Since the invention of modern lightbulbs, they have served their function well by illuminating homes, streets and cities. Thanks to advances in technology, and the Internet of Things, companies with strong integrative capabilities, as well as bit of imagination, are able to add more functions to lightbulbs, making them more valuable to users.
Since the invention of modern lightbulbs, they have served their function well by illuminating homes, streets and cities. Thanks to advances in technology, and the Internet of Things, companies with strong integrative capabilities, as well as a bit of imagination, are able to add more functions to lightbulbs, making them more valuable to users.
Examples of these include lightbulbs integrated with smoke detectors, cameras, and even mosquito zappers, all developed by French company Sino Digit Technology, which uses the brand Bell & Wyson globally. Sino Digit was an exhibitor at Computex earlier in June.
“Our vision was to build IoT products that consumers can use daily, and we found lighting a good option for us,” said Fabrice Vossier, CEO of Sino Digit, which was founded in 2013. “As a startup, we design LED bulbs which can be complemented by modules, for example camera and smoke detectors, that add value to users.”
For example, the LED Wi-Fi bulb with smoke detector, which the company debuted in 2013, is a device that not only lights up the house but also senses fire or smoke as it occurs. The device is connected to the Internet by way of Wi-Fi and can send an alert to the user’s smart or wearable device immediately no matter where they are. Meanwhile, the bulb, with 600 Lumens and featuring warm and cold colors, can be controlled from the smartphone as well via an app.
Even a camera can be attached to the lightbulb for security reasons, able to detect visitors or people coming to the house. A notification can also be transmitted to the user’s smartphone upon the camera’s detection of visitors or individuals.
The story doesn’t end here. In another bulb, a mosquito zapper is integrated: a built-in IR sensor detects the mosquito, triggering UV light and CO2 to activate to lure the mosquito into the zapper, where it’s killed. “It’s precisely this reason that this device has done well in certain parts of Asia, South Africa, and even the U.S. and Europe,” Vossier said. “Certain regions have longer mosquito seasons, and they find this helpful.”
The company is based in France, where product design and some manufacturing is done. All other manufacturing operations are done in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Taiwan.
The company goes through food, IT and DIY channels, with products also available virtually, for example through Amazon.com. The company goes through distributors globally, except for France and Germany where it does the distribution itself.
Product Adopted:Building