Taiwanese tech firm Asus will launch its SmartHome devices tomorrow at the IT Show 2017. It is the first time that these smart- home gadgets, which include a digital door lock and sensors that detect motion or monitor temperature and humidity, will be available outside Taiwan.
These devices will also be sold at Challenger and Newstead Technologies retail outlets. Asus has partnered smart-home system integrator AN Digital Lock to offer home installation and delivery services.
First launched last June in Taiwan, these Internet-connected devices, also known as the Internet of Things (IoT), let users control and monitor their home appliances with a smartphone app from anywhere with Internet connectivity.
Market research firm Gartner has predicted that consumer applications like smart-home devices will represent 63 per cent of total IoT applications this year. The number of connected devices globally is expected to exceed eight billion this year, up 31 per cent from last year.
Singapore was chosen as the second launch country because it has a well-developed Internet infrastructure to support the adoption of smart-home devices, according to an Asus spokesman.
When asked what sets Asus' smart-home devices apart from competitors', the company said that the Asus SmartHome mobile app can be used to control third-party smart-home devices that use the ZigBee wireless standard, such as Philips' Hue light bulbs. Users do not have to switch, for instance, between the Hue and the Asus SmartHome apps, to control their devices.
Asus has also garnered a number of international design awards for these smart-home devices, though it declined to reveal sales figures.
For those hoping to get started on building a smarter home, Asus is selling a package with a bunch of sensors, a meter plug, a siren and a gateway hub for $784. The digital door lock is available at $599.
ASUS SMARTHOME GATEWAY
The Gateway is the central hub of the Asus SmartHome system. It supports a number of wireless standards, including ZigBee, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which are typically used by smart-home devices.
Once these devices are connected to the Gateway, they can be programmed using the Asus SmartHome mobile app by setting specific actions to follow certain triggers.
For instance, the app can send a notification if a connected motion sensor detects any suspicious movement. At the same time, the app can also trigger the Asus SmartHome Siren to emit a loud warning sound.
To safeguard your privacy and security, the Gateway encrypts the data between the app and smart- home devices using technology from Trend Micro.
ASUS SMARTHOME METER PLUG
Turn on any connected electric appliance remotely using the SmartHome Meter Plug. In addition, this handy plug monitors the amount of electricity used by the device on a daily, monthly or weekly basis. It also protects your device from electrical surges.
ASUS SMARTHOME SENSORS
Three sensors are bundled in the Asus SmartHome package. They are a motion sensor with an 8m detection radius, an open/close sensor for doors, drawers or cupboards that alerts you immediately if they are opened or closed, and a temperature and humidity sensor.
These sensors can be configured to work with other smart devices, to perform tasks like turning on the lights when the motion sensor detects you entering a room.
ASUS SMARTHOME DOOR LOCK
With this digital door lock, you can choose from four access methods - using a key, a password, NFC or the SmartHome app.
An anti-tamper feature alerts you if the lock detects any attempt to force it open. It will also trigger the SmartHome Siren to put off intruders. Because there is a likelihood of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) whenever a key is inserted into the lock, Asus has added ESD protection of up to 30,000 volts to prevent damage to the lock's electronic components.
