The Internet of Things (IoT) has brought about a lot of positive changes, such as security systems, controllable lighting, and adaptable thermostats.
Even the medical field has benefited with the invention of a pill that transmits pictures as it travels through a person’s body. Some of the most popular IoT devices are lights, gaming systems, home security systems, coffee makers, and appliances. Today, we even have smart cars, tables, and beds. Who knows where the IoT will go next? But how far is too far?
Most IoT devices are created for convenience, to save time, or to solve a problem. Not every product designed, however, should necessarily be labeled a “smart†product. Now developers are creating products for problems that don’t really exist. Luckily for them, a whole population of people don’t know they have a problem until they see there’s a product to fix it. The following is a list of IoT devices consumers could do without.
Davek Umbrella
How many times have you lost your keys, glasses, or phone? With the invention of the Davek, you’ll never have to worry about losing your umbrella. Using wireless technology built directly into the stylish handle, you can sync yet another thing to your phone. If you walk more than 30 feet away from your Davek, it’ll let you know. Unfortunately, it won’t help you if you leave it in a cab or an elevator. But at least you can wave goodbye.
Quirky Egg Minder
You’re standing in the grocery store and you can’t remember if you need eggs. The Quirky Egg Minder can help you track how many eggs you have and, using LED lights, determine how fresh they are. Again, using your overtaxed smartphone, the Quirky Egg Minder will ping your phone when you’re running low on eggs, or you can access the information on demand. However, the Egg Minder holds 14 eggs at a time, so you may want to take up raising chickens as a hobby or carry a couple extra eggs out in your pockets.
Genican Barcode Scanner for Garbage Cans
The Genican claims to take the process of making grocery lists to a completely new level. The Genican is basically a barcode scanner attached to your garbage can. Whenever you throw something away, you scan the barcode, and it automatically adds it to your shopping list. For those items without barcodes, you must hold the garbage in your hand for two seconds (gross!). Once the Genican senses there’s no code, it will ask you, “What may I add to your list?†You tell it, it adds it, and you can finally drop the garbage—oh, and wash your hands.
SmartyPans
Using Bluetooth, SmartyPans allow you to keep track of what ingredients you add to the pan—automatically recording the recipes, calories, and nutrition—and share and post on social media. SmartyPans have built-in weight and temperature sensors, as well as a voice input option. Of course, it uses your phone and syncs with social media. If you’re cooking, you may want to do all the social media stuff after.
Pantelligent Smart Frying Pan
Seeing as you have a pan that is keeping track of what you’re putting in it, why not have a pan that tells you how to cook too. The Pantelligent smart pan uses the information you provide in the app, such as the steak’s thickness and how you like your steak cooked. It claims it will be able to help you be a better cook. It says it can help you know when to flip your steak, add ingredients, and so forth. Smart pan or not, cooking a good steak takes patience. You can’t buy patience.
This list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the weird, odd, or obscene IoT products available to consumers today. When writing this article, approximately 10 times the number of IoT products were on social funding platforms or currently in development than are on the list above, including Bluetooth tampons, smart condoms, and a toaster with weather updates on toast. These inventions are proof that just because we can doesn’t mean we should. In fact, it’s probably better if we don’t.