IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 24

RESOURCES_START-UPS

proFile: supermeChAniCAl
the Company's twine sensors
simplify home monitoring

24

|

FEB 2013

|

NORTh AMERICAN

|

SPECTRUM.IEEE.ORG

SMART SQUARE: Owners can drop battery-powered
Twine sensors around their homes to remotely monitor
conditions such as temperature and moisture.

selections from a set of conditions and actions.
For example, a rule might read, "WHEN magnetic
switch is open, THEN text 'Pool gate is open!' "
John Kestner and David Carr founded Supermechanical in 2011. Kestner, an industrial
designer by trade, approached Carr about commercializing some of their Media Lab projects.
After their first product idea-a table that incorporated its own encoded design files etched
in aluminum for easy modifications or repairs-
failed to generate consumer interest, they went
back to the drawing board. "We realized that
so many things we wanted to do relied on connectedness," Carr says. "We wanted what became Twine to reach my mom. It needed to not
be intimidating. We also wanted it to be rugged.

supermeChaniCal

he ide a of a smart home ha s Be e n around for
decades. But until now, you had to be very wealthy-or very nerdy-
to have one. A number of companies are aiming to change that, and
one of them is supermechanical, an Austin, texas-based spin-off from mit's
media lab. * the company's first product is twine. For us $125, you get a durable rubbery square, 68.5 millimeters on a side, that can text, tweet, or e-mail
alerts when specific changes occur in your home. each twine block incorporates Wi-Fi, internal temperature and orientation sensors, and a headset-jackstyle connector for adding an optional moisture sensor or magnetic switch.
(nerds can still play along, adding their own analog or digital sensors with a
breakout board that provides terminals for signals and power.) A block will run
for months on two AAA batteries before sending an e-mail to tell you that it's
time to change the batteries. * the alerts you get, and the rules for when you
get them, are configured via a companion website hosted by supermechanical.
simple instructions on how to connect your twine block to the site, via a Wi-Fi
network, are molded into the rubber case. the rules are created by making

T



http://SPECTRUM.IEEE.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Spectrum February, 2013

IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - Cover1
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - Cover2
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 1
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 2
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 3
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 4
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 5
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 6
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 7
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 8
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 9
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 10
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 11
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 12
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 13
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 14
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 15
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 16
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 17
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 18
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 19
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 20
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 21
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 22
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 23
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 24
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 25
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 26
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 27
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 28
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 29
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 30
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 31
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 32
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 33
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 34
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 35
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 36
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 37
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 38
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 39
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 40
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 41
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 42
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 43
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 44
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 45
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 46
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 47
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 48
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 49
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 50
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 51
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 52
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 53
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 54
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 55
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 56
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 57
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 58
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 59
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 60
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 61
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 62
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 63
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 64
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 65
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 66
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 67
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 68
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 69
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 70
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 71
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - 72
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - Cover3
IEEE Spectrum February, 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0107
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com