First look: Lucis' NuBryte cloud-connected smart home console
After unveiling its upcoming NuBryte cloud-connected smart home console last year, Lucis Technologies brought a working model to the showroom floor at CES, demoing the console's automated lighting and security features.
NuBryte is a smart light control panel that cleverly replaces existing room light switches, bringing advanced home monitoring and control to home owners without an involved installation process.
What makes NuBryte interesting is its ability to adapt lighting settings by applying specialized algorithms to recorded user behavior and data gathered by onboard sensors. Over time, the system "learns" a room's lighting patterns and can adjust light output settings depending on time of day and more, ultimately saving home owners money. Automated lighting choices can be overridden on device or through direct control via smartphone.
In addition to lighting functions, NuBryte includes built-in security features like a Web-connected camera. Users arm the device with a passcode before leaving the house, just as they would a conventional alarm. When triggered by an intruder, the system will flash room lights and record 40 seconds of video for later inspection.
A push notification can also be sent is sent out to alert users to the situation so they can access NuBryte's camera feed remotely and take further action if necessary.
Finally, severe weather alerts are pushed down to NuBryte for onscreen viewing, while current software iterations include a built-in family calendar and an intercom for communicating with other NuBryte devices located throughout the house.
Lucis plans to have NuBryte out by the end of the second quarter for $199. Preorders get a $50 price cut and are being accepted through the company's website.
NuBryte is a smart light control panel that cleverly replaces existing room light switches, bringing advanced home monitoring and control to home owners without an involved installation process.
What makes NuBryte interesting is its ability to adapt lighting settings by applying specialized algorithms to recorded user behavior and data gathered by onboard sensors. Over time, the system "learns" a room's lighting patterns and can adjust light output settings depending on time of day and more, ultimately saving home owners money. Automated lighting choices can be overridden on device or through direct control via smartphone.
In addition to lighting functions, NuBryte includes built-in security features like a Web-connected camera. Users arm the device with a passcode before leaving the house, just as they would a conventional alarm. When triggered by an intruder, the system will flash room lights and record 40 seconds of video for later inspection.
A push notification can also be sent is sent out to alert users to the situation so they can access NuBryte's camera feed remotely and take further action if necessary.
Finally, severe weather alerts are pushed down to NuBryte for onscreen viewing, while current software iterations include a built-in family calendar and an intercom for communicating with other NuBryte devices located throughout the house.
Lucis plans to have NuBryte out by the end of the second quarter for $199. Preorders get a $50 price cut and are being accepted through the company's website.
Comments
I like the idea, but it is a failure, here is why.
It is made to replace a single light switch modal, in my house and many up scale house very few rooms have a single wall switch, most are dual or triples. The only place in my house with a single switch is the light switch to the basement steps. I have duals, triples and quads switches all over the house and many of two or 3 way. If you look at the size, it covers thespace of a dual switch plate so you can not retro fit this into most homes of people who would have the money to spend on this.
The Hardware design is a failure out of the shoot. I fee back for these people they did not do their research.
I don't really get what it does.
Its a wall panel as opposed to an iPhone App?
And like someone else mentioned, smart lights are great, but when it comes to the optional wall control, it needs to be quick and tactile like a light switch.
Light switches don't bother people. So far, the only light fixtures in my home that have become smart lights are the ones that have no wall switch...either must be controlled by a pull chain or they are in stand alone lamps plugged into dumb outlets. In those cases, an iPhone App is vastly superior...but I also wish I had one of those switches I've seen is battery powered, sticks anywhere on the wall, and is used as tactile switch for any of your smart lights.
What makes NuBryte interesting is its ability to adapt lighting settings by applying specialized algorithms to recorded user behavior and data gathered by onboard sensors. Over time, the system "learns" a room's lighting patterns and can adjust light output settings depending on time of day and more, ultimately saving home owners money. Automated lighting choices can be overridden on device or through direct control via smartphone.
It's kinda bullshit, actually. Turning lights on and off manually is very easy, precise and fool proof. The potentials savings using 'specialized algorithms to recorded user behavior and data gathered by onboard sensors' are questionable when using LED bulbs. Personally I think its a case of 'we do because we can' and that home automation is a bit of a fad. The useful features will survive and the rest will forever be niche, or disappear.
How many swipes and presses to turn on a light, more than one? What if you're in a room and you don't have your iPhone or the console near you? This seems like another way to complicate people's lives and separate them from their money by slapping a "smart" label on it. A solution without a problem.
@Nick29
Great question!
NuBryte is actually an upgrade to your existing light switch - similar to upgrading from a basic toggle to a simple dimmer switch - but with countless additional functionalities in the touchscreen console. So to answer your question, there would always be a console in the room because it is part of your home.
We've designed the system to be an entirely functional switch that, when used as a traditional light control, uses no more touches than the manual switch already in your home. In addition to traditional lighting control, NuBryte instantly transforms your existing overhead lighting into smart lighting that can automatically brighten or dim according to your behavioral preferences, natural light levels, and where you're located within the home. Additionally, you gain control over your whole home's lighting from wherever you are and, as you've pointed out, remote control via your smartphone.
