Nest opens up exciting developer program for better connected homes
It feels like the connected home dream is moving as fast as it ever has in 2014. Nest, one of the most promising players in this space (which is even more true now that they’re under Google’s wing), has announced the launch of their open developers’ program.
Developers are invited to create solutions that interact with and work with Nest products to make your smart home even more effective. For instance, the Nest Protect smoke detector could flash LIFX lightbulbs red whenever an alarm is going off, so you get a visual cue as well as the typical audio-based alarm you’re used to. Away from home on vacation? Thwart potential burglars by automatically turning your lights on throughout the day.
Driving home from work? A Mercedes-Benz can let your Nest thermostat know that you’re on the way and that it should turn up the heat or cool things down. Jawbone’s Up24 band can communicate sleep cycle information with your Nest thermostat so your home can be properly cooled or heated before you wake up (no more shivers out of bed!).
Exciting, no? Nest’s small (yet capable) roster of products positions them squarely in the middle of a very exciting ecosystem that is growing faster than ever, and with these latest initiatives we should see the scene begin to explode a great deal. Here’s hoping there’s more to see once Google I/O kicks off tomorrow. Developers interested in signing up to develop their own wares can apply using the sign-up form right here.