Smart lamp embeds Amazon’s Alexa voice control

Business news | September 20, 2017

By Rich Pell

Wireless Communications LEDlighting Displays & Interfaces Software & Embedded tools

The lamp, called Sol, represents the first time the Alexa service will live inside a lighting product without needing the support of a hub or an Amazon Echo, GE says. It will enable users to create shopping lists, play music, change the thermostat, and light up lamps in other rooms by using their voices.

“Sol is really about extending an experience for consumers, letting them tap into something they use throughout the day – light – to unleash the possibilities of the smart home,” says Jeff Patton, General Manager Connected Home Products, GE Lighting. “It’s breaking boundaries as the first product of its kind, not only for its voice integration but for its unique lighting features designed to help homeowners do more.”

By giving users access to more than 20,000 Alexa skills and enabling them to control all of their Alexa-compatible devices, GE and Amazon see Sol as a way to simplify the smart-home experience.

“We believe that once consumers experience the joy of turning out a light simply by ‘asking’ Alexa, they’ll be even more encouraged to try other smart-home features,” says Charlie Kindel, director of Amazon Alexa Smart Home.

Sol – named after the circular shape and illumination of the sun – features a full spectrum of five different white lights so it can be set to bright daylight or used at night to help users fall asleep. According to Patton, “Sol can help enhance your sleep cycle. Right before sleep, you want a deep amber-color light. But in the morning, you want that blueish crisp light, which helps keep your circadian rhythms on track.”

The lamp includes built-in touch controls, and can also be controlled via a free “C by GE” companion app for iOS and Android devices. It sells for $199.99 at Amazon and CbyGE.com.