> We funded the Lockitron guys back in the summer of '09—that's them at their YC interview. A year after YC, they were still figuring out their idea. They lived with the Wepay guys and one day the Wepays had a party for their investors. By that point the Lockitrons were working on a product to lock your door with an iPhone. They were able to impress one of the investors with their prototype, and he asked to have 40 installed in some startup offices he owned. The founders were psyched, but the commercial locks they needed to use cost $500 a pop. They didn't have $20,000 to fulfill an order that big. So they went around to the local locksmiths and scrapyards, buying broken locks for about $10 each. They fixed them themselves and were able to deliver on that order.
It really pays to check how ones company name sounds in different languages. Because in some cases connotations could be not even funny :( For example in russian, lockitron sounds very similar to 'lohotron' which translates as con game, scam etc.
If you want to say "You're a retard" in German you'd say "Du bist ein Mongo". Mongo being short for mongoloid and just as `politically incorrect` as retard is in the English speaking world. If anything the name made the product more memorable for me (and I use it almost every day now)
If anybody at Matasano is reading this, I want you guys to know something. In South America, matasano (also one word) transliterates to "killer of the healthy" and means "doctor who does more harm than good." It's slang, of course, similar to "shrink" and connotes...exactly what it means.
I'd wager that nearly any name is going to sound bad in some language. I don't know how important it really is to pay attention to this. If the Russian market ends up being important for them somehow, they can always make a new name for the Russian market.
But this is only relevant if they plan to expand to Russia.
The Chevy "Nova" was a good name in English speaking countries, they should have checked what the name sounds like in Spanish. So basically the point here is translate your product before entering new language markets.
As someone who lives with three adult roommates who all have S.O.'s we have people in and out all the time.
As someone who lived by himself in college it was nice to know when the landlord came by.
As someone who runs a startup, it provides more benefit than a typical modern access control system without the $3000 price tag.
For American locks, the deadbolt provides most of the security. The handle can usually be loided and is kind of only useful if you're stepping out for a minute to grab the mail and want to shut the door behind you.
For letting someone in remotely, you usually have an idea that they're coming over first. If they were to show up unsolicited, you would likely call first.
To answer your questions:
1) Why? Faster than keys. And I might forget my keys, but I won't forget my phone. Also, if a neighbor wants to borrow something, I can let them in remotely and lock the door behind me.
2) No, but I often am not sure if I locked the door or not. Or see the above example with a neighbor.
3) I don't see how that's relevant. If I'm home, I'll walk over and open the door. Or if they yell "It's John!" then I'll open it for them.
4) Nope, not in my apartment. And at my family home we never used the knob lock, only the deadbolt.
I haven't ordered one, but I could see it being useful to give access to certain people at certain times. Like if you're using AirBnB you can give someone temp access, or if you want to give new employees access to the office without having to make more keys/cards.
edit: You could also use it to detect when the deadbolt is used, presumably when someone you know enters/leaves, since a burglar would probably not use the deadbolt ;)
If you are out (at work or on holiday), but you need a maid or repair person to have access to your house, I'm guessing with this you can:
a) grant them access without the hassle of getting another key cut and less of the awkwardness of trusting them with a key (if they're worried you'll point the finger at them if you're burgled);
b) have a record of the times they made entry (and they'll know you have it, so it'll reduce your fear of them burgling you some other time using the key you gave them);
c) revoke access without the hassle of changing the locks (and giving a new key to all the other people you've granted access to) or the fear that they may have made a copy of the key you gave them.
I don't think you need to be paranoid to realize that there are circumstances when this sort of control could be very useful.
It is a step towards what the world will be like at some future point, when everything about your home (and life) is managed from your phone (or some kind of device).
I'm not trying to sound futuristic and sci-fi, but I'm sure we will reach a point where there are no keys, just doors that unlock automatically and open for you based on proximity and identity verification.
Does a Lockitron make total sense for everyone to buy today? Probably not. There are obviously some use cases that do justify the expense, however, I see it as an intermediary step on the path to totally rethinking doors and physical access in general. And if you can afford it, and think it is neat and at least somewhat useful, then why not?
