Next time your dinner burns and you quickly wave smoke out the window in a rush to defeat the beeping smoke alarm, you might be able to handle the problem more efficiently.
A prototype for a new smart device called the Canary was developed as a smarter smoke alarm, so people can shut the alarm off through a connected web app on their phone. The multilingual device even sends out alerting chirps if an emergency occurs when someone isn't home as well as updates on issues like battery life.
Yet even more impressive is that the inconspicuous Canary -- which can be mounted on a wall -- was created to improve the lives of people who live in environments with poor air quality -- big cities for instance. It monitors the air quality in their homes or offices, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels, showing exposure over time to help protect those who are most vulnerable, including children and the elderly. It also monitors irritating particulate matter such as pollen, dust and mould.
Mark Belinsky, the lead developer, created the Canary because he was sick of breathing in the pollution of New York City. Although the Canary is not yet on the market, the website mentions that the app is expected to be available soon for use on iPhones, Androids and Blackberries.
Belinksy envisions that one day the device will be placed all over cities to start monitoring how air is impacting lives.
"This is just one device and we would love for developers to access it and build off of our tool to create new innovations," he says in a promotional video.
