Nest Labs' Nest Protect has a new rival and it's called Birdi, which is a specially designed air sensor that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of poor quality of air in our homes.
Birdi looks like an average smoke detector but that is where the similarity ends. This sensor constantly monitors the levels of pollutants like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the air you breathe. Once the levels hit a certain threshold, Birdi will warn about the danger.
While Birdi sounds like an odd name for an air monitor, it actually makes sense. In the early days when people used to mine for coal and other minerals, miners used small birds to detect whether poisonous gases were starting to build up in the tunnels. When the bird dies, it's time to evacuate. While this may not sound like a good deal for the birds, at least the miners made it out alive.
Birdi connects to a smartphone using a contract free web service. This allows users to save data about the air in their homes and track the statistics over time. In addition to smog warnings, the sensor will also automatically send a notification to your smartphone if its battery is about to run out.
According to the project heads Justin Alvey and Mark Belinsky, "Indoor air quality is 2-8x worse than outdoor. What's the pollution like in your home right now? Most of us have no idea. Yet we're seeing asthma rates continue to rise and bad air is now determined to be a leading cause of cancer. Birdi is the only device that both tracks emergencies and gives you tips about how to improve the air for your family and friends."
Aside from monitoring air quality, Birdi can also alert owners of the presence of fire and pollen. In addition, the sensors can also monitor the levels of humidity and temperature in your home or office. While the device can't actually clean the air you breathe, knowing about the problems in the air in your home can actually help you take extra measures such as adding air filters or ventilating your home.
As of writing, Birdi has raised $13,965 of $50,000 goal on Indiegogo, with 41 days remaining. The device is expected to retail at $119, or $10 less than Nest Protect.
Check out below how Birdi fares against Nest Protect and traditional smoke detector.
