After the invention of the first thermostat 135 years ago, Johnson Controls has introduced the first smart thermostat at CES 2018. Named GLAS, this unique thermostat is powered by Windows 10 IoT Core and Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant. This smart device is equipped with 5.9-inch translucent OLED Samsung display.
The thermostat is powered by Cortana, which the consumer can use with voice controls to do all of the things Cortana is capable of and also control the thermostat itself.
Coming to the thermostat’s features, GLAS has temperature controls, weather forecasts, and also has three sensors inside to monitor air quality automatically. The user can install this thermostat all by himself and can easily adjust, refine and redefine their space with simple voice control.
GLAS can do a lot of the smart thermostat features you’d find in rival units from Nest or Ecobee. Johnson Controls has built wire guides into the device and has a mobile app that can control settings on the thermostat. The interface is simple to use, there’s a home screen that provides air quality information and local weather, and quick links to the settings.
Johnson Controls to start accepting preorders for the GLAS in March, priced at $319. That’s more than the $249 for an Ecobee thermostat with Alexa, and you don’t get the option of Alexa or Google Assistant on the GLAS yet. Johnson Controls isn’t ruling out those assistants from appearing on the GLAS in a future software update, but for now, you’re paying the extra cash for the uniqueness of a translucent thermostat that will look great on a wall.
Johnson Controls has basic voice feedback for Cortana right now, without any visual response. This will change once the device ships later this year, but for now, the little blue circle of Cortana is all we got to see.
