riveriakid: December 2011

Monday, 12 December 2011

Untitled

The day when your washer emails to say your clothes are clean and your basement tweets when it’s flooding is closer than we thought, and it doesn’t look at all as expected. Instead of multiple connected appliances, such a system relies on a tiny WiFi-connected box called Twine.

Twine’s functionality is “programmed” through a website that allows users to compose action rules in plain English. One might, for example, compose the rule, “WHEN moisture sensor gets wet THEN tweet, ‘The basement is flooding!’” Programming the device is about as difficult as playing Mad Libs.

Options are endless. The battery-powered box contains sensors for temperature and vibration, a magnetic switch and a moisture sensor. Pretty much anything else can also be added to the contraption. One backer plans to outfit Twine with weight sensors and use it to notify him when the ice machines he operates need refills. Another will use a magnetic door sensor to receive a message when UPS stops by. Others say they will keep track of their pets, heating systems and garage doors using the device.

Twine’s creatrors, MIT Media Lab grads David Carr and John Kestner, consider the device to be the “first time that a connected object has managed to cross in to the world of consumer relevance.”

If enthusiasm for their Kickstarter project is any indication, they’re right. The project has raised more than $300,000. Units are scheduled to start shipping in March with a price tag of $99.