Decide what to buy: the Reevoo.com blog

I think I’ve discovered the dumbest invention in history. American firm Schlage have released plans to launch their Z-Wave Web-Enabled Door Locks by the end of this year. I’ll explain what all this Z-Wave business is in a minute but basically, they’ve decided to bring out locks that you can open and close on the internet.

Their line of conventional keypad locks proved very successful and wiped out most of the competition but they really should have stopped there. Following the locks’ success it was genius general manager Dwight Gibson who said "Wow, it would really be great to manage these things remotely!"Good move, Dwight.

Here’s how the burglar’s paradise ‘lock’ works: The battery-operated locks communicate with a Z-Wave gateway that connects to any broadband router (Z- Wave is wireless system that uses radio waves so that all of your electronics can ‘talk’ to each other.  You can manage it all remotely, for example, through your mobile on online, so that you don’t have to be anywhere near your house).

This gateway creates handy web pages so that you can manage your locks. You can lock and unlock doors and even keep an eye on your visitors.

I have to say that it does sound pretty useful…until you think of all of the hackers and generally unpleasant people that will be oh so happy to break into your system and help themselves to all of your hard-earned possessions.

Dwight goes on to say that this move is in line with the firm’s objective of "trying to pick up the pace in innovation" and when questioned on price, he ensures they’ll be "affordable". Well, it’s good to know that while you could lose everything you have, at least you’ll be able to save a few bob in the process.  Coming soon to a crime spot near you.

Find out more from the guys at Gadget Lab.

Tags: Home and DIY, Locks

Blog posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 11:23 am under Mobile Phones, gadgets. Leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.