NuBryte also provides home security features and household management tools that make it much more than a simple lighting control. We'd love for you to check out our website at www.nubryte.com or be in touch with us at [email protected] if you have any additional questions we can help to answer!
I like the idea, but it is a failure, here is why.
It is made to replace a single light switch modal, in my house and many up scale house very few rooms have a single wall switch, most are dual or triples. The only place in my house with a single switch is the light switch to the basement steps. I have duals, triples and quads switches all over the house and many of two or 3 way. If you look at the size, it covers thespace of a dual switch plate so you can not retro fit this into most homes of people who would have the money to spend on this.
The Hardware design is a failure out of the shoot. I fee back for these people they did not do their research.
@Maestro
Thanks for your interest in NuBryte!
The console is actually designed to accommodate both the single and double-gang sockets which are popular in homes today.
It's kinda bullshit, actually. Turning lights on and off manually is very easy, precise and fool proof. The potentials savings using 'specialized algorithms to recorded user behavior and data gathered by onboard sensors' are questionable when using LED bulbs. Personally I think its a case of 'we do because we can' and that home automation is a bit of a fad. The useful features will survive and the rest will forever be niche, or disappear.
@paxman
Thanks for your comments!
The NuBryte absolutely allows you to turn on and off your lights in a simple, foolproof manner just as you always have but now on a touchscreen console. But in addition to that very basic function, it transforms your existing LED bulbs (or CFL / incandescent, for that matter) into a smart lighting system that can adjust itself according to your lifestyle, natural light levels, and can be controlled from anywhere in the home or remotely via a smart phone.
We'd love for you to check out the videos on our YouTube channel for more insight on how it works, and welcome you to be in touch at [email protected] if we can help to answer any questions you might have!
I don't really get what it does.
Its a wall panel as opposed to an iPhone App?
And like someone else mentioned, smart lights are great, but when it comes to the optional wall control, it needs to be quick and tactile like a light switch.
Light switches don't bother people. So far, the only light fixtures in my home that have become smart lights are the ones that have no wall switch...either must be controlled by a pull chain or they are in stand alone lamps plugged into dumb outlets. In those cases, an iPhone App is vastly superior...but I also wish I had one of those switches I've seen is battery powered, sticks anywhere on the wall, and is used as tactile switch for any of your smart lights.
@pmz
Great questions!
It sounds like NuBryte is actually exactly the piece to complete your smart lighting home! The console is an upgrade to your existing light switch, and instantly transforms the room's existing overhead lighting into smart lights - with no need for additional sensors or luxury bulbs to be added. NuBryte is then able to learn your lighting lifestyle, adjust with natural light levels, and provide specialized lighting modes based on your behavior and preferences. And of course, you have control of your whole connected home's lighting from any console and from the smartphone app.
The other things it does sound nice though.
That was my general thought. Smart systems to turn your heating up and down have a point to them. Turning a light on and off would only really save you money if you left lights on all over hour house when nobodies in the room. I suspect if your someone who's interested in saving money on your lighting, your probably also someone who turns lights off when you leave a room. In which case leaving it on to turn off automatically would cost you more money.
The other things it does sound nice though.
You'd be surprised.
I know a person who is very interested in saving money, yet leaves the lights on all over the house, all day long beginning with the sunrise. The bulbs are all incandescent or CCFLs, because LED bulbs were too expensive when the last bulbs burned out.
Humans are irrational.
@paxman
Thanks for your comments!
The NuBryte absolutely allows you to turn on and off your lights in a simple, foolproof manner just as you always have but now on a touchscreen console. But in addition to that very basic function, it transforms your existing LED bulbs (or CFL / incandescent, for that matter) into a smart lighting system that can adjust itself according to your lifestyle, natural light levels, and can be controlled from anywhere in the home or remotely via a smart phone.
We'd love for you to check out the videos on our YouTube channel for more insight on how it works, and welcome you to be in touch at [email protected] if we can help to answer any questions you might have!
I saw they have both dual and single version. And it still works when the panel is taken away! Maybe they should add triple version?
I was on their website, and they do not have detail design information or how to wire it into the existing circuits in the house, so I am guessing base on the little information they are sharing. However, what I saw was the display module is the sign of dual switch, but only fits into as single switch opening. They are not showing two different sizes, from what I saw it was one size and due to the size of the display if covers a large space greater than a dual switch, which is fine if you are only replacing a single switch.
They will be on the watch list for me, but I believe they have work in front of them.
@Maestro64
Glad we're on your watch list! The unit is built to accommodate single or double-gang switch housings (single and double switches).
Like the concept here. I would prefer a main control panel where they would allow multiples of (upstairs and downstairs) and then a reduced version that replaces light switches room by room. I have several other concepts that would make this great but not sharing unless I get paid!
@TechProd1gy
We're on the lookout for great talent and people with fresh ideas to join us, why don't you drop us a line at [email protected]!