Tiny Remote Is Like a Swiss Army Knife for Your Smartphone

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By Meg Wagner2013-10-10 06:00:19 UTC

Technologists in India have developed a Bluetooth-enabled device that can serve as a lost-and-found, a personal photographer, a pet sitter and a home security system.

Gecko is about the size of a quarter and can be programed to perform a host of functions — kind of like your smartphone's very own Swiss Army knife.

See also: Did You Know Bluetooth Was Named for a Danish King?

Through low-energy Bluetooth technology, Gecko is a tiny wireless remote that lets you control your smartphone by shaking or turning it. You can program certain gestures to make an emergency call or skip to the next track on your playlist. It can be synced to your smartphone's camera or a DSLR to take photos remotely, meaning your selfies aren't limited to your arm's length anymore.

The device can also operate as a motion detector that sends alerts to your phone when it moves. Attach it to a door as a security feature, and you'll receive an alert whenever the door opens. A Gecko attached to your dog's collar will let you know if he escapes from the backyard.

Or you can set it to alert you when things don't move, too. Stick Gecko to loved one's a pill box, and it will send you an alert if the box was not touched at a scheduled time (meaning that a dose was missed).

The device's track-and-find function will also let you track down your smartphone — or any item that Gecko is attached to — if it's misplaced.

Gecko's built-in ambient temperature sensor allows for climate tracking, too. The device can monitor the temperature in your home and send your smartphone an alert if it becomes too hot or too cold. Bahubali Shete, CEO of Connovate Technology Private Limited, the company behind Gecko, said the temperature function is ideal for parents who want to monitor the temperature of their children's rooms. You can pair multiple Geckos to one smartphone.

The Gecko team still needs about $7,000 to reach its $50,000 funding goal on Indiegogo. Backers can pick one up for an early bird pledge of $20. Shete said Gecko will begin shipping by Christmas.

Gecko requires a Bluetooth 4.0 capable device: the iPhone 4S and above, Android phones running Android 4.3 or Samsung devices running 4.2.

Homepage Image: Gecko

Topics: bluetooth, Gadgets, Mobile, Newsy, smartphone, Tech, Work & Play