Qmote is an intuitive, single-button remote control which lets you perform actions on your phone, even when it’s out of reach.
From your television to your fireplace, it seems like just about everything is remote-controlled in today’s constantly-connected world. So why not your smartphone, too? That’s what this guitar pick-like product is aspiring to do. Created by the Qblinks crew, Qmote is a single-button control to help users perform a variety of actions on their mobile device, particularly when it’s out of reach.
Think of when you’re driving and need to start navigation, or when your alarm sounds in the morning and you don’t want to fumble around for your phone to shut it off. Now, Qmote is giving users quick and easy access to the most common functions they perform daily.
“It is estimated that in today’s society, each person pulls their phone out of their pocket at least 150 times per day. We use so many apps and are always digging around for when we need to just do one simple thing like make a phone call,” explained Qblinks Co-Founder Samson Chen. “With Qmote, you can create your own sequence that makes interactions with your smartphone and smart home more convenient, ensuring that you’re easily accessing what matters the most to you.”
The smart remote connects to your mobile device through an app via Bluetooth Smart. You can program Qmote with up to 10 different actions for specific click patterns, something that can come in handy for smart home applications, including Nest, WeMo and Hue. For instance, one click to turn your lights on, or two clicks to play a file from your music library. Needless to say, the multifunctional Qmote will remove the hassle of having to look for a phone and search through a myriad of apps.
Designed with mobility in mind, Qmote can link to keychains to use on-the-go or affix to flat surfaces for more permanent access. With a brushed metal exterior that is water-resistant, the tiny yet sleek device maintains functionality in any environment — whether indoors or out in the rain.
As seen with a number of other smart gadgets, Qmote integrates entirely with IFTTT. What this means is that users can now access an assortment of channels and set up various actions based purely on their own desires and routines. Firmware updates for the all-in-one button will be sent over-the-air to compatible with smartphones including iPhone 4S or later, iPad 3 or later, and Android devices on 4.4 and above.
What’s more, Qblinks designed their gadget with Makers in mind. “As such, we want to equip you with the capability to explore what you can do with it. The Qmote Maker’s Module has all the functionality of a standard Qmote device, with the added feature of enhanced control input via UART with AT commands. The Maker’s Module works with the same app and is also fully integrated with IFTTT,” the company writes. “With UART, Qmote functions easily in conjunction with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or any other development board. Without any knowledge of Firmware or app programming, you can easily send messages regarding your project to any IFTTT-enabled Internet platform.”
Interested in learning more? You can head over to its Kickstarter page, where the team is currently seeking $20,000. looking to raise $20,000 USD for production on Kickstarter. If all goes to plan, shipping is slated for May 2015.
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