Small device retrofits old homes with the Internet Of Things

Notifon is a small device which enables users to set up nearly any object to send notifications based on real world activity.

Apple’s recent WWDC had it’s gaze firmly fixed on the Internet of Things with the introduction of HomeKit, and it’s a further indication — if there was ever any doubt — that smart homes will soon be mainstream. One innovation we’ve recently discovered looking to make waves in that space is Notifon, a small device which enables users to set up nearly any object to send notifications based on real world activity.

The device consists of up to 14 node units, which act as sensors, and a hub, which acts as a bridge between the node units, the internet, and the ZigBee network which powers the system. To give an example of use, if a user wanted to be notified every time their front door opened, they could set up a node unit with one section on the door and the other section on the door frame — forming a closed circuit. When the door is opened, the circuit would be broken, which would wirelessly send a signal to the hub. The hub would then send a notification to the owner to alert them that the door has been opened. You can see the device in action, along with other potential uses, below:

One of the strengths of the set-up is its ease of use. The nodes have a long battery life, lasting between two to five years, and alerts — which can be sent via Tweet of Email — can be easily managed through the PushingBox cloud. Users with an internet camera can even add real time pictures to their notifications to show the activity taking place that triggered the notification.

The system also includes add-ons such as Karotz, a small animal shaped device which will read out the user’s notification in real time.

Notifon will be available soon, and the public can sign up now to be alerted when it is released. In the meantime, how else can smart technologies be brought to older devices to make the transition to the Internet of Things less costly?