Signify brings to light SpaceSense for the WiZ system, a motion detection technology ‘never-seen-before’ in the consumer lighting industry.
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), global player in lighting, introduces a new app, features and products for its WiZ smart lighting system to enhance daily convenience. It’s maker says WiZ allows everyone to unlock a more comfortable, caring and joyful home thanks to its surprisingly thoughtful ecosystem, which is getting even smarter with the new app, the breakthrough feature SpaceSense and fun new products. The new WiZ app V2 and the SpaceSense feature are available now.
For the first time since its launch in 2016, the WiZ system is revamping its app. The WiZ app is at the core of the WiZ ecosystem, functioning as the enabler of all features in products. With it comes SpaceSense, billed asa never-seen-before innovation in the consumer lighting industry developed by WiZ. This breakthrough feature is based on Wi-Fi sensing technology. It takes home automation to a new level by using Wi-Fi signals that are already present in the room to detect motion – without the need of dedicated sensors and batteries. Wi-Fi signals are slightly disturbed when people move around in a room, like a ripple in a swimming pool. By measuring the small deviations in signal strength caused by those disturbances, WiZ lights can determine if there is an object moving in the room. The detection is omnidirectional and doesn’t require line of sight during installation, like in the case for a traditional motion sensor based on passive InfraRed (PIR) technology. SpaceSense will automagically illuminate rooms, turning the light on when people enter and off when no motion is detected anymore. The sensitivity of the system can be adjusted, for example, to prevent pets from turning the lights on and off while running in and out of the room. Users simply need to install at least two lights per room and connect them with the WiZ app V2. Once SpaceSense is set up, owners can enjoy the comfort of smart lighting without any hassle.
Danny Lousberg, Head of Software Product Management of WiZ, says, “At WiZ, we are on a mission to make smart lighting more accessible and meaningful in daily life. A ground-breaking feature like SpaceSense is yet another major step in bringing this mission to life. For many users the need for extra hardware to enable motion detection in their system felt complex, expensive and cumbersome. Now, for the first time ever, SpaceSense takes those hurdles away, opening up automations and other smart lighting advanced benefits to everyone.”
Privacy and security are of the utmost importance to the WiZ smart lighting system. SpaceSense detects motion by the ripple in Wi-Fi waves created by the user’s motion. It does not detect people’s
exact location nor does it recognise faces. All the detection data is processed locally without going to the Internet or Cloud service. This feature is completely opt-in so all WiZ users can decide themselves whether they would like to make use of it or not. SpaceSense can be enabled for most new products introduced after September 2021 and all Connected by WiZ products – including WiZ brand, Philips Smart LED and other OEM and private label brands.
Take lighting into your own hands
Next to SpaceSense, the WiZ app V2 is full of other surprises and offers new features. The brand-new user interface makes for a more intuitive experience to make people’s everyday life easier.
The new WiZ app V2 was designed for increased control and to make actions as simple as possible: less taps to achieve an intended action; less visual clutter; and smoother interactions. It brings simple room control down to just one tap. It gives owners an overview of all your rooms in the home screen, so they can immediately see whether the lights are on, their level of brightness and the modes used. Just a simple slide of a finger across the room tile can tailor the ambiance to your mood, adjust the brightness or allow users to see groups of devices – it’s quick and smooth.
The Quick actionfeature is here to make lighting control faster and specific to given needs, enabling users to have their own, personalised lighting quick action in the new app. Turn on a bedside lamp for reading time, cosy lights in the dining room for dinner or party lights when in a dancing mood.
The Light Scene managementfeature lets user’s creativity come to life by creating a Scene for a room. With this new feature you can take a snapshot of the current state of the room, tweak light settings as desired, choose which device is affected and name the Scene. Then just call out different Scenes within the app or with Siri voice control and you have an instant change in atmosphere.
Same as the current WiZ App, the new WiZ app V2 is the core of the WiZ ecosystem. All WiZ and Connected by WiZ products that have ever been manufactured are compatible with the WiZ app V2.
Exterior lights
WiZ is moving outside of the home, with its first outdoor luminaire, the multicolor String Light. Light up a garden or balcony with 16 million colour options. Completely waterproof and weatherproof, the String Light offers white and colour lights. With the Dynamic light mode, users can personalise lighting and the 12 LED bulbs will randomly light up multiple colours based on the chosen light mode.