Knowtify smart outlet tracks which appliances are on

Knowtify is the newest smart outlet on the block, letting home owners swap out their traditional dumb outlets with a smart version that can do things like keep track of how much energy is being used. In addition, the company behind it — Home Known — promises that it has some other functionality you wouldn't ordinary imagine an outlet would provide, such as notifications about whether the garage door is open, the washer is finished, the television is on, and more.

That tracking is only possible if the item is plugged into the outlet, of course, which looks at the energy load to determine whether something is cranking away at full speed or is in sleep mode, as an example. It works in conjunction with a mobile app, which registers to an outlet's serial number to monitor its consumption. The outlet itself will be connected to your home's Wi-Fi network.

Using the app and outlet, users can also control appliances to a certain degree, turning a lamp on and off, for example. The outlet itself doesn't have to be replaced, however, with Knowtify instead being a separate unit that plugs into a standard 110VAC outlet.

Knowtify is a new campaign on Indiegogo, where a 44-day campaign is seeking to raise at least $70,000 USD in funding. A single smart outlet can be had for a discounted pledge of $65 USD, and if all goes as planned, the product will start shipping to backers in January 2016.

SOURCE: Indiegogo