The smartest home, IoT and lifestyle gadgets of 2016

By Adamya Sharma | Updated on 06-Oct-2023

06-Oct-2023

HIGHLIGHTS

Here are the gadgets that made 2016 a year full of smarts.

Smart, connected devices made quite an impression in 2016. From smart home hubs to intelligent lighting solutions, trackable luggage to internet enabled air purifiers, smart bikes to driverless cars, 2016 has simplified our chores and made us even more dependant on technology than ever. Here are the gadgets that made 2016 a year full of smarts.

Google Home

Google’s answer to Amazon’s Echo, Google Home is a smart home hub powered by a virtual Assistant. With a ‘Home’ in your home, you can wirelessly play music from YouTube, Play Music, Spotify or Pandora, set reminders, stream Netflix, search the web and control various connected devices such as smart TVs, lights, ACs, fans, switches, etc. Google Home is not yet available in India officially, but you can get it on ebay for Rs. 17,000 approximately. In the US, it costs $129 (Rs. 8,700 approx).

Amazon Echo Dot 2nd gen

Like Google Home, Amazon Echo Dot is a voice-controlled, hands-free device that uses Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, read news, set alarms, and more. The second-gen Echo Dot, which is basically a tinier version of the Amazon Echo speaker, was launched this year. The smart speaker even allows users to book Uber cabs and order pizzas from Dominoes through simple voice commands. The Echo Dot costs $39 (Rs. 2,632 approx) in the US. It can also be purchased from Amazon.in in India at a price of Rs. 7999.

Switch Bot

A Kickstarter crowdfunding project, Switch Bot is a mechanical switch that can be controlled from anywhere. The Switch Bot fits on top of any ordinary switch using a single strip 3M tape and requires no tools for assembly. It comes with a corresponding app that can be used to remotely turn off lights, appliances, laptops, PCs and anything that has a switch. For $19, Switch Bot can bring IoT to any device.

BeOn Smart Bulbs

It’s not just a smart bulb, it is also a home security system. BeOn smart bulbs are powered by batteries as well as electricity and can be controlled via Bluetooth. The bulbs can learn the natural lighting pattern of a house to emulate the same even when no one is home, thereby preventing break-ins. Best part is that the batteries housed inside BeOn smart bulbs can also keep them alive for approximately 6 hours during a blackout. What’s the downside? Well, the bulbs are not exactly cheap and cost $75 (Rs. 5,063) per bulb.

Cubical Labs – Cubical Master, Hex Switch Module

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Cubical Master is a 4-inch is a central hub for all home automation products and interacts with switches to control any device. You can remotely connect and control Cubical Master using a smartphone app. The Hex Switch module can control and regulate up to six electrical devices and enables the user to control, dim, schedule and monitor the energy consumption of the electrical appliances that are automated. Both the devices are made by Indian IoT firm Cubical, which offers set packages for home automation, with varying prices for different home sizes.

SkyBell HD Wi-Fi Video Doorbell

Always want to know who’s at the door? Then the SkyBell HD Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is one for you. The $199 (Rs, 13,437) bell records videos in 1080p resolution and offers free video storage along with IFTTT integration. The bell also sends a live video feed alert to the user’s smartphone whenever a visitor presses the doorbell, along with an option of having a conversation with the visitor.

Mi Air Purifier 2

Xiaomi launched the Mi Air Purifier 2 this year and it’s not half bad. Great at getting rid of odors and unwanted smells, the Mi Air Purifier also cleans PM 2.5, PM 0.3~0.5 and Pollen. It has three layers, consisting of a primary filter, an EPA Filter and an activated carbon filter, to clean various particles such as dust, pollen and fibres, human hair and more. The best part is that the Rs. 10,000 device can be remotely controlled via a smartphone app. You can read our review of the Mi Air Purifier 2 here.

Modobag

Modobag is a suitcase that can literally take you for a ride. Made by an indiegogo startup with the same name, Modobag acts your personal transport in and around the airport. Besides its motoring capabilities, this smart carry-on features dual USB charging ports and GPRS-GSM tracking. The bag can travel at speeds of 5 MPH in indoor settings, while it can go upto 8 MPH outdoors. Modobag also gives you easily accessible storage options for your gadgets, with quick stow pockets for laptops, phones and tablets. The bag itself comes with quick charging capabilities, which the company claims can charge the luggage upto 80% in 15 minutes.

Amazon Dash physical instant purchase button

In a stroke of genius, Amazon launched its Dash buttons in UK this year. The physical buttons are linked to a user’s Amazon account and allow for one-push purchase of a particular item. For instance if you run out of detergent, you can order an Ariel from Amazon by simply pushing the instant purchase button. With this move, Amazon is hoping to edge out traditional super markets and grocery stores, with new digital shopping devices.

LeEco Le Super Bike

LeEco, the Chinese technology company, came up with the LeEco Le Super Bike this year. The bicycle runs a version of Android and has a 4-inch display between the handle bars. Powered by 4GB of RAM and a quad-core processor, the bike also features built-in speakers, a heart rate sensor and laser beams that run along either side to indicate a safe distance for other drivers on the road. The Le Super Bike is up for sale in China and costs anywhere between $800 to $6000 (Rs. 54,000 – Rs. 4,05,242) , depending on the build material.

BMW Head-Up Motorcycle Helmet

Showcased at the Consumer Electronic Show 2016, the BMW Head-Up Motorcycle Helmet is every biker’s wet dream. BMW has partnered with DigiLens to get you this funky helmet that allows your to ride easy without having to look down from the road. The helmet houses an Augmented Reality display that shows drivers their RPM and gas levels without having to look down. The helmet also features front and rear cameras that capture the road and bring the feed directly to the rider’s visor.

Uber self driving car

Cab aggregator Uber surprised everyone this year when it started testing its self-driving cab in Pittsburgh this year. The cab was made in partnership with automaker Volvo and San Francisco based self-driving trucks startup, Otto. It can be booked from the Uber app just like a normal UberX and will initially have a supportive co-driver to assist in the testing phase.

ToTo Neorest 750H Smart Toilet

Want to feel like a king whilst you do your morning business? The Neorest 750H is a smart toilet that can sense your presence, control the odour around it, and best of all, won’t require cleaning for about a year. Toto has achieved this by a combination of technologies. The list of features is further expanded with the likes of auto lid open/close function, with flush-on-close. There are three washing modes with oscillating and pulsing water spray for comfort washing. It comes with an adjustable heated seat and adjustable spray position. It even comes with a Multifunctional Remote Control.

Samsung Family Hub Fridge

Samsung Family Hub refrigerator that let’s you take a peek inside it, without opening its doors. It sports a gigantic 21.5 inch Full HD display that shows users what’s happening inside the fridge, thanks to the multiple internal cameras fitted inside it. The Family Hub refrigerator also connects to a user’s smartphone, allowing for a remote view of the contents inside the fridge. Using the smartphone connect feature of the fridge, users will also be able to go grocery shopping without having to worry about forgetting an item. Users can access the contents of the fridge when they go shopping and also post shopping lists, notes and other reminders on the door of the fridge.

Adamya Sharma

Managing editor, Digit.in - News Junkie, Movie Buff, Tech Whizz! View Full Profile