Knocki: Smart Surfaces

Currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, Knocki is a small wireless device that can transform ordinary surfaces into smart surfaces.

Using wi-fi and non-acoustic sensors – touch, rather than voice or sound – Knocki instantly converts any surface into a smart touch interface that can be activated with a tap.

Applications stretch from remotely adjusting indoor climates, activating security alarms or dimming the lights, to brewing coffee from bed, ordering a pizza by tapping on the counter, or hailing an Uber and playing Spotify without a smartphone in hand. The device could also help children, the elderly or those with mobility or vision impairments, who cannot reach or see a switch, button or phone.

Knocki has already raised more than $600,000 – more than 20 times its fundraising goal. Priced from $59, the device is due to start shipping in December 2016.

Three-quarters of consumers worldwide believe smart houses will be as common in 2025 as smartphones are today (Intel Security, 2016). For more on the super-intelligent, inherently adaptive devices that are helping consumers enjoy life at home and elsewhere, read Seamless Tech: Home & Away.