Nest For Window Units Monolyth
A couple moths back we told you about the Sensibo, a device that turned any A/C unit into a smart unit. Today, however, we came across a similar product: Monolyth. The Monolyth was built by Entia, a Slovenian company that has already built a bunch of different smart home products. We had a chance to speak with the Entia team about the Monolyth and their Indiegogo campaign:
What is Entia?
Entia is active in the areas of R&D, production and implementation of Smart home products. Under own brand name ENTIAliving, Entia has designed a cloud-based home automation system primarily intended for integration into residential buildings (apartments, houses).
Why did you build the Monolyth?
We looked at the window / wall AC units and the problem is that most of them offer only basic programmability. So for example, prior to leaving the house you can either turn it on or leave it off, or you can actually attempt to set up some basic programing. However there is no need to leave the AC units on while you are away. Using multiple sensors and geo fencing Monolyth will know when you are away and turn the AC off. However it will know when you are coming home and create a comfortable environment prior to your arrival. The Monolyth will optimize your comfort and save energy.
How is the Monolyth different from what is currently available?
In addition to standard functionality found in some Smart AC devices and gadgets, Monolyth brings critical features to the market that are not available in other devices. First, the ability to historically track behavior and habits regarding your air conditioning. However, much more importantly the ability to measure Volatile Organic Compounds in our living spaces. These VOCs chemicals are all around us and we don’t know it. Monolyth let’s you analyze and control your environment and helps you save energy. In addition we offer developers an open API and plan to integrate the Monolyth into 3rd party systems.
Tell us your founding story. Was there an “ah ha” moment?
Well-known brands such as Nest, offer a complete solution for those with central heating and cooling systems in their homes. Monolyth addresses the ignored mass – the urban market. Most city dwellers all over the world use window and wall AC units. Monolyth is bringing the same solution for urban apartments without central heating and cooling.
Tell us about your founding team and their backgrounds.
Monolyth was designed and developed by Entia, a company that specializes in home automation systems. Entia strives to produce products that make people’s everyday lives more convenient and energy-efficient available to everyone.
Entia was founded in 2009 by Mark Umberger Ph.D., Luka Mali and Miha Jelenc, who met during their time in the Laboratory for Telecommunications at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (LTFE) in the University in Ljubljana. Mark Umberger, now the CEO of Entia, dedicated his Ph.D. thesis to the Integration of home-automation and IP TV system and services. From that, the product ENTIAliving was born in 2010. It became one of the few cloud-based, smart home systems offering all the functionality of the other luxury smart home systems while also adding cloud related advantages, such as worldwide monitoring, remote control and remote management – all at an affordable price.
What’s the next step? What are your short-term goals?
Short term goal is to have a successful campaign on Indiegogo and to start the production. If funded we plan to deliver the product to the market in February 2015.
Where can people find out more?
Press release: http://monolyth.isebox.net/
Indiegogo: http://igg.me/at/mnlth
Monolyth website: www.monolyth.co
Company website: www.entia.si
