Even in the days of water-resistant iPhones, taking a shower with Siri sounds risky. But bathroom fixtures company Moen wants to make it possible, useful and, well, less dangerous with its new smart shower system.
Unveiled at CES 2018 in Las Vegas, the new U by Moen shower system allows users to control the water temperature and other features with voice control, either using Apple’s AI assistant or Amazon’s Alexa via an in-shower control panel.
Moen’s existing in-shower technology meant that users could control temperature, shower heads, handshowers, body sprays and other fixtures using an in-shower control pad, or the U by Moen mobile app. However, now it will also work with voice control.
U by Moen, a HomeKit-compatible smart shower
The new feature means you can ask Siri to start a shower at your desired temperature. The water will then run until it has heated to a certain level, after which it will turn off until you are ready to get in.
In addition to setting the temperature, the Siri and Alexa integration will reportedly include presets such as “morning shower” and “post workout cooldown,” scenarios that utilize different temperatures and shower heads. On the showroom floor at CES, Moen is demonstrating its voice-activated showers with the Amazon Echo. The Siri integration, not demonstrated, will be carried out through Apple’s HomeKit platform.
Pricing for the system ranges from $1,160 for a basic controller and valve system up to $2,200 for a four-outlet, spa-style shower setup. That doesn’t include the shower head you’ll need or the cost of actually getting it installed, though.
Source: Engadget