Sometimes people come into the office on the weekend. Sometimes they don't realize that they lost their office key until they get to the office (they're never the first one in during the week, for instance). It would be nice if they could text me and I could remotely open the office for them.
@Lockitron, I recall the original story going: "We decided to host our own "Kickstarter" because investors did not seem interested and Kickstarter changed their policies."
I am curious, have you found that investors have changed their tune due to your successes so far?
I think you're conflating two stories. Eric from Pebble originally went on Kickstarter because of investor interest. We created our own crowd funding platform because Kickstarter changed their policies. Both stories are detailed here: http://www.foundersatwork.com/1/post/2012/10/what-goes-wrong...
In both cases, investor interest is a barrier but the core problem seems to be 1) making something people want, 2) finding a platform to tell them it exists, and 3) being able to deliver it. Kickstarter is wonderful for 2).
Playing devil's advocate here, but what is the hype surrounding this lock?
I bought two 'aesthetic enough' keypad code locks from Home Depot and it' been serving me well since. It doesn't require my phone or launching an app from my phone (think bags of groceries in both hands and you forgot to preunlock), doesn't require Wi-Fi, and I can program temporary codes for Airbnb, etc. within seconds. The only draw back is lacking the option to increase 30 second autolock interval.
Add a keypad, make it as rugged as existing locks, place it in the Home Depot lock aisle beside the other 'uncool' locks and you have a disruptive winner.
Consider everyone who lives in an apartment who doesn't have the option of replacing their lock (and I wouldn't really want to anyway... I rather prefer the unchanged external appearance of this product).
IIRC, you can also easily deauthorize users, so it's also the cheapest way I can think of to retrofit something into being a shared space where you want to be able to control access going forward.
It's not the perfect lock solution for every use case, but it's a really cool utility for a lot of purposes.
It's great because you don't NEED a keypad. Also, for people who rent and can't replace their locks, this gets them all the functionality a keypad lock can give.
As somebody whose enjoyed a keyless lock in a condo in Hawaii fairly recently I have few things to say.
* Keyless locks are great
* Depending on a phone is a very limiting requirement.
From my experience, it was a huge relief not to have to carry any valuables(such as a smartphone or keys) to the beach, because the door had a 4-digit-code lock device.
If i had to carry a phone around with me, i would rather carry a set of keys.
Furthermore, if youre planning to use it for AirBnB and youre expecting that your tenants will have cell service, youre excluding international travellers who have just arrived in your town and may not have cell coverage with their international phones.
What I would like is a code-based lock that would allow me to reset the code remotely, to add multiple levels of codes, time-limited codes, etc. I would pay lockitron prices for it.
I wonder how strong the actuator is on the device. I know that most deadbolts don't line up all that great with the hole in the frame and require a lot of force to actually open and close. I'm sure the actuator is limited in how much force it can generate.
How the device fits over the lock handle reminds me of another device I made to unlock a door. I had to get into a room to reset a router, however the lock was a deadbolt, and I didn't know how to pick it. Using a (heavily bent) coat hanger, I squeezed it through a crack in the top of the door, lowered it with twine until it grasped the lock handle, and then turned the device with some more twine (from under the door) and I was in.
Locks that open when the door handle (not a knob) is turned can also be opened relatively easily with coathangers from under the door. Make sure to consider all aspects when making secure systems!
If you see the comments here, there are still a LOT of doubters. Which surprises me a lot, this product is genius. With so much skepticism, if Lockitron was a stock, I would buy it.
I've been minimizing the stuff I carry in my pocket for a while now (for every day work).
The wallet was the first to go. Then I stopped carrying IDs (I use public transport). Now I'm down to my keys, my phone, a credit card, and a metro pass. The day when all I need is my phone is getting closer!
Interesting, but this seems similar to the Z-Wave[1]/Schlage Internet-controlled remote entry systems. I'm not sure what the additional value add is beyond an iPhone app.
Haha, completely agree with this sentiment. By far the most attractive thing about this for me is being able to check my phone and immediately assuage that "Oh shoot! Did I lock the front door?" feeling.
It's something I've been thinking about a solution to for a while. One of these days I'll get around to making a key cover with a simple mechanical display of which direction the key was last rotated. Cool idea, right?
