Talking thermostat: a solution in search of a problem?

Filed in archive Home Automation on August 23, 2006

Ever found yourself wishing you could have a conversation with your thermostat? Probably not, which is why I call the Kelvin Talking Thermostat a solution in search of a problem. Is there a market for a thermostat that talks back? The folks at coolest-gadgets.com seem to think so:

Ever wished you could just communicate with your household appliances in the same manner as with a regular human being? The Kelvin Talking Thermostat does just that - you can adjust the temperature in your humble abode by just speaking into it. In addition you can also get an instant temperature reading by asking the device. This is a great addition to any home, as even the elderly or visually impaired will be able to take charge of the home's temperature with very little or no problem at all.

But in the end, the market for talking thermostats looks pretty small. Maybe that's why VIP is giving them away for free. (photo Kelvin)