Microsoft and Johnson Controls are coming together to build a thermostat that will include a translucent touch screen display allowing owners to alter room temperatures, check energy usage and air quality, and see calendar information. GLAS, the name of the thermostat, will run on Microsoft’s Windows 10 IoT Core operating system and will have Cortana built into it.
Microsoft mentioned that GLAS has sensors that detect if you are in the room or not and will constantly monitor indoor and outdoor air quality and is designed to save energy by changing the climate settings on the fly. GLAS is very similar to the Nest Thermostat, the only difference is that GLAS has Cortana voice controls.
The promotional video that Microsoft used to market this device looks like it is targeted at businesses and commercial properties because it is powered by their Azure Cloud Services. It is still unsure if it will be available for regular consumers or when it will launch, but those of you that are looking for something to make your home slightly smarter can look forward to this.
