A home security system is nothing more than detectors that detect what’s going on in and around your home, and gear connected to those detectors which lets you track them. The main detectors, of course, are motion detectors, cameras and microphones. Along with the gear for tracking these includes computers with tracks.
It ends up that smart phones have the electronic equipment used in important security methods — both on the detector side and the tracking side. And phones are a good deal less expensive than dedicated security systems. Additionally, the ideal monitoring gear is the one which you have access to, and you’ve got access to your mobile phone.
That’s why it’s a fantastic idea to integrate intelligent phones into your home security system. And it’s why small businesses are inventing new ways to integrate phones into home security.
Listed below are a couple examples.
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Canary Home Security Device – $199
Canary is a small, inexpensive device about the size of a soda can that is packed with sensors for tracking a home. It contains not just the typical suspects — HD video camera, microphone and motion sensor — but also sensors that detect room temperature, air vibrations and quality.
It doesn’t attempt to guess what’s going on; it simply alerts you when anything changes suddenly. The makers of Canary claim that the gadget “learns your home’s rhythms” and lets you know when these are disrupted by anything unusual.
Canary alarms you, obviously, on your smart phone, through your home’s Wi-Fi network. You receive the alert whether you are home or on the opposing side of the world. You can connect as many phones as you want to the Canary by simply downloading an program and entering the the password you’ve set up. You might also set up notifications to alert others immediately from the Canary program or to install the Canary’s built-in siren.
One advantage of something such as Canary is that you can take it together and track anything dwelling, flat, hotel room or office you happen to be staying in.
peoplepowerco.com
Presence
The cheapest home security systems utilize smart phones on both detector and tracking sides. This is a superb way to keep on getting value out of older phones you could otherwise sell, recycle or depart in a box in the garage.
A free iPhone and Android program called Presence can be utilized for both sensing and monitoring. Use your previous phone as the detector and your present phone as the track. The Silicon Valley company which makes Presence, called People Power, has designed the program to be simple for anybody to use. The detector telephone in your home finds motion and sends video of exactly what triggered the alert to the telephone you are carrying.
Depending on the number of old phones you have lying about, you could set up Presence-powered phones to look out the window in your driveway and front door, check out the backyard or track several rooms at the house.
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iZon Wi-Fi Video Monitor – $129
The iZon webcam is a tiny, open source device that connects with a magnet into an included dome foundation, enabling you to turn it and tilt it for just the right view.
After installing the free iOS program, you can position and configure one or more iZon cameras. If you’ve got more than one, then you are able to move from 1 video feed into another by tapping the screen.
Should you tap on the Record button, you are able to capture up to 35 seconds of video at one time, which will be automatically uploaded into your YouTube account. The iZon can also be configured to auto document a movie of the identical period when it detects motion. You can even set it up to enroll motion only in a restricted region of the area of view.
This uploading-to-YouTube business is a fantastic feature if someone steals or destroys the camera itself — the proof is on your control.
The fact that home security systems can be overly expensive or complicated is no longer a good excuse to leave your home unprotected. With the right products, including the right smart phone, you can put together a functional, cheap home security program.
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