New Electronic Door Lock: Just Touch To Open
Look Ma, no key! UniKey electronic door lock can be opened or locked by touch; keys 'sent' via smartphone app
tech.lifegoesstrong
By: Stewart WolpinMay 6, 2013
 |
It
may have a key hole, but this revolutionary but otherwise
orginary-looking UniKey electronic lock does't need a key – you lock and
unlock it by simply touching it.
|
A fellow called Phil Dumas has seemingly done the impossible – he's actually invented a better mousetrap or, more specifically, a better door lock.
No more fumbling for keys with an arm full of
groceries. No more having to figure out how to let a friend or service
workers in when you're not home. No more worrying about losing your
keys.
All you do is touch his new UniKey lock – officially the Kwikset Kevo lock powered by UniKey – with your finger, and it unlocks. Tap it again, and it locks.
But wait, there's more.
You can send "virtual" keys to someone's iPhone/iPad, either on a permanent basis (such as for your wife and/or kids) or on a temporary basis good only at certain prescribed times/dates and time frames (i.e. Tuesday between 2-4pm), such as for a service worker to touch-open your door when you're not home or for a friend to come by and feed your pets. If a friend is staying over and you have to leave, s/he can tap the Kevo to lock the door behind them – but then cannot unlock it again.
All keys are permission-based and each key is uniquely generated to maintain a high level of security.
Plus, all Kevo entries and exists are captured in a log, and you can receive emails or texts when someone uses their virtual key.
And the Kevo UniKey electronic door lock looks just like any other deadbolt lock, as you can see in the photo. Kevo even has a regular key hole for a regular key, just in case.
UniKey is a revolution in door locks, and after chatting with Dumas last week, I can't wait to touch my fingers on one. And I'm not the only one excited; Dumas not only convinced me, he successfully garnered the support and funding from the folks on ABC's Shark Tank last year, which is how Kwikset got connected to UniKey.
You can view Dumas' impressive UniKey Shark Tank demo here.
Why UniKey is better
There are already a number of electronic locks locks with remote capabilities on the market; I described new keyless locks from Yale yesterday.
But while these keypad door locks enable limited remote control, they do require you to remember a passcode and you can't send "virtual" keys – certainly not with any of UniKey's prescribed time limits.
Then there's the promise of NFC (Near Field Communications) to use your smartphone to open door locks. At some point, you'll just tap your phone to a latch and, POOF! – door is open.
But how is fumbling for your smartphone with your arms full of groceries any easier than fumbling for your keys? Plus, if while fumbling for your keys you drop them – big deal. Drop your NFC key smartphone? Uh oh.
It seems rto me much easier to simply reach out and touch.
How it works
UniKey is NOT a bio-metric system – it doesn't identify your fingerprint or anything like that. And it doesn't have to be connected to the Internet.
UniKey is a proximity sensor. It works via Bluetooth 4.0 to transmit a signal from your iPhone/iPad/iTouch (not Android yet) to the UniKey lock when your phone detects your lock is within a prescribed distance. As long as you – with your iPhone – are within this prescribed distance "bubble" with the lock, the smartphone lets you touch the lock to open it.
And your iOS device can stay in your bag or pocket. No fumbling for anything but a free finger.
UniKey's default touch-to-unlock "bubble" range is 10 feet – at this range, someone else walking slightly in front of you would be within the UniKey "bubble" and could touch-open the door. But you can assign a shorter distance.
You don't even need a smartphone. UniKey will come with a key fob pre-paired to the lock that creates the same touch-to-unlock bubble. You just won't be able to send virtual keys around.
And if you lose your smartphone or it gets stolen, you can log into the UniKey Web app to lock its touch-to-unlock capabilities.
And if you upgrade to a new smartphone, just log into the free Kevo UniKey App on your replacement phone, and all your UniKeys transfer to the new phone and are deleted from the old phone.
Kevo operates for about a year on just four AA batteries – the lock flashes to let you know when power is low so dead cells won't lock you out – but even then you still can use a regular Kwikset key.
When and how much?
The UniKey Kevo officially launches today on the Kwikset Kevo Web site in Venetian Bronze, Satin Nickel and Gold; you'll be able to pre-order it sometime next month for delivery in July. It'll come with DIY directions – Dumas says all you need is a screwdriver – or you can get a locksmith to do the dirty work.
