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Listnr assists in controlling the Internet of Things with claps, stomps, and snaps

One of the easiest ways to interact with the environment is through sound, and voice-controlled technology is at the forefront of this potential. For instance, Amazon’s Echo is trying to make one’s own voice the cornerstone of the cloud-connected experience. But sometimes, things just don’t have to be that complex.

Billed as a user’s listening assistant, the Listnr pays more attention to sound than to voice. The device’s iOS app allows users to attach connected objects in the homes (like a Philips Hue lightbulb) to actions like clapping, stomping, or snapping fingers. As a result, hands full of groceries or a comfortable position in bed won’t be obstacles to devices in and around the home. In addition, the Wi-Fi-enabled device can send notifications to iPhones, and even identify the emotional tenor of the voices in the room.

Overall, the product can be useful but only with a wide variety of actions. Without that, it just isn’t as compelling. Early birds can grab a Listnr device for $99, due to ship in August of this year. The campaign is looking for $50,000 in funding by March 6.

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Home

Main Drain adjustable urinal spares tired toilets and weathered women from atrocious aim

The humble toilet serves people around the world both silently, and without complaint. Despite this, it still has to put up with a lot of crap. While innocent seats are slam shut in frustration by women who just wish the man in their life would look down every now and then.

Something has got to give, and that something is The Main Drain. Designed to be the alternative to actual home urinals that can go for as much as $800, The Main Drain is made of lightweight, hydrophobic materials. In spite of its sort of ridiculous look, its gaping maw was created with a more sanitary environment in mind. Its curves eliminate splashing, and makes cleaning as easy as spraying whatever cleaner of choice into it. In addition, its fully adjustable construction means that it can work for anyone of any height at any time of the day.

Those looking into the $35 Main Drain would do well to take a look at the Tissue Tablet and Phone Sitter to fully outfit the bathroom for any occasion. The $50,000 campaign is looking to ship the product by July of this year.

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Home

Pon hangs stuff on the wall without puncturing artwork

Hanging up photos and objects at home is a great way to make any room pop. Most use tacks, nails or tape to hang their stuff. The only problem is that tacks can damage posters, nails require expensive frames, and tape can peel paint off of walls.

patent-claimedPon is a hanging system designed for the more thrifty decorator. These metal coils puncture the wall and then grip onto anything from posters to CDs. The object fits snugly inside the coil, which is strong enough to hold a myriad of cool stuff. Pon is made of heat-treated stainless steel, meaning that it will hold its shape even after several uses.

While not the most exciting product in the world, Pon is a nifty little invention, great for college students or young adults who haven’t quite figured out frames yet. It’s made well and can be used in nearly any room in the house, or even at work. One set of 20 will cost backers $7 for delivery in April of this year. Pon hopes to raise $10,000 by March 4.

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Home

FanMaid keeps your ceiling fan from spreading its dust in the wind

Ceiling fans are one of the greatest ways to enhance the heating or cooling system in one’s home. Unfortunately, they are also dust magnets, and cleaning the blades is an absolute pain. FanMaid offers a tool for cleaning ceiling fans that clears the dust off of the top, bottom and even the edges, keeping it from falling all over.

The paint roller-looking gadget has a tensioning hinge that allows for an easy back and forth cleaning motion without having to get on a step ladder. The rollers are replaceable through FanMaid.

One thing that sets this product apart from something like Swiffer Dusters is the dual roller system. This feature seems like it would make FanMaid easier to use and possibly more effective for cleaning ceiling fans. Interested backers might also like to check out Multi-Surface Cleaning Robot and Power Tower. This campaign seeks to raise $50,000 in funding. For $10, backers get one refill pack of FanMaid with an expected delivery in August.

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Home

RollPull lets you keep a convenient stash of toilet paper reserves

One of life’s essential bare necessities is toilet paper. Needing it and not having it absolutely causes a problem. In an effort to enable a reserve supply to be on hand, RollPull was created.

The plastic-looking pole attaches under a bathroom sink, and can hold up to four rolls of life-saving bathroom tissue. It can also be used to create a reserve supply of up to two rolls of paper towels by installing it in the kitchen. It doesn’t appear that any tools are needed to install the product, but it apparently has to be glued into place.

As long as one takes the time to keep an eye on the supply, this product may save its users from a lot of… awkward situations. It would be interesting if someone were to create an app that could somehow alert people to a low toilet paper supply—then no one would have to remember to put that item on the grocery list. That is, as long as they don’t forget their phone. This campaign seeks to raise $48,000 in funding. For $12, backers get one DIY kit with an expected delivery of June 2015.

