Ome recently introduced its next-generation Smart Knob 2.0, a retrofit device that can transform virtually any gas or electric range or stovetop into a smart appliance to enhance kitchen safety, particularly for elderly adults living alone.

This innovative product is laser-focused on addressing the leading cause of house fires in the U.S. — unattended cooking — through automation, remote control, easy installation, and convenient maintenance.

In this article, we share key enhancements and upcoming plans we learned while speaking with Akshita Iyer, the Founder & CEO of Ome.

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Ome’s Focus on the Safety Needs of Aging Adults

Ome’s dedication to kitchen safety is personal. The company’s founding was inspired by a cooking-related accident experienced by Iyer’s own mother, which led to the eventual launch of Ome’s first Smart Knob in 2021.

Ome color logo on white background

With an astounding 90% of all seniors prefering to age in their homes — which includes a subset of over 22 million senior adults living alone in the U.S. — Ome’s Smart Knob is aiming to fill a crucial gap in kitchen safety, and in turn, provide enhanced independence for solo aging residents.

Tea kettle over gas fire in camper van

While many existing smart assistive devices for the elderly tend to focus on health monitoring, home security, and home automation, Ome’s Smart Knob is specifically targeting the hazard of unattended cooking.

Elderly grandmother cooking alone in kitchen

From the launch of their original Smart Knob, Ome has provided the following critical safety features:

  • Automatic shut-off for unattended cooking
  • Real-time alerts and remote control of burners
  • Automated cooking timers and safety locks

These features have provided a simple and cost-effective solution, allowing older adults to upgrade their stoves without expensive or extensive overhauls. The upgrade process is simply done by replacing the existing knobs of a range or stovetop.

Gas stovetop outfitted with four Ome next gen Smart Knob 2.0's

Gas stovetop outfitted with four Ome next gen Smart Knob 2.0’s

Ome’s website has a comprehensive compatibility guide, as well as a compatibility quiz, to help you determine upfront if your range or stovetop is compatible with their smart knob. They also honor a 30-day return policy, as an added safety net.

 

New Features & Benefits of Ome’s Smart Knob 2.0

Ome’s latest smart knob model is the result of herculean efforts to improve the design and capabilities of its first model across the board, by addressing critical customer feedback.

Ome Kitchen Next Generation Smart Knob 2.0 in action

The Ome Next Generation Smart Knob 2.0 in action

The latest version boasts:

  • Improved Design
  • Better Control
  • Broader Compatibility
  • Easier Installation & Maintenance

The improved design of the next generation model provides the following advantages that are all necessary to achieve key overarching customer-satisfaction goals:

  • Redesigned technology for a revolutionary motor
  • Smaller form factor (40% smaller than the previous model)
  • Easily adjustable adapter for tight, safe fits
  • Sleeker form factor that can fit the aesthetics of any kitchen
  • Two parts joined by magnets (convenient for recharging)
  • All custom parts (making flexible pricing feasible for multi-unit orders)
Ome next gen Smart Knob 2.0 in use matching burner level with mobile app

Ome Smart Knob 2.0 with mobile app in action

The combined enhancements thus made the following possible:

  • A significantly larger universe of compatible ranges and stovetop models
  • More reliable and accurate heat-level control with a better motor and tighter fit
  • Seamless recharging by easily removing the magnetically held top portion of the knob

Video Montage of Ome’s Next-Generation Smart Knob 2.0:

Ome Next Generation Smart Knob 2 0

Features listed in their product documentation include:

  • Control your stove remotely
  • Set cooking timers to turn off burners
  • Get notified if a burner is left on
  • Adjust the heat up or down in the app
  • Hands-free voice control with Alexa
  • Up to 4 months of battery life w/USB-C charging
  • Universal installation on most stoves

Pricing

The Ome next-generation Smart Knob 2.0 (two-tone black knob with stainless steel base) is available to buy in one of four packs:

  • 1-Pack for $129
  • 4-Pack for $479 ($119.75 each)
  • 5-Pack for $589 ($117.80 each)
  • 6-Pack for $699 ($116.50 each)

At the original publishing date of this article, Ome was offering a 15% OFF discount with promo code: GETOME15

Ome Smart Knob 2.0 delivery package at doorstep

 

Ome’s Future Plans & Broader Impact

Short-term plans include introducing more colors in early 2025 to expand the aesthetic compatibility and personalization of Ome’s smart knob. To date, the smart knob has purposefully only been available in black, in order to focus on higher-priority manufacturing initiatives.

Ome will continue to sell directly to consumers, while pursuing strategic partnerships to expand awareness and increase adoption rates in senior living communities, multigenerational families, and households with caregivers.

Multigenerational cooking class in home kitchen

The smart knob is especially ideal for the “Sandwich Generation“, households where the primary adults care for both older parents and young children. Ome’s Smart Knob can offer peace of mind through alerts about unusual cooking behavior, as well as provide safety features to guard against perilous distractions in active households.

Open Ome package with smart knobs on kitchen counter

Ome is also looking for mutually beneficial strategic partnerships that will help get their innovative product in the hands of more consumers, be it through distribution, or product integration, or home insurance incentive programs.

Ome is open to making their usage data available (with customer opt-ins) for existing or future smart wellness apps for the home, so that end-customers can benefit from convenient real-time data. In other words, Ome wants to be part of the “bigger picture” within the smart home wellness space, such as working with senior living communities, and other industry partners, to gather and integrate behavioral data that can help detect cooking-related risks and health issues.

We hope that Ome finds a strategic manufacturing partner that can deliver reliable production and efficiencies at scale to free up Ome to innovate further in the Aging In Place market. A recent example of this type of partnership was between Bartesian and Black & Decker, who collaborated on bev by BLACK+DECKER, an automated home bartender.

 

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