How much? No price has been set yet, but Dumas tells me it'll be less than $250 – at the high-end for a high-end lock, but no other lock at any price will provide UniKey's 21st century convenience.
I hope to have more on UniKey's real-life operation when I can get a review sample.
All you do is touch his new UniKey lock – officially the Kwikset Kevo lock powered by UniKey – with your finger, and it unlocks. Tap it again, and it locks.
But wait, there's more.
You can send "virtual" keys to someone's iPhone/iPad, either on a permanent basis (such as for your wife and/or kids) or on a temporary basis good only at certain prescribed times/dates and time frames (i.e. Tuesday between 2-4pm), such as for a service worker to touch-open your door when you're not home or for a friend to come by and feed your pets. If a friend is staying over and you have to leave, s/he can tap the Kevo to lock the door behind them – but then cannot unlock it again.
All keys are permission-based and each key is uniquely generated to maintain a high level of security.
Plus, all Kevo entries and exists are captured in a log, and you can receive emails or texts when someone uses their virtual key.
And the Kevo UniKey electronic door lock looks just like any other deadbolt lock, as you can see in the photo. Kevo even has a regular key hole for a regular key, just in case.
UniKey is a revolution in door locks, and after chatting with Dumas last week, I can't wait to touch my fingers on one. And I'm not the only one excited; Dumas not only convinced me, he successfully garnered the support and funding from the folks on ABC's Shark Tank last year, which is how Kwikset got connected to UniKey.
You can view Dumas' impressive UniKey Shark Tank demo here.
Why UniKey is better
There are already a number of electronic locks locks with remote capabilities on the market; I described new keyless locks from Yale yesterday.
But while these keypad door locks enable limited remote control, they do require you to remember a passcode and you can't send "virtual" keys – certainly not with any of UniKey's prescribed time limits.
Then there's the promise of NFC (Near Field Communications) to use your smartphone to open door locks. At some point, you'll just tap your phone to a latch and, POOF! – door is open.
But how is fumbling for your smartphone with your arms full of groceries any easier than fumbling for your keys? Plus, if while fumbling for your keys you drop them – big deal. Drop your NFC key smartphone? Uh oh.
It seems rto me much easier to simply reach out and touch.
How it works
UniKey is NOT a bio-metric system – it doesn't identify your fingerprint or anything like that. And it doesn't have to be connected to the Internet.
UniKey is a proximity sensor. It works via Bluetooth 4.0 to transmit a signal from your iPhone/iPad/iTouch (not Android yet) to the UniKey lock when your phone detects your lock is within a prescribed distance. As long as you – with your iPhone – are within this prescribed distance "bubble" with the lock, the smartphone lets you touch the lock to open it.
And your iOS device can stay in your bag or pocket. No fumbling for anything but a free finger.
UniKey's default touch-to-unlock "bubble" range is 10 feet – at this range, someone else walking slightly in front of you would be within the UniKey "bubble" and could touch-open the door. But you can assign a shorter distance.
You don't even need a smartphone. UniKey will come with a key fob pre-paired to the lock that creates the same touch-to-unlock bubble. You just won't be able to send virtual keys around.
And if you lose your smartphone or it gets stolen, you can log into the UniKey Web app to lock its touch-to-unlock capabilities.
And if you upgrade to a new smartphone, just log into the free Kevo UniKey App on your replacement phone, and all your UniKeys transfer to the new phone and are deleted from the old phone.
Kevo operates for about a year on just four AA batteries – the lock flashes to let you know when power is low so dead cells won't lock you out – but even then you still can use a regular Kwikset key.
When and how much?
The UniKey Kevo officially launches today on the Kwikset Kevo Web site in Venetian Bronze, Satin Nickel and Gold; you'll be able to pre-order it sometime next month for delivery in July. It'll come with DIY directions – Dumas says all you need is a screwdriver – or you can get a locksmith to do the dirty work.
How much? No price has been set yet, but Dumas tells me it'll be less than $250 – at the high-end for a high-end lock, but no other lock at any price will provide UniKey's 21st century convenience.
I hope to have more on UniKey's real-life operation when I can get a review sample.
