Switchmate‘s motto is “smart made simple” and that’s oh so true. The home automation company, exhibiting for the first time at CES 2015 makes the simplest retrofit lighting controller I’ve ever seen.
The electronic switches snap right on top of your existing paddle or toggle switch via powerful magnets. A mechanical device within the unit physically presses or toggles the switch beneath.
The devices communicate via Bluetooth Smart (BLE) for now, but the company says it might release other versions in the future.
Users can activate the switch at the device itself or remotely via a Bluetooth phone or the Internet using an optional BLE/IP gateway.
The switches run on two AA batteries, which should last for about one year. As for the mechanics of the switch, they should get you about four years worth of toggles.
The guys at CES told me the target price for the products, but darned if I forgot to write it down. They will soon be available for preorder soon.
As Switchmate says, it’s a snap!
This article was originally published by our content partner CE Pro.