• iRemoTap: Power Strip with Built-In Wi-Fi (Video)

    Serkan Toto

    Dr. Serkan Toto is an independent consultant and advisor focusing on Japan’s web, mobile and social gaming industries. Based in Tokyo, he works together with financial institutions and startups worldwide. Serkan has been the Japan contributor for TechCrunch.com since 2008. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. → Learn More

    Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

    Japan-based Ubiquitous has developed [JP] a power strip with a built-in Wi-Fi module. Dubbed iRemoTap, the strip allows you to do two things: you can track which of the connected devices consumes how much energy on a PC or cell phone in real-time, and you can turn on or off each of these devices remotely.

    If energy consumption of a connected device in your household exceeds a pre-set level, the iRemoTap can automatically send out an email or tweet so you can take action. It works a little like the Energy Literacy Platform, which is also made by a Japanese company (we reported in December).

    The iRemoTap is just a prototype at this point – but an early sign that the Internet of Things is upon us.

    This video (in English, shot by Diginfonews in Tokyo) shows the iRemoTap in action: