Remote smart health smart health connected object controller Review smart health innovation

Imagine your hands covered with soap or greasy when you receive a call on your smartphone. How to do ? The French company Bluemint Labs, based in Grenoble, has developed Bixi, a small programmable box. It offers a gestural interface to perform certain actions such as picking up a call with a simple movement. After a Kickstarter campaign starting on October 25, the device will be delivered in January 2017. In just 4 hours, the Bixi has already reached the expected sum. The editorial team received it in preview and presents its Review to you.

Mark : Bluemint LabsCategory: Contactless remote controlConnection: BluetoothCompatibility: iOS and Android / smart health connected objectsPrice: $ 79 (base price) then $ 59 to $ 69 for the first participantsAvailability: January 2017Tested with: iPhone 5s / Samung Galaxy S6

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDY_XYjnseg (/ embed) 

Bixi design and ergonomics

The very thin Bixi is no more than a centimeter thick and is hexagonal in shape. More specifically, the designers gave it this name because, in Chinese, it means turtle. The device therefore takes on the forms of the famous animal half marine half terrestrial.

Just like the turtle, Bixi is compact and very robust in appearance. It may fall a few times without breaking on all sides. Its entirely smooth surface makes it quite pleasant to the touch. In the center, there are 9 small LEDs arranged in a cross just above the inscription "bixit". Writing has a childish and friendly side.

Bixi weighs just 30 grams with a diameter of about 6 centimeters. The edges are surrounded by a circular rubber protection available in several colors. Below, hide a micro USB port and one flat button on the left side.

Using the Bixi

Bixi works continuously, it is always ready to use. It connects wirelessly to any smartphone, tablet, TV, GoPro camera, computer and certain smart health connected devices. If you can't find it in your device list, just press the Reset button to perform the reset.

Using the Bixi is very simple. Start by bringing your hand above the device up to 25 centimeters. A small blue light will then appear in the center. All that remains is to do the right gesture on demand previously configured. The sensor recognizes eight, from the placing of the hand on Bixi, passing through the transverse and horizontal gestures from left to right, from top to bottom and vice versa.

Please note, all gestures begin when the hand is in front of Bixi. They end when it is outside the detection zone. LEDs shine to follow the direction of your gesture. Getting started requires only a few tries and is very quick and easy.

The movements activate various functions such as controlling the volume of sound or light. Bixi is compatible with many objects such as Bose speakers and with classic applications such as Youtube, Spotify or Deezer. At health home, the sensor also works with the Philips Hue lighting system, Lifx bulbs, Sony TV and Apple TV.

We started by testing the Bixi with the Deezer app. As with every request, the hand, facing the device, lights up the blue LED. To increase or decrease the volume, just hold your gesture until the green light comes in the center. From there, raise your hand or bring it closer to the Bixi to adjust the volume. Be careful with withdraw his hand horizontally at the risk of losing control.

Use with Lifx bulb also proved to be successful. Through the application, which we will describe later, just choose the gestures to control the intensity and others for color changes. The bixi provides quicker access to these functionalities, accessible in the depths of the lighting system application.

The Bixi is particularly useful for driving or cycling. No need to take your eyes off the road to hang up a call or change the music. He is accompanied magnetic accessories as supports for the handlebars and a clip for automobile radiators.

Bixi controls even more apps and objects with IFTTT (If This Then That). It’s a kind of wizard to automate daily tasks between different web services, mobile applications, and smart health connected objects.

Finally, the Bixi recharges via the micro USB port concealed behind the rubber protection. When the battery is low, the Red light in the center of the device lights up.

Bixi features

Bixi connects via Bluetooth with smartphones. Like the turtle, it has a solid shell with Gorilla Glass. It is a type of glass marketed by Corning for the electronic devices market which is characterized by its finesse, its solidity and its scratch resistance.

In order to recognize the movements, Bixi works with optical sensors. The device also resists splashes, ideal for outdoor activities.

Constantly on, the sensor works from 3 weeks to two months depending on usage on a single charge via micro USB. Another wink in reference to the longevity of turtles. The battery requires one to two hours for a full recharge.

Application

The application is free and available on iOS and Android. It establishes the link with the other applications of the smartphone and smart health connected objects using Bluetooth or WiFi wireless links.

Two profiles are available under the Bixi application, and by default are programmed on music. By clicking on their icon, located on the bottom of the screen, we access the list of other devices. Just select the desired profile and click on "Sync" to save the changes.

To go from one profile to the second, you have to bring your hand in front of Bixi and perform a tap-gest, in other words, a sharp movement towards the device. The first Tap will show you the current profile and a second Tap will select the second. The LEDs will shine on the left to announce that the profile chosen is the one on the left on the application and on the right for the one on the right of the screen.

If you are often on the road, the application contains a travel icon to avoid false handling during transport. For that, it simply deactivates the sensors of the Bixi. A second press on the icon will restore the device to full capacity.

To control the lighting, simply follow the instructions on the screen of your smartphone. You choose the gesture that corresponds to the desired color or to switching off and on the light.

The interface is simple and quick to use. The icons are very distinct, it only remains to select the one that interests you. The application closes a few times, but let's be optimistic, it is still under development.

Against competition

Bixi's market launch should come after crowdfunding campaign, from January 2017. The startup Bluemint Labs has raised more than $ 35,000 on Kickstarter in a few hours and it just goes up. The first participants can get the Bixi for $ 59, but, when it is marketed, it will sell for $ 79.

On the same type of market is also the Flic, a smart health connected button. It also connects with the various smart health connected objects in the house. However, it only obeys pressure and therefore requires physical contact. Another assistant, Nuimo, displays the same characteristics but has fewer controls. As for the Ring Zero ring, the first version had a total flop and the second edition sells for around $ 150.

Conclusion

Good points

• An innovative concept and good functionality

• Pleasant design and ergonomics

• Little price

Negative points

• Application to improve

• Not enough compatible devices yet

Overview

Design and ergonomics: Compact and successfulFeatures: Innovative with good autonomyApplication: Simple to handleValue for money: A fairly low price for this type of product

(Review) Bixi: control your smart health connected objects without touching them 

Reviewed by Sebastien  

we 2016-10-25

   Design and ergonomics: Compact and successfulFeatures: Innovative with good autonomyApplication: Simple to handleValue for money: A fairly low price for this type of product

Rating: 3.9 

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