hearing” environmental sounds like clapping and mistaking them for commands because it doesn’t operate on acoustic cues. The internal software can analyze knocks or taps to determine if they were intentional or if they were, for example, just you knocking over a coffee mug.

In addition to activating various gadgets around the house, the Knocki can be programmed for home security. You can tell it to text you if someone knocks on your front door or to call an ambulance if you tap out a specific pattern. The Knocki doesn’t even have to be in plain sight to work; you can mount it under a table or inside a cabinet. It has a range of up to six feet when mounted on wood and 3-4 feet when mounted on stone or other very hard surfaces – meaning you don’t have to knock directly beside or on top of it.

The creators of the system envision it being used outside the home environment, as well. They say it could be helpful in restaurants to let diners knock on the table to get their server’s attention. That would probably be the most annoying possible use (for the servers, anyway), but it’s a cool idea nonetheless. Knocki is available for pre-order on the company’s site.

The post Knock, Knock: This Module Wants to Smarten Your House first appeared on Gajitz.

No matter how big the inside of your fridge is, it seems like the amount of stuff you keep in there will expand to fill the space – and then some. This rather clever invention gives you a little more storage room in the icebox by suspending your bottled drinks from its ceiling.

Using ultra-strong neodymium magnets, the BottleLoft from designer Brian Conti lifts bottles off of the shelves to make space for important stuff like leftover pizza.

Each BottleLoft consists of an eight-inch-long plastic rail with three embedded neodymium magnets graded N52, the strongest you can get. The whole assembly attaches to the roof of your fridge with a specially designed adhesive strip that is specifically meant for cold environments like the inside of a refrigerator.

Once you clean off the surface with an alcohol wipe, you stick one side of the adhesive to the fridge and then stick the BottleLoft to the other side. You can install several so your fridge can hold a six-pack or two of bottles. The adhesive can later be scraped off with a putty knife if you need to remove it.

The only drawback here would be for people who prefer to drink from cans rather than bottles, but there are other products out there for them. The BottleLoft is on Kickstarter with a modest goal of $20K which it quickly surpassed.

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The Internet of Things is real, and it’s already started to slowly change the way we do things at home and in the workplace. You can control your thermostat, lights, and even your door locks from a remote location via mobile apps, and other home functions will definitely join up in the near future. Bttn is a simple but brilliant design meant to make controlling the Internet of Things a bit simpler.

Bttn is programmable through the IFTTT platform, which lets you program actions based on triggers. In the case of bttn, the trigger is pushing that little button. The action could be calling a taxi, turning off all of the lights in your house, texting you when your kid gets home from school, or even a string of commands. For example: when you wake up in the morning, you could press the bttnto turn on the hallway and kitchen lights, turn the thermostat up or down, and start the coffee maker.

The bttn is connected to the internet via wifi or 3G (if a microSIM card is installed). It runs on four AA batteries which are said to keep the device going for an entire year, but if you don’t mind wires you can also plug it into a MicroUSB adapter. You get visual and aural feedback when you push it, which lets you know that your action has been registered, but quite frankly is just really satisfying.

Actions for the bttn are programmed through any web browser. The setup is simple enough that even tech novices can use it, but robust and customizable enough that it feels fun and satisfying to the hardcore tech junkies. A number of actions are already created and can be activated through the bttn website with a single click (after you activate and register your bttn).

Although we think that pushing a big red button is probably the coolest option, bttn also comes in blue, yellow, and green. As of the time of publication they are available for pre-order for a $99 pledge on Indiegogo.

The post My Finger is on the Bttn: Single Control For All Your Stuff first appeared on Gajitz.

We really like having leftovers to wrap up after a meal because, hey, tomorrow’s dinner is taken care of already! But the main two methods of saving your food – putting it into a container and just putting some plastic wrap or foil over it – have some serious shortcomings. The worst of which is that the lids to our bowls keep disappearing (we have a feeling they’re partying with all of the partner-less socks that never come home from the dryer).

Cover Blubber is a happy compromise between matching lids to containers and trying to get plastic wrap or aluminum foil to stay put and actually keep the food protected. It’s a stretchy, reusable cover that protects food in the fridge or freezer. There are four sizes ranging from 3″ to 12″ (stretched out) in diameter. When stretched over a piece of fruit, a bowl, or a cup, the Cover Blubber forms an airtight seal that protects the food and doesn’t slip around.

The covers are pretty cool, but they are only meant to be used on uniformly shaped objects like circular bowl openings or square storage dishes – they won’t do well protecting the leftover cake in your lobster-shaped cake pan. They also can’t be put in the microwave or dishwasher, and since we’ve been known to throw away gross dishes instead of washing them by hand, that might be a problem.

Still, Cover Blubbers are better for the environment than single-use covers like plastic or foil, and they’re easier to deal with than separate containers and lids. They’re also BPA and Phthalate-free, so you can feel confident that the only poisons you’re putting into your body are from that leftover instant mac ‘n cheese from last night.

The post Stretchy Reusable Food Covers Do Away With Missing Lids first appeared on Gajitz.

Although things meant for babies to play with are bright and colorful, the things parents use to take care of those babies are often dull and boring. Designer Tom Evans decided to change that up with a line of parenting tools that look more like toys.

The line is called Bleep Bleeps, and each funny character has its own specialized function. They are all designed to make parenting a little more fun. Evans saw The Internet of Things starting to take off in the design world and decided to create tools that made parenting easier for him and would also look good in a home.

Some of the objects in the collection are an ear thermometer, a motion sensor, baby monitor, and both male and female fertility testers. They all have silly (and very English) names like Sammy Screamer, Tony Tempa, and David Camera.

The colorful little objects are all synced with a smartphone app to offer help and keep track of patterns, such as the changing temperature of an ill child. You can also control some of the objects via the app, such as the volume and sensitivity of the motion detector.

The first product of the collection that will be made available for purchase is Sammy Screamer, the tiny motion detector that lets you know when your stuff is being moved and alerts you via a beep and a smartphone notification. Other products from the collection will be released at later dates, letting parents fill their homes with fun and colorful parenting helpers.

(via: Dezeen)

The post Adorable Parenting Tools Look Like Colorful Playthings first appeared on Gajitz.