The beauty of connected devices is that you can just pick up a phone and control them, switching on the lamp, adjusting the thermostat, and even unlocking the door without getting off your butt. When the act of picking up a phone, launching an app, and tapping a few times begins to sound like too much work, too, wouldn’t you like to be able to activate things by simply knocking on the nearest flat surface? That’s what Knocki lets you do.
Created by Swan Solutions, it’s a disc-shaped device that turns any surface it’s attached to into a functional, programmable controller. Want to start the coffeemaker running with one tap on your bed’s headboard? Can be arranged. How about automatically closing all the blinds with two taps on the coffee table? Yep, that will work. Want the self-driving car to pick you up from work with a tap on your desk? Well, I don’t think we’re there yet, but check back in a few years.
Knocki can attach to wood, metal, granite, marble, drywall, and stone surfaces, allowing you to affix them on tables, shelves, walls, and even the fridge. It can save up to ten unique patterns at a time, so you can issue a decent amount of commands using just one device. To avoid false-positives, it requires an activation knock before being followed up by the actual command, which is still a less work than having to find your phone and use an app. Plus, you can just kick the coffee table with your heel and it will probably work just fine.
Features include built-in WiFi (so it can work without pairing with your phone), a reusable adhesive mount, and up to 12 months of battery life on a fresh batch of AA batteries. It’s compatible with IFTTT, Nest, Wemo, Insteon, Apple Home Kit, and more, with apps for both Android and iOS.
Now available for preorder, the Knocki is priced at $59.