CES 2017

Bixi is one of those so-called smart devices that actually serves a useful purpose. It goes beyond that, though, because this small-and-very-portable touch-free controller can be used inside your home’s kitchen (when your fingers may be covered with gunk from cooking), on the dash of your car or truck (when you shouldn’t be taking your eyes off the road to stare at a controller), or even on the handles of your bicycle (where trying to use a phone app directly could be catastrophic)—whenever and wherever you want control of an app, smart device, or an entire smart home system. In fact, the people behind Bixi say it is already compatible with more than 300 apps or devices. Some of Bixi’s less obvious uses are as a snooze alarm, a game pad, or in combination with other Bixis as a musical instrument.

The 2.3-inch diameter Bixi recognizes seven “intuitive gestures” using optical detection; and the feature-packed device is capable of detecting 3D movements with millimeter-level precision up to 20 cm (7.8 inches) from the unit. The top surface of Bixi is covered with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 4, making it rugged enough to use in a variety of outdoor situations.

Bixi has a magnetized back for non-permanent mounting on refrigerator doors, filing cabinets, handlebars, and other metal surfaces. It’s silent in operation—making it a very discrete device to use—and includes Bluetooth Low Energy 4.1 connectivity. The built-in battery lasts up to one month and is recharged using a Micro-USB cable and standard USB charger.

Bixi will be shipping in March, 2017 with a selling price of $99.