Switchbots Can Make Dumb Devices Smart

Part of the smart home technology proposition is “less”—fewer plugs, fewer remote controls, fewer extension cords. The elements are controlled via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the result (usually) is a sleek, sleek gadget or switch. SwitchBot saw this model and pointed its finger at it.

The easiest way to make a dumb device smart

The adorable SwitchBot resembles a tiny power bank and has an articulated finger that extends and presses a button. It doesn’t sound all that exciting or useful, but consider this: the world is full of products that haven’t yet become smart, and it’s just as full of people who want accessibility, efficiency, or indulgence in laziness. That coffee pot you wish you could light up as soon as you wake up? A SwitchBot attached to the side can press the “cook” button. In fact, the key here is the buttons. SwitchBot can even turn the indicator light on and off with your finger.

Chonky as a brand standard

While SwitchBot Bot is the flagship of the line, most of the products SwitchBot makes to cheaply automate annoying but not critical things do so with some degree of intentionality. Smart curtain tiebacks are inevitably large robots that hang from the curtain rod. An equally powerful articulator for opening and closing blinds. Nothing SwitchBot does is confidential or sensitive. They are small pieces. They do not fade into the background, but proudly stand right in front of him.

You may wonder why anyone puts up with these obsessively designed bots, and the answer is simple: in addition to creating legitimate accessibility, they are simply fun. I walked from room to room, deciding where to put the bot, until I settled on the dryer. My dryer is not smart and requires an extra cycle that I always forget about. So I set up the bot using the removable backing pad, set up the app, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve been giggling like a maniac for the past week while extending the drying time using my tiny remote control. Finger.

SwitchBots adhere to the principle of “keep it simple”

The bot itself uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and you can use the SwitchBot app to control your tiny robot finger, no hub required. To use Google or Alexa voice commands or control a bot while away from home, you’ll need a hub. But here’s the thing: even the hub is useful and delicious. While other hubs like SmartThings and Google try to make themselves small and part of the background, the SwitchBot Hub sticks to the brand standard and is a massive and useful temperature and humidity device with two programmable smart buttons. It’s on my desk, not hidden behind something else.

You can also use the Hub Mini , which is more of a traditional stick it where no one can see gizmo without any of the bells and whistles.

Easily expandable inside and outside of SwitchBot.

Once the bots have done their thing, you can add the round SwitchBot Remote , a wall-mounted switch bot with two programmable buttons to activate your bot. The bot can interact to create automation with anything belonging to the SwitchBot brand , which includes a fairly broad and eclectic mix from solar chargers to robot vacuum cleaners . By transferring it to Google Home or Alexa, you can combine it with products from other lines.

Switchbot isn’t just for adults

While the bot has legitimate uses, it can certainly be a great way for kids to engage with smart technology. There are plenty of plans to 3D print SwitchBot accessories, and the durability of the products means they can withstand some child-level roughness. SwitchBot Bot, $29, is a fun and whimsical way to bring smartness into your home.