Fluid One gives you point-and-click control of your smart home, from your smartphone

By Keyan Riddick Published August 16, 2022

Ever wished you could use your smartphone to control your smart home, beyond just pulling up an app to turn something on or off? We’re now starting to see companies create actual functionality around the Matter initiative . Fluid, a relative newcomer to the smart home field, is building a service on top of Matter to allow you to control smart devices around your home simply by pointing your phone at the device.

Fluid calls this new service Fluid One. You can point your phone at a device, and it will automatically and immediately show you options to control said device. The service also allows for location-based automation and gesture controls. For example, imagine walking around your home and having lights automatically turning on or off depending on how close you are to them.

Fluid One app showing the AR room map and devices. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

This new smart home system’s brains are contained within the Fluid Hub. The hub uses the same Apple ultra wideband chip available from Apple’s iPhone 11 onward to connect to all devices in your home. Once you set up the hub within your home and place four smart nodes on your walls to help with integration and automation, you’ll be able to control your devices with just a click, flick, or step.

Recommended Videos

The Fluid One system will also build an AR rendering of your home floor plan to help with location-based automation. You can see this floor plan, a list, and a graphic of all your smart home devices in a dashboard view on your phone. The view will allow you to monitor and manipulate all of your devices in one area.

With Fluid One, Fluid claims that you no longer have to deal with different menu systems, separate dedicated apps, and microphone usage. It seems that once in “Fluid” mode, your iPhone becomes a remote that can control whatever it’s pointed at. Not only will you be able to do basic on-off commands but you can also change colors, brightness, and volume levels.

The Fluid One system will be compatible with over 20,000 devices from various companies, including Apple, Google, Amazon, and Philips Hue, among others, upon release. Additionally, the company is garnering money and interest for its product through Kickstarter. As such, we don’t have an exact date for when the Fluid One will be released. However, it could be a smart home game-changer if it works properly.

Former Smart Home Author

Keyan Riddick is a freelance writer based in the mountains on North Carolina. When he isn't writing you can find him behind…

Topics

Smart Home

Should you invest in a smart home gym or stick with a gym membership?

Tonal Fitness Smart Mirror

Home gyms have come a long way over the past few years. Instead of a simple workout bench and some weights, you’ll now find smart home gyms that can provide custom workouts tailored to your needs. They can also track your stats, provide advice, showcase lessons, and even sync you with a larger community of users working with the same gear. However, many smart home gyms also require a subscription -- which can range from $15 to $50, making them an expensive proposition.

So, should you invest in a smart home gym or stick with a traditional gym membership? That’s not an easy question to answer, and the truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Some folks might benefit from the ease of access offered by a smart home gym, while others might enjoy the motivation and socialization provided by a traditional gym.

Smart Home

These buttons and dials offer a unique way to access your smart home

The Flic Smart Button on a table.

One of the major pain points of the modern smart home is its digital nature. Whether it’s controlling your smart lights, robot vacuum, smart lock, or thermostat, there’s a good chance you’re using a smartphone for most of your interactions. That makes it less than ideal for other members of the household -- or even guests -- to make changes to your setup. This is where Flic comes into play, as the company offers a lineup of physical buttons and dials so everyone can use your favorite smart devices without the need for a digital interface.

I’ve been testing out both the Flic Smart Buttons and Flic Twist, and while they lack certain functionalities, they’re bound to be a fun addition to most smart homes. That’s especially true if you use Alexa or HomeKit, as both platforms work with the innovative smart buttons.
The Flic app makes setup a breeze

Smart Home

Host a flawless Thanksgiving with these smart home tips

Philips Hue Smart Dimmable LED Smart Light Recipe Kit lifestyle

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you’re worried about hosting a great party this year, know that your smart home is here to help. We’ve pulled together some simple ways your smart home can be optimized to help you host a flawless Thanksgiving. From building a cozy atmosphere with smart lights to setting Quick Replies on your video doorbell, here’s a look at how your smart home can help throw a stress-free Thanksgiving.
Create a temporary smart lock password

Many smart locks allow you to program temporary passcodes -- and this is an incredibly useful feature when you're hosting. Instead of telling all your guests your permanent passcode, you can create a temporary code that’ll only work on Thanksgiving. This ensures your friends and family can let themselves inside your home if you’re busy without giving them free rein to barge in other times of the year. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to create temporary codes on the Yale Assure Lock 2, but you’ll find a similar process available for most other smart locks.
Use Quick Replies on your video doorbell