Quirky releases a slew of new products, but its focus is still on the bulb

Quirky and General Electric are gearing up for the holidays with a new lineup of connected home products. Despite the wow factor of many of the new offerings, Quirky’s signature smart light bulb is still the star of the show.

Quirky’s home network products are all compatible with the Wink connected home platform. Wink is the result of the partnership between General Electric and Quirky, a company that helps bring inventors’ ideas to market. Wink spun off last year into its own company and has since launched a hub compatible with a series of connected devices.

Among the Quirky products debuted this morning were a window and door sensor called Tripper; a moisture detection device called Overflow; a smart outlet called the Outlink that monitors energy consumption; a programmable light called Tapt; Ascend, a device that enables you to open garage doors with your phone; and Norm, a smart thermostat. All are reasonably priced, ranging from $35 to $90.

The company also announced the takeover of the Buzzell Electric Works building in downtown San Francisco, where Quirky will be setting up what it calls a “microfactory.” The West coast headquarters will be equipped with 3D printers, automated circuit-board assembly, and plastic injection molds, which Quirky founder Ben Kaufman referred to as “toys.” The microfactory will support a new line of built-to-order customizable products under the name Uniq.

The first of these products is called the Spotter, a round, wall-mounted object that looks like a smoke detector. A previous incarnation of this device enabled users to monitor temperature, humidity, the number of lights on, sound levels, and movement within the home through a series of sensors. The Quirky team found from the first release that it was more technology than its consumers actually wanted. Though the device has a lot of functionality, most people used it to monitor their lights and thermostat. The Uniq Spotter is customizable, supplying users with only the sensors required for a specific task. “It’s exactly the product you need,” said Kaufman. The Spotter can also be outfitted in a range of colors.

During the press conference, Kaufman also unveiled interesting statistics about smart device use — like how only a third of people who have ever considered a smart home device have actually bought one. Quirky’s smart home products have amassed about 200,000 users. Kaufman said that’s because smart homes can be intimidating to the average consumer.

“Lightbulbs are the gateway drug to the smart home,” Kaufman said. Already there are very cool ways consumers can connect their homes, but getting consumers onboard with the connected home may be a slow process. While Quirky is launching a lot of new products, the company is still very focused on just getting consumers familiar with its most basic product — a light bulb that can be turned off, on, and dimmed from your mobile phone.

That’s evident within the launch of Wink.com, the company’s website. Kaufman said that the website in many ways is about awareness, helping to familiarize consumers not only with individual products, but with the idea of the connected home itself. The Uniq product line is an extension of that same rationale: Only give consumers the level of technology they think they can handle.

It’s clear Quirky is trying to bridge consumers into a new era, but perhaps not in time for this holiday season. It may take us a few years to get to the future — in the meantime, there are smart light bulbs.