Swidget: A Modular Smart Outlet

Smart home technology is, as Swidget’s Kickstarter video puts it, “establishing a presence in our everyday lives.” Despite many exciting possibilities, there are already countless competing systems flooding this very new market. In turn, this means that if you don’t select the right one, you may end up with something that is prematurely obsolete, or perhaps even a variety of them that don’t quite work together as you planned.

Swidget, available on Kickstarter, takes a different approach to this problem in the form of outlets that are installed and used normally, but include a cavity in the middle for expansion modules.

The platform is comprised of two parts: the outlet and inserts. By swapping in/out different inserts — which can be controlled via mobile app or your existing smart home hub — you can now easily add diverse functionalities, such as a motion sensor, a nightlight, a video camera, a carbon monoxide detector, or something as simple and useful as a USB charger.

In addition to that, the inserts can connect to an ever-growing list of protocols like Wi-Fi, Z-Wave and ZigBee, and could even extend access to Amazon’s Alexa or other voice-activated AI assistants.

A development kit is also available for third parties to create their own devices, opening up the Swidget’s possibilities even further. You can learn more and back the smart outlet for yourself on Kickstarter, where early bird pledges start at $38. Delivery is slated for June 2018.