Panasonic Ora brings together the smart home of the future

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2016, Smart Home, Videos, Wireless / WiFi

If you've been an early adopter of smart home technology, you've probably recognized just how cumbersome it all can be. As cool and futuristic as the devices themselves are, it gets old having to jump in and out of multiple apps in order to turn on your smart lights, lock your smart lock-equipped door, set your security system, manage your thermostat, etc. In fact, the average home has over 100 devices that can potentially connect to the Internet, as I learned when Panasonic told me about its Ora technology that looks to power the smart home of the future.

With Ora, homeowners are able to control almost all of these devices from one central console, staying agnostic about what specific technology the devices use to communicate, while also not caring about manufacturer. Examples here include devices that use Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, and more. It's definitely needed.

Panasonic announced that it's partnering with Xcel, an energy provider in Midwestern and Western states in the US, to start a pilot test of Ora that will include energy monitoring that will help the system get better at keeping your house running efficiently. The company is also working with Honeywell to tie it's home security and thermostats into Ora as well.

You can see more from the Panasonic Smart Town at CES!

Panasonic sponsored our CES 2016 coverage - all thoughts and opinions, however, are my own.