Recently here on the blog we’ve been considering the possibility of giving Smart Home products as gifts this holiday season. We’ve done so in a themed series that’s been divided according to the 3 pillars of smart home products. Our first article (by Matt Paligaru) entitled Give the Gift of Smart Home Energy Savings this Holiday Season considered gift giving in the realm of Energy & Efficiency, while our second article looked at Comfort & Convenience in a piece that I wrote called Give the Gift of Smart Home Convenience. All, then, that yet remains is an article on Safety & Security, and that is what we bring to you today. Read on if you’ve been considering giving someone on your shopping list this year the gift of smart home safety and security.
Smart Home Security Cameras
Possibly the most popular smart home category when it comes to home security is the category of Smart Security Cameras. There are indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, and some cameras that are equipped for either purpose. With so many great brands and options to choose from, the only real problem with smart security cameras is picking one.
Even so, I have somehow managed to select one for us to look at here today. In fact, it’s one of the very best smart home security camera systems there is—the NETGEAR Arlo Pro 2 Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Security System with 4 1080p HD Cameras.
This excellent security camera system consists of 4 individual, weatherproof cameras featuring FHD 1080p resolution for sharp, detailed video surveillance of your whole home (both inside and out).
These cameras also offer a host of excellent “smart” features, like sound and motion detection (with the ability to send instant alerts to your Android or iOS based mobile device) and night vision capabilities (to keep the surveillance strong, even after dark).
Additional benefits include a 2-way audio connection (so you can chat up your neighbourhood prowler and tell him to get lost), and even a motion triggered (or remotely controlled) Smart Siren (to scare the absolute life out of the guy).
And I’m really just scratching the surface here. These cameras have numerous safety features that will have your home feeling like an impenetrable fortress!
Of course, this system may be a bit ambitious as a gift (unless it’s for close family members), so keep this Smart Security Cameras link handy just in case you want to find something that’s more in the starter realm.
Smart Locks & Smart Door Bells
Another category that is undeniably crucial to home security is that of Smart Locks & Door Bells. These tools provide excellent front and back door security for your home in a way that’s also convenient.
Take, for example, the Nest x Yale Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Smart Lock. This keyless deadbolt makes it easy for you and your family to get into and out of your home while being nearly impenetrable to anyone you want to keep out. It’s 100% tamper-proof, so it can’t be picked like a conventional deadbolt can, and it’s backed by Yale’s 150 years of innovation and expertise in the lock and security industry. Controllable via the free Nest App on your smart phone, as well as an integrated keypad, this smart lock gives you and your family multiple ways to get into your home without having to rely on old-fashioned keys that could potentially be lost or stolen, thus leading to serious security risks. In fact, this lock allows you to create multiple passcodes to give to your family, friends, and anyone else that might require temporary or ongoing access to your home. These codes can be revoked at any time, so there’s no risk whatsoever in issuing them, and you can also opt to receive an instant alert on your phone any time someone uses their passcode to enter your home (as well as a complete history of passcode access).
This means that you’ll always be aware of the various comings and goings of those in your inner circle, and you’ll always feel safe and secure when at home, and that your home is safe and secure when you’re away.
And, once again there are other features to learn about here as well, so feel free to check the Nest x Yale Smart Lock’s Best Buy product page for even more details.
Smart Lights
Also adding considerably to any home’s security is the broad category of Smart Lights. Not only do smart lights limit the number of hiding places by bathing them in all-exposing light, but they also lend safety by lighting the way in places where obstacles could trip one up, like a particularly dark backyard pathway.
If someone on your list could use a better lit backyard, why not shed a little light on the subject with the Philips Hue Lily Smart Outdoor Spot Light Base Kit – 3 Pack?
This smart lighting set is perfect for illuminating any outdoor space, whether front or back yard, and they can be controlled from anywhere in the world (and at any time) via the Philips Hue (iOS or Android) App and your trusty smart phone.
Compatible with a variety of different smart home ecosystems (Google Assistant, Works with Nest, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, Apple HomeKit, and Zigbee), you can easily integrate these lights into a broader smart home security system.
For instance, configure them to come on whenever your motion triggered security cameras pick up movement in the back yard. This way you’ll not only catch any potential trespassers on film, but you’ll also light up your yard like a ship, giving the culprits no safe places to hide!
Safety Sensors & Detectors
Finally, no smart home security setup is complete without protecting the home against the enemy within, and by that I mean hidden threats like carbon monoxide, or sudden threats like smoke and fire. For these kinds of dangers, you need special Safety Sensors and Detectors.
And truly, what better safety sensor is there than the Nest Protect Wi-Fi Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm?
This device is so clever that if it detects a carbon monoxide leak in your home, it can actually communicate with your Nest Wi-Fi Smart Learning Thermostat to shut down your furnace (the most likely cause of the CO leak) and cut off the leak at its source. Needless to say, this action could easily save your life and the lives of your family members.
But that’s not all that the Nest Protect can do. In fact, its capabilities are so numerous that I think at this time I’ll hand you over to my colleague here on the blog, Shelly Wutke, to read her article entitled Nest Protect is a Smart Solution to Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Worries, which has everything you need to know about this amazing smart home safety device.
If you’d like to learn more about Smart Home security devices, visit Best Buy at any time and give them a bit of study. Merry Christmas!
Smart security cameras are interesting, but it’s also important to remember to change the password from the default. I wouldn’t want to risk letting someone else get access to my system.
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