Sentido: A smarter light switch for a smarter home

By Drew Prindle September 15, 2014

sentido smarter light switch home screen shot 2014 09 15 at 11 21 am — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The advent of smart lighting has given rise to an interesting dilemma. On one hand, whipping out your smartphone and firing up an app every time you want to to adjust your lights is oftentimes cumbersome and inconvenient, yet on the other hand, the analog switches on your wall simply don’t allow for adequate control over a high-tech lighting system’s many functions. What we need is a happy medium between the two — something that combines the convenience of a physical wall switch with the advanced control options of a smartphone app.

Enter: Sentido, the latest product from Belgian smart home startup Basalte. It’s essentially a souped up light switch designed with the modern, network-connected home in mind. Instead of a simple on/off flipper, it’s outfitted with four touch-sensitive pads, each of which can be programmed to perform a different function. Tapping one pad by itself could, for example, activate a single light, whereas touching two or more pads simultaneously could activate an entire preset lighting scene. If your lights can change colors or be dimmed, you can easily access those settings by simply sliding your finger up or down on a given pad.

Related: This light controller box is taking home lighting to a whole new level

Under the hood, the switch is also outfitted with a temperature sensor, so while it’s sitting idly on your wall, Sentido gathers room temp data and beams it to your connected thermostat to help regulate your heating and air conditioning systems — assuming you’ve got a smart thermostat, that is.

The device (which recently won a number of awards at this year’s CEDIA expo) is available in a number of different finishes and textures — although details on pricing and availability are hard to come by at this point. Basalte’s website suggests you can get your hands on Sentido at a number of different retailers across the globe, but you’ll have to call for more info. Find out more here.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Smart Home

This is the best smart accessory you didn’t know you needed

Nix Mini 2 color scanner used to capture precise color tones on a toy

Vibrant colors are everywhere — in nature, our daily lives, and even our homes. Sometimes, you come across a color or a shade you really love that you want to recreate, whether for a new paint job, crafts or creative work. If you aren't a master in color theory, it can be tough to reproduce the more subtle and nuanced shades. But what if there was a small, portable smart device that could help you? I want to bring to your attention the Nix Mini 2. It's a color wizard that fits in your pocket and syncs with your phone. It has a built-in high-resolution and precise sensor that scans the color(s) you want and then transmits the data via Bluetooth to your Android or iOS devices. It also integrates with creative apps like Photoshop and Nix Toolkit to "bridge the physical and digital worlds." And get this: it's on sale today for $60, usually $99.

Here's why you would want the Nix Mini 2

Smart Home

What to know before connecting the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra to your drainage system

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra model that hooks up to plumbing.

One of the coolest features of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is its ability to connect to your existing plumbing. This allows it to automatically refill its clean water supply and drain its dirty water after each cleaning cycle. In other words, it turns the robot vacuum into a highly automated floor cleaner that needs little to no manual input.

The most demanding portion of owning this version of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is installing it. Unlike the traditional model, which comes with water reservoirs and plugs into an electrical outlet, this model needs to connect to both your water and drain lines. And depending on how your home is set up, it might be more of a hassle than it's worth.

Smart Home

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Max Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra are two of the newest additions to the Roborock family. Along with having almost identical names, these robot vacuums share much of the same spec sheet -- including the ability to mop and vacuum in a single cycle before automatically emptying their dustbin and cleaning their mops. They're impressive gadgets by all accounts, but since they're wildly expensive, you'll want to carefully compare the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra before adding one to your home.

If you need help, here's a comprehensive look at these two premium robot vacuums, including a comparison of their vacuuming and mops skills, a look at their docking station perks, and a final determination of which is likely best for your needs. Keep in mind that you really can't go wrong with either product -- after all, they're two of the most expensive robots in the category -- but one might be a slightly better fit for your household than the other.
Pricing and availability