Bluetooth padlock eliminates need for keys

Just click this nifty new lock now seeking funds on Kickstarter, and if it senses the right smartphone nearby, it's supposed to open like magic.

• by Michael Franco

The Noke opens with just a click when your smartphone is nearby. Fūz Designs

As a Chronic Loser of Things (CLOT -- yes, I made that up, but feel free to use it), a new device now raising funds on Kickstarter particularly caught my eye. It's a padlock that is triggered by a Bluetooth signal from your smartphone. No keys, no combinations needed.

Called Noke (and inexplicably pronounced "no key," not "noak"), the lock pairs with an app on your smartphone. According to the Kickstarter pitch, once that's accomplished all you need to do is click the hasp down into the body of the lock. It searches for your smartphone in the near vicinity, and if it's present, it unlocks. You don't even need to take your phone out of your pocket; its mere presence is enough.