Strips is a window sensor so thin it’s nearly invisible

By Steve Castle June 19, 2015

Sensative Crowdfunding @ Indiegogo

This was bound to happen in the ever-expanding Internet of Things universe: nearly invisible sensors, or at least what their developer claims are the world’s thinnest magnetic sensors.

Strips by Sensative sounds like a tooth whitener, but this svelte, 3-mm thin sensor hides in the frame of a window or door and communicates with your smartphone or smart home system when you leave a window or door open. It replaces or can be used in lieu of bulky, hulky box-like magnetic sensors that sit on your windowsills like a tumor (and which we once thought were nearly invisible).

Strips comes in two pieces; a tiny magnet that goes on the side of a window or door and a longer sensor that contains a PCB board and a LiMnO2 (Lithium Manganese Dioxide) battery that the company says is good for 10 years.

Related: Huawei Honor 7 could arrive on June 30, and feature a fingerprint sensor

The ultra-thin sensor communicates via the wireless Z-Wave mesh networking protocol, which is used in many smart home products. Strips will send a signal to a Z-Wave-enabled gateway, which then relays a message to your smartphone or smart home system. Hundreds of Z-Wave devices are already on the market.

The company says it is preparing Strips for Z-wave-plus certification to ensure compliance, and is stepping up efforts to verify compliance with common Z-Wave-gateways on the market. So far it has verified Strips’ compliance with the units below:

WeBeHome Gateway
Fibaro Home Center 2
Zipato Zipabox
Vera (Vera 3; Vera Edge)

A future goal is to add a temperature sensor, meaning Strips could communicate with a Z-Wave-enabled thermostat or even motorized shades. The company also plans to develop a vibration sensor to detect break-ins.

Pre-orders are available through an Indiegogo campaign, starting at about $53 US for the sensors, with delivery. The company plans to ship products in November.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Steve Castle’s fascination with technology began as a staff writer for luxury magazine Robb Report, where he reported on…

Smart Home

Ecobee takes on Ring, Arlo with its first smart doorbell camera

The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera install near a door.

Ecobee, known for its lineup of popular smart thermostats, is officially jumping into the world of video doorbells with the aptly named Smart Doorbell Camera. Featuring an impressive 175-degree vertical field of view, premium materials, and the ability to sync with the rest of the Ecobee home security catalog, it's a well-equipped device that's taking aim at big names such as Ring and Arlo.

The big selling point of the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera is its 175-degree field of view, which allows it to capture packages left at your doorstep without cutting off your view of tall guests ringing your doorbell. It also boasts enhanced ability in lowlight situations and records in 1080p.

Smart Home

Ring helps you find your lost furry friend with the Ring Pet Tag

The Ring Pet Tag on a dog collar.

Ring launched the Pet Profile feature in 2022, giving app users an easier way to help locate lost pets. Today, the company is doubling down on its pet-rescuing efforts with the reveal of the Ring Pet Tag -- an affordable gadget designed to make it easier than ever to find your missing companion.

The Ring Pet Tag attaches to your pet’s collar and features a QR code on the back. When someone finds your pet and scans this QR code, you’ll get a notification that your lost companion has been found. And if you’ve set up a Pet Profile, the person who found your pet will get details about their health conditions so they can better watch them until you pick them up.

Smart Home

Philips Hue adds support for cameras and sensors

The Philips Hue Secure Camera on a table.

After years of serving as a hub for smart lights, Philips Hue is officially adding support for security cameras and motion sensors. The news came during the annual IFA Convention, with Philips revealing several new classes of products that can interact with the existing Philips Hue lineup. This includes the Philips Hue Secure Wired Camera, Philips Hue Secure Contact Sensor, and Philips Hue Secure Floodlight.

The Hue Secure Camera boasts 1080p video capture, night vision, motion notifications, two-way audio, and the ability to sync with existing Hue lights to deter unwanted guests. It can also detect whether an alert is caused by a human, pet, or package without needing to access the cloud (resulting in enhanced privacy and security for your footage).