Google’s internet of things thermostat player Nest has forged hardware partnerships with white goods giants LG and Whirlpool, as well as smart lock makers August and Kevo.
Nest, which the internet search giant acquired almost exactly a year ago for around US$3.2bn in cash, has been spreading its wings to other areas of home automation.
The company, founded by famed Apple iPod designer Tony Fadell, has added a number of electronics manufacturers and IoT start-ups to its Works with Nest programme.
Among the products and services slated to arrive via Nest’s Work With Nest alliances are capabilities such as the ability for LG’s refrigerator to know if no one is home and to enter power-saving mode.
One of the first capabilities to emerge from the Whirlpool partnership is the ability for Whirlpool washing machines to switch to refresh mode when the cycle ends to ensure clothes are fresh and wrinkle free. Another innovation is Rush Hour Rewards which involves energy providers who will let Nest know when an energy rush hour is about to happen and this will delay the washer or dryer until the rush hour is over.
Inside the IoT home
Already Philips’ Hue light bulbs can flash in different colours, for example red if smoke or carbon dioxide have been detected.
The August Smart Lock can set your Nest thermostat to Home when the front door has been unlocked and set it to Away when the door has been locked from the outside.
Kevo’s Smart Lock tells the Nest thermostat who is home and what temperature they like. It also detects if no one is home to ensure no energy is wasted.
An alliance with Rachio ensures that sprinklers outside the house will come on if a fire has been detected.
As well as this Nest’s Dropcam will capture images the moment smoke or carbon dioxide has been detected.
The hardware group also includes Automatic whose car adapter will tell the Nest thermostat to start getting the home comfortably heated before the key holder arrives.
Smart home image via Shutterstock
