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Awair+
This climate-control
assistant tracks
temperature, hu-
midity, CO 2 , volatile
organic compounds,
and dust in the air—
and can adjust your
aircon accordingly.Delta
Leak Detector
Put this moisture
sensor where a leak
might occur (under
the sink?); it’ll ping
to validate your
dripping paranoia.ResetPlug
“Did you try
rebooting it?” When
the ResetPlug
notices your WiFi
network go down, it
proactively carries
out an IT guy’s go-to
solution—so you
don’t have to.Philips
Hue Lights
When you’re too
sleepy, tipsy, or lazy
to get up to turn off
the lights, you can
just order Siri or
Alexa to do it.Everyday objects like lightbulbs and locks and yoga mats—
supercharged via computer chips and WiFi—have delivered
a golden age of automated, secure, and efficient homes. Or so the
marketing copy reads. And we’re buying it. Literally. This year
alone, we will install some four billion “smart” things in our homes.
While some of these connected doodads do indeed make life
easier, many others are better left boxed.FrivolitySmartDumbNecessityAugust
Smart Lock
Smart locks are
super-handy when
the kids are locked
out. And, to almost
no one’s surprise,
they’re also
super-hackable.
CleverPet
Too busy to exercise
your portly pug?
This treat dispenser
withholds goodies
until he plays simple
games, like “catching”
a light flashing atop
the bowl.
Netatmo
Welcome
This stationary camera
can spot burglars, but
records only if they’re
in front of it. Sorry,
no perp IDs: Its facial
recognition knows only
your family.Nespresso Prodigo
Because pod coffee
apparently needs to
be easier, you can use
the Nespresso app to
brew your espresso
from bed.SmartMat
Pressure sensors in
this yoga mat track
your posture. Just a
guess, but checking
an app midpose
probably won’t help. ALL IMAGES COURTESY MANUFACTURERSBy DAVE GERSHGORNAmazon Dash
These buttons order
stuff like soap—or
Red Bull—assuming
you think to hit ’em.56 POPULAR SCIENCE