No more smashing your defective smoke alarm with a hammer. No more nuclear plant alarm sounds.
The latest creation by Nest, the company that re-invents unloved household objects," has re-envisioned the smoke alarm.
According to the blog of Nest CEO and former senior VP in Apple's iPod division Tony Fadell, the Nest Protect carbon monoxide alarm "was born one night when I lay in bed, sleepless as usual, watching the smoke alarm blink. It blinked and blinked and I realized I had no idea what that meant."
Instead of loud noises and random flashes of lights that could mean anything, Nest's alarm is much more specific, according to Fadell's blog. A Nest "voice" provides the location of the perceived danger. "She" gives you advance warning. If, say, one is cooking too enthusiastically, the alarm warns the chef to control smoke or the alarm will trigger. Based on a study at Victoria University, Nest believes a voice more effectively wakes residents during an emergency than the traditional alarm, according to Information Week.
If the alarm or voice happens to fire and there is no real emergency, a simple hand gesture shuts down the machine, as you can see from the beginning of this catchy YouTube video.
Not only does the device "light your way at night" via a green glow, it sports a contemporary design. That most likely comes from Fadell's former connections to Apple, commented Information Week. Along the same lines, the Nest smoke alarm links to one's computer and Nest's version of the thermostat - in the same way Apple products like iPod hardware and iTunes software are interconnected, according to News Week.
If, for example, the alarm detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, it notifies the Nest thermostat to shut off the particular gas line that may be responsible. Similarly, the smoke alarm contains motion detectors that influence the thermostat to provide the necessary amount of heating or cooling, according to the blog entry.
Nest Protect will be available in November for $129, as per Information Week.
"It's time to love your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm," Fadell said in his blog.
Just maybe don't fall in love with the voice...
