SmartThings, a start-up in Washington DC, has similar ideas – and it has got a jump on bigger firms. It has already shipped thousands of its communications hubs, along with several other in-home gadgets. It has also encouraged users to hack its SmartThings hub and come up with cool tweaks for the system, such as programming the washing machine to send a text when it's finished, or turning light bulbs blue if a water sensor detects a leak. The firm is in effect turning to its own customers for ideas on how to turn the dream of the smart home into reality.