Nest is a smart thermostat that creates a custom heating and cooling schedule. As a result, it conserves energy when the house is empty. Using a combination of sensors, algorithms, machine learning, and cloud computing, the device learns behaviors and preferences and adjusts the temperature up or down accordingly. Nest Labs, 650.561.4089; www.nest.com.

Google is mulling over a new demographic for it's Nest smart home products--seniors who want to age in place and live independently, report Christina Farr and Jillian D'Onfro for CNBC. The products are still in a discussion phase, but the company has put out a few ideas about how it could tailor ts products to older Americans, such as motion sensors to help people get to the bathroom in the middle of the night by automatically turning on lights, or predicting potentially life-threatening falls with sensors in the home that can track changes in movement.

Nest products can already be useful in elder care, for instance by letting family members check in on loved ones through its camera products or letting only specific people into the home through its smart locks (ilke Meals on Wheels providers or caregivers). Nest's talks with aging experts have been ramping up in recent months, say several sources familiar with the conversations.

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