This is all really great, but my ISP and router situation is not at 100% uptime and about once a week I need to reset them both. I wouldn't be able to rely on this completely :/
"If you use an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, you can enable Lockitron to sense when you walk up to the door and unlock for you using Bluetooth 4.0. We call it Sense."
From their FAQ: If you have an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, Lockitron will work even if the internet or power go out. And of course, you can always use your original key
I guesss it also uses Bluetooth for manual unlock and not only for Sense.
[+] [-] nandemo|13 years ago|reply
> We funded the Lockitron guys back in the summer of '09—that's them at their YC interview. A year after YC, they were still figuring out their idea. They lived with the Wepay guys and one day the Wepays had a party for their investors. By that point the Lockitrons were working on a product to lock your door with an iPhone. They were able to impress one of the investors with their prototype, and he asked to have 40 installed in some startup offices he owned. The founders were psyched, but the commercial locks they needed to use cost $500 a pop. They didn't have $20,000 to fulfill an order that big. So they went around to the local locksmiths and scrapyards, buying broken locks for about $10 each. They fixed them themselves and were able to deliver on that order.
[+] [-] dchichkov|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] paulgerhardt|13 years ago|reply
edit: Just looked up 'mat' in Russian. Seems like I'm really, really not having any luck here.
[+] [-] kami8845|13 years ago|reply
Look at MongoDB.
If you want to say "You're a retard" in German you'd say "Du bist ein Mongo". Mongo being short for mongoloid and just as `politically incorrect` as retard is in the English speaking world. If anything the name made the product more memorable for me (and I use it almost every day now)
[+] [-] daniel-cussen|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] akennberg|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] andrewljohnson|13 years ago|reply
"No va" means "he didn't go" in Spanish.
[+] [-] mikeash|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fghh45sdfhr3|13 years ago|reply
The Chevy "Nova" was a good name in English speaking countries, they should have checked what the name sounds like in Spanish. So basically the point here is translate your product before entering new language markets.
[+] [-] lessnonymous|13 years ago|reply
Please, someone who has reserved one ..
WHY do you need to open your deadbolt from anywhere other than your front door?
Do you often find yourself down the street / at work / in an overseas hotel with the need to open the deadbolt?
Don't you want to see who's there?
Don't you have a second lock built into the knob?
It's an interesting idea to control a mechanical object (lock) with an internet connection, but a deadbolt?
[+] [-] patio11|13 years ago|reply
Middle class family with two working parents plus, take your pick:
+ Maid service + HVAC repair + Kitchen remodel + Bathroom remodel
etc, etc
It would also have avoided a bit of stress during an Airbnb I went to, too.
[+] [-] paulgerhardt|13 years ago|reply
As someone who lives with three adult roommates who all have S.O.'s we have people in and out all the time.
As someone who lived by himself in college it was nice to know when the landlord came by.
As someone who runs a startup, it provides more benefit than a typical modern access control system without the $3000 price tag.
For American locks, the deadbolt provides most of the security. The handle can usually be loided and is kind of only useful if you're stepping out for a minute to grab the mail and want to shut the door behind you.
For letting someone in remotely, you usually have an idea that they're coming over first. If they were to show up unsolicited, you would likely call first.
[+] [-] zacharycohn|13 years ago|reply
2) No, but I often am not sure if I locked the door or not. Or see the above example with a neighbor.
3) I don't see how that's relevant. If I'm home, I'll walk over and open the door. Or if they yell "It's John!" then I'll open it for them.
4) Nope, not in my apartment. And at my family home we never used the knob lock, only the deadbolt.
[+] [-] asianexpress|13 years ago|reply
edit: You could also use it to detect when the deadbolt is used, presumably when someone you know enters/leaves, since a burglar would probably not use the deadbolt ;)
[+] [-] bromley|13 years ago|reply
a) grant them access without the hassle of getting another key cut and less of the awkwardness of trusting them with a key (if they're worried you'll point the finger at them if you're burgled);
b) have a record of the times they made entry (and they'll know you have it, so it'll reduce your fear of them burgling you some other time using the key you gave them);
c) revoke access without the hassle of changing the locks (and giving a new key to all the other people you've granted access to) or the fear that they may have made a copy of the key you gave them.
I don't think you need to be paranoid to realize that there are circumstances when this sort of control could be very useful.
