Moen wants you to take a shower with Siri and Alexa
Plumbing hardware giant Moen is building out its U by Moen smart shower system with the latest virtual assistant technology from Apple and Amazon, allowing users to turn on fixtures, adjust temperature settings and more with their voice.
U by Moen saw release last year as a digitally controlled smart shower and valve system that lets users preheat shower water, adjust temperature settings for up to four outlets, set timers and remotely start or stop water flow via a touchpad or connected app.
Announced at CES on Sunday, the latest iteration of the U system integrates voice control through Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa virtual assistants. Alexa compatibility arrives in the first quarter as a third-party extension, while Siri and HomeKit will see integration in quarter two.
Moen showed off U in a demonstration, explaining that users simply ask the assistant of their choosing (Alexa on the show floor) to turn on the shower head or set a desired temperature. Water begins to flow from the outlet until a desired temperature is reached, then the system pauses, waiting for a user to enter.
Other commands include macro presets that can be customized in the U by Moen app. For example, a multi-fixture spa setup might include different temperatures for separate water outlets like a shower head, hand wand or side sprays.
Pricing varies, but a basic controller and valve system comes in at $1,160 with included shower head and wand, while a four outlet spa style arrangement goes for $2,200.
U by Moen saw release last year as a digitally controlled smart shower and valve system that lets users preheat shower water, adjust temperature settings for up to four outlets, set timers and remotely start or stop water flow via a touchpad or connected app.
Announced at CES on Sunday, the latest iteration of the U system integrates voice control through Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa virtual assistants. Alexa compatibility arrives in the first quarter as a third-party extension, while Siri and HomeKit will see integration in quarter two.
Moen showed off U in a demonstration, explaining that users simply ask the assistant of their choosing (Alexa on the show floor) to turn on the shower head or set a desired temperature. Water begins to flow from the outlet until a desired temperature is reached, then the system pauses, waiting for a user to enter.
Other commands include macro presets that can be customized in the U by Moen app. For example, a multi-fixture spa setup might include different temperatures for separate water outlets like a shower head, hand wand or side sprays.
Pricing varies, but a basic controller and valve system comes in at $1,160 with included shower head and wand, while a four outlet spa style arrangement goes for $2,200.
Comments
that will be $2000
Kind of ridiculous actually. A lot of money for something that is based on other companies tech.
And that hat controller looks like a 1990s car stereo?
Oh, you mean Amazon's Alexa.
Darn.😉
2) I think having controls to preheat for a given's user's desired temp would be nice. No more fiddling with the knobs and waiting for the water to heat up so can fiddle with them again. Just set a specific temp and let the system bring to that temp. My only issue is that it doesn't have a detour value where it can keep cycling in water that is too hot or too cold so that no water is wasted, which can be a real problem for many where water is in short supply most years.
..... "We could have Whole Foods deliver a nice bottle of wine and some candles..."
Threesome with Siri and Alexia?
But I don't know what a shower was last used in a hotel, hence letting the water run.
Here are two cases in just the last few months.
One could say it's wasteful or the risk is extremely low, but if you have pulmonary issues or already take inhaled steroids one may want consider abating this potential threat.