Most homes have at least one desktop computer or laptop and the number of devices are multiplying with smartphones and tablets also making their way into many tech savvy households. In most cases these devices are used for checking email, working on school projects and surfing the web. Even though they have incredible computing power, these devices have yet to computerize homes. The Ubi wants to change this and give home owners the ability to control everything in their home through a voice activated computer.
Short for ubiquitous computer, Ubi got off with a bang with a very successful Kickstarter project that has led to the device being available for pre-order at $219. The developers of the device hope it is a new set of “hands and eyes for the home with the ability to accomplish tasks like searching the Internet or reminding people of their appointments while they cook, fold laundry, and read.”
The Ubi is the brainchild of three engineers from Toronto. The startup is competing in a sphere that many large technology companies have failed to conquer. There is currently no product on the market that can be considered the home computerization leader and this may give the tiny startup a chance to really grow.
The Ubi does not look like much, a black rectangular box that plugs in to the wall. The flat surface looks like a speaker and connects to the internet through WiFi. All a user needs to do is speak to the device as it acts almost like Apple’s mobile assistant Siri.
Searching the web is not the device’s only functionality. The creators of the voice controlled computer have given it the ability to act as a baby monitor, noise-pollution monitor, alarm clock and as a phone. The device also can monitor the rooms it is plugged into by checking temperature, air pressure, humidity, and ambient light, and then saving the data online.
The device has been built on an open platform and users can develop their own uses for it. Ubi has also partnered with SmartThings so that the device can connect with appliances and lights throughout the house. The creators of the Ubi think that their computer would be great for the elderly or people with “visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. We want the Ubi to make it easier for our parents and loved ones to stay connected with us and the world.”
Source: Fast Company Exist
Photo: The Ubi
New Glasses Allow Users To Flip Through Documents With Their Eyes
Netflix Accounts for an Impressive 33% of Peak Internet Traffic Across North America
Lunches So Good Kids Can’t Ignore Them
Invigorating Ginger Smoothie
The U.K.’s Youngest Parents Ever
The new hair Jennifer Lawrence