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Home

PackagePal holds your parcels close, hides them from bad weather and bad guys

Mail order items can be some of the easiest and best money-saving ways to purchase items for one’s home, vehicle or for home entertainment. The problem is that these items usually arrive when the person who ordered them is at work. So in an effort to take the weather worries and theft concerns out of the mail order scenario, PackagePal was created.

No tools are required for what is touted as easy installation, and it keeps packages out of plain sight. The package gets inserted into the giant bag-looking device attached to the door, and then the user writes a message and Mr. or Ms. Postman will just pick up the package.

It’s questionable, however, as to whether either one would leave a delivery in the attachment. Also questionable is whether the package is truly out of plain sight when the gadget itself still seems to be fairly visible. Still, it’s a pretty decent alternative to services like Doorman.co. Interested backers might like to check out Postifier. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 in funding. For $29, backers get one product with an expected delivery of December 2015.

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Home Pets

Vegua fish tank keeps fish as pets, cleans itself with fresh herbs on top

Pets and plants are two of the best things one can have to make a house a home. Both, however, require some maintenance.

The Vegua fish tank provides both the fun of fish and the nutrition of fresh herbs with the least amount of work possible. This mini eco-system keeps itself going with very little help from anyone. The waste from the fish feeds and waters the plants. In turn, the plants consume everything that makes the tank dirty so it never needs to be cleaned. To feed the fish, just put a small amount of food in the compartment on top. Vegua can support a variety of fish and plantlife from goldfish and bloodfin tetras to basil and mint.

We’ve seen other tanks like this one in the past, such as Avo. This is a nifty little idea that brightens up anyone home. It also has the added perk of growing fresh herbs. Too bad it isn’t completely self-sufficient as the fish still need to be fed. For their own, backers can donate €239 (~$364). Vegua is hoping to raise €120,000 (~$182,900) on Kickstarter.

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Home

Dolfi ultrasonic laundry device uses good vibrations to wash out bad stains

The only way to wash delicates and other fragile material is by doing it by hand. This means filling a sink with water and trying hard to work the soap through the fibers. However, the gentle nature of hand washing usually means that the job isn’t ever done well.

Dolfi promises to change all that. This little device shaped like a bar of soap uses ultrasonic technology to wash clothing. To use just fill a sink with water, clothing and detergent and place Dolfi inside. It vibrates providing a gentle way to clean clothing for 30 minutes. Dolfi plugs into the wall, so let’s hope the cord is properly insulated.

As the campaign states, this tool is great for travelers and for those who like to take good care of their unmentionables. Interested backers can have their own for a donation of $89 with delivery in August 2015. Dolfi is hoping to raise $100,000 with the help of Indiegogo.

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Home

MagBlind uses magnets to pick up the slats when they all fall down

Those PVC vertical plastic blinds that come in many apartments or “value” priced newer homes are a great inexpensive way to protect one’s privacy. But if one has pets or small children, it doesn’t take long for a slat or two or more to break. There are very few ways to fix these blinds outside of replacing them – until MagBlind.

The simple, but effective repair kit includes two magnets that attach to the top of the broken slat with 3M tape. Then the metal stem gets inserted into the blinds and the slat stays attached via magnetization. MagBlind is detachable, so one can take it along if moving into a new home with vertical slat blinds.

This seems like an excellent idea and quality product that fixes a very common problem that comes with these blinds. Backers looking for a way to automate these blinds might want to check out EZ Wand, and Tilt My Blinds. This campaign seeks to raise $500 by February 20, 2015. For $2, backers get one repair kit with an expected delivery of March 2015.

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Home

Shower Shimmy makes cleaning less irritating both for mind and body

Cleaning the shower is one of those tasks that ranks right up there with washing the dishes by hand.  So Shower Shimmy was created to not only make that mundane task easier, but also diminish the awful fumes that often come with using cleaning supplies.

At the push of a button, the built-in dispenser releases cleaning solution to the sponge and the user can then wipe soap scum, grime, and hard water deposits off of the shower walls and floor. But this cleaning solution doesn’t irritate the user’s eyes, skin or respiratory system, so ventilation and rubber gloves aren’t necessary.

It’s questionable if such a solution would truly be effective, but the video claims that testing was done to compare Shower Shimmy’s solution and the leading cleaning solution in the US and Canada, and the Shower Shimmy claims that its cleaning solution scored equally well. Plus, it’s still as safe as soap or shampoo around small children. As for where to store the scrubber, it easily hangs on the shower wall. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000 by February 17, 2015. Backers get one product for $23 with an expected delivery of April 2015.