Malcolm Owen
Kitchen and bathroom fixture producer Kohler has created its own smart home platform, Kohler Konnect, which allows some of its products to communicate with HomeKit and other smart home frameworks, as well as offering control via an iPhone app and through voice commands.
The new line of connected devices using Kohler Konnect mostly centers around the bathroom experience, with each including some element that users can fine tune to their preference. The Kohler Konnect companion app can be used to alter presets, such as temperatures and lighting, and in some cases, to remotely turn on elements.
A key aspect is the inclusion of voice control, allowing for the user to operate a kitchen faucet or intelligent toilet, change the lighting in a bathroom mirror, run a shower, or automatically fill a bath to a specified depth and temperature, all through vocal commands.
While the system runs on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, and has a greater focus on using Amazon's Alexa for automation and commands, a number of items from within the range are also able to support Apple's HomeKit, along with the Google Assistant. In theory, this means that some of the announced items could be automated in HomeKit scenes, or for features to be remotely triggered by Siri commands.
The main featured item in Kohler's new product range is the Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror, which is claimed to be an industry first with Amazon's Alexa built into the unit. Containing dual microphones and hermetically sealed stereo speakers, the mirror offers LED lights for illuminating the user, a motion-activated wayfinding nightlight, and the ability to access thousands of Alexa skills.
The DTV+ Showering System is a voice-controlled shower, which can be used to adjust the water temperature, control showerheads and body sprays, music, lighting, team, and shower duration. It can also be adjusted via the app, so users can arrange their ideal bathing experience that can be triggered every time they need to shower.
Two toilets have been introduced in CES
The other toilet, the Touchless Response, is a simpler option with a motion sensor used for touchless flushing. Both this sensor and the integral nightlight can be activated through the companion app. The PureWarmth toilet seat is a connected accessory that includes app-controlled heating and an integrated nightlight.
For baths, the PerfectFill Kit is capable of automatically filling a bath to a precise depth and temperature, saving home owners from continually checking it as the bath fills. Configurable via the app and controllable by voice commands, the kit also includes an auto-drain function for emptying the bath after it has been used.
Away from the bathroom, the Sensate Kitchen Faucet offers motion-based and vocal control for water dispensing. Commands can be used to turn the water flow on or off, or to dispense water to a measured volume, for example the vocal command "Pour eight ounces."
Kohler plans to ship the Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror in March, with three options varying in size from 24 inches to 40 inches, with other products in the range expected to arrive later this year. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.
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10 Comments
Seems like a great platform for practical jokes as much as anything else. Freaking people out with random toilet flushes. Changing the temperature of someone else's shower.
I can't believe they missed the obvious feature for their smart mirror: Voice controlled selfies for sexting.
I'm a growing Homekit house, but some of this stuff just seems silly. Still One of the biggest issues I think is no Siri stand alone devices!!! There's a delayed Homepod for $350 that is focused on Music. Not voice assistance. That's it!!! Where as Google Launched with 3 devices with 3 different price points. I think Amazon is up to 7-8 different Alexa Echo devices. I have Alexa is my Ecobee 4. Alexa is getting added to all kinds of 3rd party devices. I have a Google Home Mini, at $30 at the time, why not? Where's Apple? Now for me I think the Apple Watch is a better device as it's with me and works everywhere I'm at, including outside and away from Home. These other devices don't. My Alexa only works in the Hallway, and my Google Mini only works in my master bedroom. So you have to litter your house with these things. Though they are cheap and can work with your whole family. All Apple has is a $350 device which you'll basically need to pay a monthly fee for Apple Music to really use. my Google Mini, works with Pandora. I was able to just say "Hey Google, Play Bing Crosby Christmas Music" and it did from Pandora. I don't have Google Music. It worked. The Speaker sounds just fine at lower volumes. I just wanted a little background music in my bedroom. My only real stand alone device that can talk by just saying Hey Siri, is my 12.9" iPad Pro. So I would ask Google and then Siri questions and they both really worked equally well. In fact they are both easier to use with my Ecobee 4 then Alexa which is built into it. Voice controlling these type of devices, with Alexa, well it's a why not thing to do. Amazon is doing everything they can to push this and it's working. Siri is NEVER going to be on 3rd party devices. I'm just wondering if Apple can even make a small stand alone Siri speaker for $100?!?! I'm not going to litter my house with Alexa or Google Speakers, not even Siri, but it should at least be a option for people.
The ability to tell your faucet to "pour eight ounces" sounds really useful.
The security of networks when using these WiFi and BT devices, or lack of it, leaves me skittish, along with reliability. My modest smarthome excursions are limited to Hue lights and a hot water dispenser (via T-P Link switch).
One of the things that really bugs me about the Echo products (I have two Dots) is Amazon's requirement that I store my WiFi password with them. And while I can add it via the Alexa setup app, I have to call them on a phone to remove it (or change it, I imagine). Amz's explanation is so that setup with Echo device is more convenient.
At some point Amz will experience an Alexa breach in which WiFi passwords and customer information are stolen. So I'm dragging my feet a little in the smarthome arena.