Jordan O'BrienThe ultra-futuristic GLAS Cortana-powered thermostat will soon be available to pre-order, with Johnson Controls confirming that prospective buyers will be able to purchase the device in March.
There’s no end to the number of smart thermostats that are available to purchase, with devices from Nest, Honeywell, Hive, and Netatmo proving popular amongst consumers. Microsoft teamed up with Johnson Controls in the summer of 2017, however, to offer its take on the smart thermostat market. The result? A super sleek, transparent thermostat that called GLAS.
Unlike the Nest, which can be controlled from other devices, or by rotating the device itself, the GLAS packs a touchscreen for controlling the temperature, as well as a dedicated microphone for communicating with Microsoft’s Cortana voice assistant. Microsoft has been slow to react to the rapidly changing smart AI market, but Cortana should be more than capable of taking commands for turning up and down the temperature.
In addition to support for temperature controls, GLAS will also allow users to check their energy usage, keep an eye on air quality, and even view calendar information. This makes it perfect for both commercial and residential buildings, which is exactly what Johnson Controls wanted from GLAS.
Those wanting to make their homes look like a set from Iron Man will have to be prepared to pay a little more, however. The GLAS thermostat will be available for pre-order in March for $319, a huge premium over the Nest Learning Thermostat.