[November 18, 2014]

littleBits Launches Smart Home Kit

littleBits Electronics, the company aiming to democratize hardware, today announced the launch of the littleBits Smart Home Kit, the ultimate kit of parts to turn any home into a smart home. With this unveil, littleBits is extending the power of the recently launched cloudBit™, which lets you "snap the internet to anything", making it possible for anyone to DIY their own smart devices.

"Our mission is to put the power of electronics in the hands of everyone, and to break down complex technologies so that anyone can build, prototype, and invent. Democratizing the smart home industry is one more step in delivering on that promise," said Ayah Bdeir, founder and CEO of littleBits. "The Smart Home Kit is giving people the power and opportunity to take the Internet of Things movement into their own hands, and bring their home to the 21st century, on their own terms. Now you can recreate a popular smart device, retrofit an old appliance, or invent something entirely new that may be the next big thing."

In 2013, there were a mere 5.5 million connected homes in the United States. In the next two years, that number will increase to more than 31 million with the market poised to become a $71 billion industry by 2018. Today, companies are telling you to throw out all of your "dumb" home appliances and buy their new "smart" versions: from coffee machines and lights to speakers and refrigerators. This approach is expensive, unrealistic, and unnecessary. With the launch of the littleBits Smart Home Kit, an industry that has been the domain of expert installers and required steep fiancial investments, is now accessible to everyone.

The littleBits Smart Home Kit has already been used to create some popular applications such as smart refrigerators, internet connected speakers and smart lighting system. But more importantly, the Smart Home Kit allows people to build solutions that are completely new and unique such as retrofitted curtains to open at sunrise, remote feeders that respond to quirky pets, and a toilet paper roll that keeps you stocked. The possibilities are infinite.

The Smart Home Kit comes with 14 Bits, including the instrumental cloudBit, and five brand new Bits: MP3 player, Threshold, Number, Temperature Sensor, and IR transmitter. Also included is an infographic poster with 14 projects ideas and 11 accessories - including the brand new AC switch, which connects the littleBits 5V system to AC power (110V). It's available online starting today for $249 at littleBits.cc/kits/smart-home-kit .

Additionally, this month littleBits rolled out its products to RadioShack stores across the U.S. The retail partnership was first announced in June among select stores and as of now is extended to include 2,000 stores nationwide. Beginning in December, the Smart Home Kit will be available in select RadioShack locations.

About littleBits

littleBits (www.littleBits.cc) is the New York-based company putting the power of electronics in the hands of everyone. The company makes a library of electronic modules that snap together with magnets to let anyone build, invent, and prototype with electronics -- no soldering, wiring, or programming required. littleBits breaks down complex technology - from music with the littleBits Synth Kit, to space exploration with the littleBits Space Kit, and the Internet of Things with the Smart Home Kit - and makes it accessible and modular. The company was founded in 2011 by MIT (News - Alert) graduate, TED Senior Fellow and cofounder of the Open Hardware Summit, Ayah Bdeir, and has grown to be a global leader in hardware. The littleBits library includes more than five kits and 67 interoperable modules with products sold in 70 countries around the world.

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