[+] [-] jontas|13 years ago|reply
It is a step towards what the world will be like at some future point, when everything about your home (and life) is managed from your phone (or some kind of device).
I'm not trying to sound futuristic and sci-fi, but I'm sure we will reach a point where there are no keys, just doors that unlock automatically and open for you based on proximity and identity verification.
Does a Lockitron make total sense for everyone to buy today? Probably not. There are obviously some use cases that do justify the expense, however, I see it as an intermediary step on the path to totally rethinking doors and physical access in general. And if you can afford it, and think it is neat and at least somewhat useful, then why not?
[+] [-] drags|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] awakeasleep|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kamaal|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mikeknoop|13 years ago|reply
I am curious, have you found that investors have changed their tune due to your successes so far?
[+] [-] paulgerhardt|13 years ago|reply
In both cases, investor interest is a barrier but the core problem seems to be 1) making something people want, 2) finding a platform to tell them it exists, and 3) being able to deliver it. Kickstarter is wonderful for 2).
[+] [-] gigantor|13 years ago|reply
I bought two 'aesthetic enough' keypad code locks from Home Depot and it' been serving me well since. It doesn't require my phone or launching an app from my phone (think bags of groceries in both hands and you forgot to preunlock), doesn't require Wi-Fi, and I can program temporary codes for Airbnb, etc. within seconds. The only draw back is lacking the option to increase 30 second autolock interval.
Add a keypad, make it as rugged as existing locks, place it in the Home Depot lock aisle beside the other 'uncool' locks and you have a disruptive winner.
[+] [-] majormajor|13 years ago|reply
IIRC, you can also easily deauthorize users, so it's also the cheapest way I can think of to retrofit something into being a shared space where you want to be able to control access going forward.
It's not the perfect lock solution for every use case, but it's a really cool utility for a lot of purposes.
[+] [-] zacharycohn|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stcredzero|13 years ago|reply
I can imagine someone implementing an app that unlocks the door for you automatically when your phone gets back on the home WiFi network.
[+] [-] prunebeads|13 years ago|reply
If you've got both your hands busy, whichever keylock system is on your door is irrelevant. Only a voice activation system would be Ok.
[+] [-] RickHull|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] codenerdz|13 years ago|reply
* Keyless locks are great
* Depending on a phone is a very limiting requirement.
From my experience, it was a huge relief not to have to carry any valuables(such as a smartphone or keys) to the beach, because the door had a 4-digit-code lock device. If i had to carry a phone around with me, i would rather carry a set of keys.
Furthermore, if youre planning to use it for AirBnB and youre expecting that your tenants will have cell service, youre excluding international travellers who have just arrived in your town and may not have cell coverage with their international phones.
What I would like is a code-based lock that would allow me to reset the code remotely, to add multiple levels of codes, time-limited codes, etc. I would pay lockitron prices for it.
[+] [-] refurb|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] theatraine|13 years ago|reply
Locks that open when the door handle (not a knob) is turned can also be opened relatively easily with coathangers from under the door. Make sure to consider all aspects when making secure systems!
[+] [-] skeletonjelly|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] marvin|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] justjimmy|13 years ago|reply
The wallet was the first to go. Then I stopped carrying IDs (I use public transport). Now I'm down to my keys, my phone, a credit card, and a metro pass. The day when all I need is my phone is getting closer!
[+] [-] hoprocker|13 years ago|reply
I assume you either a) don't drink or b) live in NYC.
[+] [-] morsch|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] go35|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jaytaylor|13 years ago|reply
Am I missing something?
[1] http://www.z-wave.com/modules/ZwaveStart/
[+] [-] turtlebits|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mattmanser|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] CKKim|13 years ago|reply
It's something I've been thinking about a solution to for a while. One of these days I'll get around to making a key cover with a simple mechanical display of which direction the key was last rotated. Cool idea, right?
[+] [-] slashedzero|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ucpete|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tlrobinson|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Adirael|13 years ago|reply
I guesss it also uses Bluetooth for manual unlock and not only for Sense.
[+] [-] stcredzero|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] holgersindbaek|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dylanrw|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] austinlyons|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] allbombs|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] paulhauggis|13 years ago|reply