ElectricityMonitor
Latest
Ubiquitous iRemoTap puts your powerstrip in the cloud, turns lights off remotely (video)
It probably won't help you if you leave your oven on, but if you let lights linger after leaving home, Ubiquitous' iRemotTap may help you save a few Kilowatts. This seemingly vanilla powerstip is anything but, boasting the odd addition of a tiny OS embedded in a wireless LAN chip -- all the better to turn your lights off. Users can control the internet-enabled socket stick remotely via a mobile or desktop web browser, allowing them to switch off gadgets and lights after leaving the house. Can't be bothered to log in to switch off? No worries, this plug powers devices down automatically after they reach a pre-defined power consumption limit. If you're forgetful enough to need a light switch in the cloud, Ubiquitous is hoping to sell you peace of mind for less than ¥10,000 ($122) -- whenever these taps get out of R&D, that is. Vid's after the break, if you need convincing.
Sanwa rolls out wattage-watching power strip
Devices that keep watch on the amount of electricity you're using are hardly anything new, but Sanwa has managed to refine the idea somewhat with its new 700-TP1052DW power strip, which is considerably more compact and a tad less unsightly than some other similar options. Nothing too complicated here -- just plug in your devices, switch on each outlet as needed, and keep watch on the total wattage being used on the handy built-in LCD (it'll even alert you if you reach a critical level). No word on pricing or availability just yet, but you can check out an enthralling 21 second video of the power strip after the break.
Visual Voltage clock turns electricity monitoring into art
Sure you can monitor your home energy use with any number of "useful" and "easily readable" gauges and gadgets, but why settle for straightforwardness when you can have something verging on art? That's the thinking behind the so-called Visual Voltage exhibition created by a group of Swedish designers, anyway, which features this eye-catching clock-like device front and center. As with other energy monitors, it promises to do nothing more than monitor your daily electricity use and let you know when you're using more than you should. Instead of spewing out a series of digits and blinkin' lights, however, this one creates a nifty visualization of your homes daily energy rhythms to attract a bit more attention -- or it will if it ever turns into an actual product, that is. The designers aren't stopping there with the whole "visual voltage" idea tough, and are also showing off a power cord that lights up when in use, and a concept for a set of solar-powered blinds that can absorb energy during the day and provide ambient light at night (check it out after the break).[Via Engadget German]
