App-controlled switch can dim lights on schedule

Belkin has presented in the recent 2017 Consumer Electronics Show an upgraded version of its WeMo light switch. The second-generation model now packs dimming features for various lighting fixtures.

The new WeMo dimmer light switch that works with its Android and iOS app allows users to choose brightness of lights and the time when it will switch to that setting. The unit can also turn on and off lights according to schedule. It is said to be capable of controlling LED and incandescent lights, and CFLs, and act as a home automation switch that supports Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant and Google Home, and other smart home devices. The indicator light on the capacitive touch switch lets users know what device it is currently working with.

Convenience plus interoperability could be an effective selling point for WeMo because more smart “connected” lighting products are poised to emerge and grow in the coming years. Whether this new version will be a top option remains to be seen, though, for it is not alone in the smart switch race. Other dimmer light switches are also faring well in the industry and getting more innovative, adding touch and home automation capabilities, and Wi-Fi or ZigBee support.