Innovation of the Month: Lotus’ Wearable Access Ties for First Place

Lotus, a first-place winner in this year’s InnovateAble Showcase, is reimagining what it means to access and control your environment. Lotus is a fabulously simple idea: a wearable ring that allows users to point and click to control lights, fans, TVs, and more—without Wi-Fi, apps, or rewiring. Founder Dhaval Patel’s journey to creating Lotus is both personal and innovative.

From Personal Struggle to Universal Solution

“The story of Lotus starts with me,” Patel explains. “I was born with twisted knees, and over the years I’ve been on and off crutches a lot.”

One night, exhausted after a long day, Patel realized he had left the lights on. “Too tired to get up, I slept with the lights on—the entire night,” he recalls. The next morning, he had a revelation: if even an Apple electrical engineer like me didn’t have smart home tech at home, who did?

That moment became the seed for Lotus.

The Problem: Homes Not Built for Smart Tech

Smart home technology often feels out of reach—especially for travelers, renters, and people with disabilities.

“Turns out 91% of homes in the U.S. were built before smart homes existed, with no easy way to upgrade,” Patel says. Even adopting an Alexa often requires rewiring switches, installing multiple speakers, and downloading additional apps. For homeowners, the time and cost can be daunting; for travelers and renters, solutions are virtually nonexistent.

This gap disproportionately affects nearly 30 million people with limited mobility—including veterans, older adults, and disabled individuals—who may already spend up to four hours a day on self-care.

The Lotus Solution: Point. Click. Control

Lotus sidesteps these barriers with a portable, plug-and-play design.

• Step 1: Put on the Lotus ring.
  
• Step 2: Snap the Lotus switch cover onto any wall switch. Simple magnets eliminate the need for rewiring.
  
• Step 3: Point and click. Infrared technology works like a TV remote—no app, smartphone, or internet needed.
  

“Control lights, fans, appliances. Even fireplaces and TVs,” Patel explains. “And take it with you wherever you go—hotels, Airbnbs, visiting family. It’s portable.”

Who Benefits from Lotus?

Patel envisions four distinct customer groups:

1. People with limited mobility (30M in the U.S.)
   Those with acute, permanent disabilities—such as veterans with injuries—need immediate solutions.
   
2. Older adults (61M in the U.S.)
   Gradual conditions like arthritis make movement more difficult, and fall prevention becomes critical.
   
3. Renters (110M in the U.S.)
   Lease restrictions and temporary housing often make rewiring impossible. Lotus offers smart-home convenience without permanent upgrades.
   
4. Mass-market convenience
   Everyday users—from pregnant parents to anyone who’s simply cozy in bed—can benefit from the silent, point-and-click control.
   

It seems that Lotus falls right into the curb cut effect with technology that benefits everyone. “In other words, our mission is ‘to build technology anyone can use, by optimizing for disability first,’” Patel says. 

Pricing and Practicality

A Lotus starter kit (1 ring + 3 switch covers + charging accessories) retails at $399, or $349 for organizational bulk purchases. Individual pieces are also available:

• Ring: $199
  
• Switch Cover: $75
  

Every device is compatible with others, so users can easily expand their setup. Patel notes a fun side effect: “Your ring will even work in your parents’ home, and vice versa. It has network effects—like a telephone, the more people that have it, the more beneficial every person’s device becomes.”

Practical features add to the appeal: the ring is waterproof, and its battery lasts six months on a single charge.

A Legacy of Accessibility

For Patel, Lotus is about more than convenience—it’s about impact.

“My favorite quote is from Hamilton: ‘What is legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see,’” he shares. “That’s why I started Lotus—to build something that continues helping people, even after we’re long gone.”

This tech could instantly transform an accessible hotel room or short term rental, going beyond ADA to welcoming. The low-cost set up makes it possible to install in multiple locations, with rings available for users who need them.