Nest Labs, the Home automation company, has today released their latest product called Nest Protest - a smoke detector and alarm system, that is really smart. The Nest Protect is a product designed to solve all the problems that people encounter while using traditional smoke detectors. Sadly, there's not much innovation happened in the area of smoke detectors for the last 30-40 years. And according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association, more than one-third (38%) of home fire deaths resulted from fires in which no smoke alarms were present at all and one quarter (24%) in properties where the smoke alarms were present - they failed to operate.
Nest Labs shared in their press release that, "The smoke detectors have become annoying because every time you make stir-fry, the smoke alarm cries wolf. Or just as you're falling asleep, you hear a low-battery chirp. And that's a safety issue." In most cases, where the smoke detectors have failed to operate - there were no batteries or dead batteries in the device. So, what's new in the Nest Labs' smart smoke detectors? Let us find out.
The Nest Protect smoke detector is Wi-Fi enabled. As well as warning users with a spoken audio alert, it sends message to iOS or Android devices such as mobiles or tablets when smoke or carbon monoxide are detected in the atmosphere, or even when the device's batteries are running low. This device is also designed in a way that no false alarms are caused. Therefore, if device isn't certain there's a fire, it alerts the user with a warning message, telling them where the smoke has been detected. It then allows the user to dismiss the warning by waving their hand at the device.
The Nest Protect also lights up in white when it senses someone in the house walking by it in the dark. The device emits green glow when the lights are first turned out in the room as a signal that it's working fine. The Protect can also sync up with other smart household appliances designed by Nest, such as the Nest Thermostat, taking another step in the direction of smart houses. For those who don't want the hassle of batteries, the Nest Protect comes in a version that can be plugged into a power outlet. The device is priced at £110, and is available in white or black models.