Turn the lights on or off with a simple hand gesture, or even turn any object into a touch-senstive switch...that's how iOn works
The Internet of Things and the possibility of connecting gadgets to our smartphones has generated a full-fledged ecosystem of interesting proposals for domotic technology applied to the home. One of the latest proposals announced on Kickstarter is the iOn capacitive switch, a gadget for controlling all of your electronic devices and appliances with a simple movement of your hand.
The iOn is a smart switch that is controlled by a capacitive proximity switching system that allows you to turn electrical and electronic devices on and off by just shaking your hand near the switch’s field of action. Even actions like adjusting lighting from dim to bright with a simple gesture from an iPhone or Android smartphone.
One of the biggest advantages of these capacitive switches is that they are fully compatible with the standard mechanisms in any home, so they can be installed in the gaps that hold conventional switches of the electrical installation. However, the invisible switching field of the device can pass through any surface, which allows for some interesting aesthetic solutions for the design of installations in homes and offices, such as hiding them inside walls, in the headboard of the bed or under a desk.
But iOn’s creative potential also lets it turn almost any object into a touch switch. As shown in the attached demonstration video, when any object is placed inside the generated switching field, iOn turns it into a virtual switch. This means that a painting, sculpture or even a fish tank can be turned into a touch switch that can be used to turn the lights in your house on and off, by installing iOn under the surface of the object.
Since it’s a standard device designed to work with 100 to 240 volts, it is perfectly compatible with any installation that requires a switch to turn it on. But, as we mentioned earlier, iOn also connects to your smartphone, giving you remote control over lighting, heating and air conditioning, radiators, pool filter, etc., which allows comprehensive automation throughout the house, without the need for complex domotic systems or the costly maintenance services associated with them.
In addition to the possibility of customising iOn displays with exclusive designs that are adapted to each space, one of the advantages of proximity switching is that it avoids the proliferation of germs through contact with switches, which makes it an interesting option for public spaces, hospitals and workplaces, where asepsis and cleanliness are vitally important.
The people behind the Ion Switching project – Martin Wyeth, Clare Dibley, Bjorn Lewis, Landon Metcaft and Wayne Moles – are confident that the high degree of versatility of their capacitive switch, and its possibilities in homes, offices and spaces adapted for children or people with limited mobility, will allow it to reach the targets set on the popular crowdfunding platform.
Images | Ion Switching
