Forget The Clapper.
A new gadget called My N3RD (pronounced "my nerd") allows users to operate anything with an on-off switch via their smartphone. This includes lights, garage doors and even coffee makers for the the truly tired among us.
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"I became frustrated with the number of remote controls I needed to use on a daily basis just to control my stuff," Rob Dorrell, My N3RD's creator, says in a video on the device's Kickstarter page.
My N3RD is wireless, but doesn't need the Internet or a router to work. The device can be controlled through existing Wi-Fi, but if the connection fails, it will automatically compensate by creating its own network — essentially cutting out the middle man. My N3RD's companion app can turn appliances on or off, and can also set timers on lights, fireplaces and sprinklers, among other things.
The app is currently available for iOS users (an Android version is still in development). It's free, but users will have to pay to enable specific features, such as Wi-Fi or timers, that will make My N3RD work. The device's creators also have plans to launch a web interface for the device, and to integrate it with the cloud.
Users will have to directly connect My N3RD to the appliances they want to control with the app. This means My N3RD has the flexibility to work with most household appliances since the device is relying on components that they already have.
Dorrell posted several online tutorials on how to hook up the My N3RD to appliances, including garage doors and electric fireplaces.
My N3RD is expected to start shipping its first round of devices in July. At press time, the device has raised more than half of its $50,000 goal via Kickstarter.
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