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A curious question. For that cover image, where the device is put in the drawer, and I have to open the drawer to see the device, will it just reset every time when I open the draw? So that means when I check the device, it will always tell me that it has just been moved? lol
@shantianyun That's a good observation. When Thingzo detects movement, it will reset its internal clock and start over again. The display, however, holds the value for 30 seconds while flashing MOVED. Since the display counts up every minute, this works well. So for the drawer with Thingzo not visible, when you open it, you have up to 30 seconds to look at the display to see how long ago it moved before it resets to zero.
I can see this having some useful applications, but not in the current bulky form factor. I certainly wouldn't want loads of these stuck all over my house. Also, the name... why "Thingzo"??
@marccrouch We are targeting the IoT domain. In our case, we believe IoT is more practical if it simply means the Information of Things. The name Thingzo is kind of derived from that concept, of making things or objects smarter. This device we have on Kickstarter is the first product in a family of products that we are developing. The form factor is actually quite small - roughly 1 inch by 2 inches, about the size of a small luggage tag.
@marccrouch For this version, we decided to offer it only as a standalone version with no API. We eliminated any buttons or ports (like USB). Use as it. On the drawing board for the next product is a full blown version, but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves (smile).
@carlos_cg1 Start with a door. Thingzo is perfect for doors. Not all doors, but important ones. Then think of anything where you need reminders - was the dog fed, did I water the plants, did I take my meds -- or did my elderly parents take their meds... Use it to check on yourself - when was the last time I exercised? It turns things smart, for a low price, and it runs a long time. The display supports up to 999 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes. That's just under 3 years if left undisturbed.
We look at this product like an IoT starter. It's standalone, but it is useful for the Information of Things. You can stick it on different things that move, and you will turn it into a smart(er) object. Why not a refrigerator? You don't need to buy a $2,000 IoT frig with all kinds of annoying bells and whistles. Get a $12 Thingzo and slap it on the frig to see how often you get something. Just stick it on and you're done. Put it on the front door, or the side door, or the back door... Thingzo works well with doors. Just remember the 80-20 rule - it's those few critical times you will be glad you have Thingzo on the door. We have a list of literally 100 uses for Thingzo. How many can you think of?
@joshuapinter If you think a little more about it, its simplicity is really what is valuable. For example, no setup or quirky connections are required. No need to recharge the battery, it's a coin cell, lasting over 3 years and is replaceable. And the 80-20 rule applies for many applications. Let's say that you stick it on a door, 80% of the time you may not even look at it. But the 20% at critical times or times when you really want to know, you'll be glad you have a Thingzo on that door. Same with other applications.
@markc You might be right and I don't want to sound negative. I'm just failing to see the applications of this tool that isn't better suited to something that provides more information. Let's take the examples in the thumbnail images here:
1) Putting it on a conference room door. I don't get it. What's the point of that. If I'm going to have technology on my conference room door it's going to show the booking schedule of that conference room or something.
2) Water treatment system. I'd rather have something like a timer that can notify me when it's time to change out the filters or whatever. Without me having to go physically check the water treatment system.
3) On my desk drawer. Knowing that it's moved since a given time is just barely valuable. If I'm going to monitor the open/close of my drawer it's going to alert me when it's opened and I'm not around or something. Or maybe even upgrade to a camera to see who opened it. There's just not enough information provided by this by itself.
4) Another drawer... see point #3.
I'm keen to hear better examples of where this is better suited than another device. Just failing to come up with one.
@joshuapinter Most of the usage will vary depending on the person. Thingzo is an excellent "life hacking" device, and we imagine people getting creative with it once they get it. We just tried to show a variety of uses, some less useful than others, to get people thinking.
1) Admittedly, the conference room door is not at the top of the list of uses. Most companies already book and manage conference room schedules through Outlook or similar. One company I know has a (loose) rule that meetings shouldn't exceed 1 hr. This is one way of enforcing it, though it's not a perfect solution. Other info - check if it was cleaned overnight. Facilities might want to check it from time to time, if there is an issue. Clearly the 80-20 rule applies here.
2) Water filter - Agreed that smartphones or connected devices with alerts might be superior solutions. But who actually does it? I mean, it takes 1 minute to punch in the expiration date into your iPhone calendar, but I don't know anyone who does that. With a Thingzo, you can just glance at it anytime you happen to walk by it. For about $12, it's not a bad "hack", in my opinion. Same goes for an air filter, etc.
3) Desk drawer - there are times when you don't need or want an alarm. If you think the janitor is getting into your things or someone is taking stuff, a Thingzo will let you know without sending you an alarm at 10 pm or something. It's a simple way to monitor things.
4) Another drawer - note that in this example, the Thingzo is outside the drawer and clearly visible. It can act as a passive deterrent to let someone know that you are monitoring the drawer. If you have a roommate who noses around your stuff, this method may help for a drawer or closet door.
The Kickstarter page has several examples. Here are 3 examples:
1. entry door
2. medicine cabinet
3. feeding dog/fish/plant etc.
Again, think 80-20 rule. 80% of the time, you won't need Thingzo to inform you. But those critical times or those times when you just can't remember, you'll be happy you invested $12 on a Thingzo. This is almost perfect for a fish tank. You need to open the door on top to feed the fish. Then place another Thingzo on the top lid, so you can track how long ago you cleaned the aquarium.
Thanks for the discussion.
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