Dubbed GLAS, the smart thermostat by Johnson Controls can now be controlled by digital voice assistants, Alexa and Google Assistant, other than initially integrated Cortana. Announced at CES this year, Johnson Controls has started taking pre-orders for GLAS smart thermostat from today and the shipping will begin from August 24.
Pioneer in building heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVACs), Johnson Controls has developed a next-generation GLAS smart thermostat, an apt answer to leading market players including Nest, Ecobee and Honeywell.
Microsoft IoT Device
GLAS is the only second Cortana-powered device available in the market preceded by Harman Kardon’s Invoke speaker. This smart home device runs on Microsoft’s Windows 10 Internet of Things (IoT) Core operating system and supports Azure Cloud. The smart thermostat is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 410E processor, Wi-fi and Bluetooth.
Since the Redmond Company’s voice assistant is not so popular among smart home ecosystem, Johnson Controls took a smart step by integrating Alexa and Google Assistant support. Now the latter company has increased the scope of blending the smart thermostat with other prominent voice-enabled smart home devices.
GLAS Smart Thermostat Specifications
Though the GLAS smart thermostat can be controlled via multiple digital voice assistants, only Cortana system is embedded into it for direct interactions. The owner can use Alexa or Google Assistant features through connecting the device to an Echo device or Google Home speaker, respectively.
Besides Alexa, Google Assistant and Cortana support, this IoT device can also be controlled via OLED touchscreen controls.
With a non-obstructive translucent interface, GLAS smart thermostat enhances aesthetic appeal when mounted on a room’s wall. Beneath the screen is a wide 6-inch plastic base encompassing electronics board.
Functions of GLAS Smart Thermostat
This IoT device measures indoor and outdoor temperatures. It lets the owners adjust the indoor temperature accordingly by displaying current settings for air conditioning and heating systems. The screen also showcases energy consumption statistics of the HVAC system.
Moreover, GLAS smart thermostat checks air humidity, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and equivalent CO2 (eCO2) levels present in the surroundings to make the air healthy. In fact, the system is designed to understand the household’s schedule within a short time and automatically switch on fans and/or ventilation devices to balance the air quality inside.
Johnson Controls has developed mobile applications for GLAS smart thermostat that are compatible both with Android and iOS devices. So the owners can remotely control the thermostat and set the temperature from anywhere and anytime.
Furthermore, the partnership with Microsoft enabled Johnson Controls to sync schedules with Microsoft Outlook app and hence the smart thermostat will know in advance when the occupants are not present at home.
Delivering a perfect mix of form and function, GLAS Smart Thermostat is now available online for $319.
