Kickstarter Tech Project of the Week: WigWag Environmental Controls

Project name: WigWag: Scan it. Control it. Rule it. Share it.

Category: Hardware

Goal: $50,000 (funded in five days)

Currently funded: $104,171

Deadline for pledging: August 18, 2013

Automated home systems are far from perfect. That cool motion sensor that turns the light on when you enter a room simply isn't enough now; it should also read things like temperature, noise, vibration, how many times you come and go, and even if the door is open.

WigWag is an entire platform under development to handle all of that. It works with other kinds of sensors that use Wi-Fi, Z-wave, or Zigbee (like Belkin's WeMo products), and is also creating its own sensors and controllers. They're all overseen by WigWag's cloud platform, where you set the rules—like a if this then that system. You can make sure when someone goes into the living room, for example, the lights and TV go on and you get an SMS notification.

One wireless WigWag block has up to eight environmental sensors and four control modules. It runs off four AA batteries and goes just about anywhere—under furniture, on a shelf, by the pool, on a gate. You add it to your system by scanning a QR code on the back. Each sensor has two inputs for other kinds of sensors. For example, you can be alerted by email when it's time to water a plant by plugging in a moisture sensor. The team is also developing the "GlowLine," which can be mounted in multiple spots to provide ambient lighting that won't blind you when you sneak into the kitchen at night, and turns off when you leave. If you're a developer interested in the hardware nuts and bolts, they're providing Arduino and Raspberry Pi adapters. The relays that hook up to your home router are a must; each comes with a lifetime subscription to the cloud service if you get it via Kickstarter.

The base cost for backing is $139, which will get you a relay and either a sensor or a Glowline. To get both with the relay, pledge $199. Pony up $299 for four to mix and match in multiple rooms. The big home kit with 10 sensors/Glowlites goes for $579. They expect to have product shipping to backers by this November.

Interested in backing other neat tech projects? Check out +POOL, a pool aiming to float in (and filter) New York's East River, and Lumu, a light meter for your iPhone.