We’ve already seen past examples of how messaging apps are being used in innovative ways to take advantage of the Internet of Things. In November, we heard about a WeChat remote control for your refrigerator and similarly, we saw a neat little KakaoTalk app that allows you to talk with your appliances.
Now WeChat is looking to move you into the sci-fi-turned-reality world of a smart room controlled entirely with the messaging application:
During this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, we partnered with Ayla Networks and Caesar’s LINQ Hotel & Casino to showcase the first connected suite in Las Vegas, WeChat said on its blog. By scanning a room-specific QR code, WeChatters were able to connect to the suite and control various aspects of the room remotely through their phones via WeChat.
The idea might seem out there, but it’s really not that hard to grasp.
Imagine walking into your hotel room after a big day out and being able to switch on the lights, open the blinds and curtains and play with the room temperature, all from the comfort of your couch or bed. This and more is possible at the LINQ Hotel connected suite where WeChatters can also control how devices interact with each other. For example, users can pre-program the “sleep” scenario on WeChat so that once selected, the room automatically switches off the lights, closes the blinds and curtains and locks the door.
This is an interesting concept that we hope will see the light of day very soon. Would you like living in a smart room?
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