How to decide which connected security system is right for you
Founded in 2011, Netatmo is a fresh new company in the connected home technology world. With two efforts under their belt — the $199 Welcome and the pricier $299 Presence — Netatmo is hoping to stake its claim in two different markets.
The claim-to-fame for Welcome is Netatmo’s facial recognition technology, which the company promises is “revolutionary,†even in this burgeoning industry.
The Welcome camera will learn to recognize the people who come to your door by checking them against the address book in your phone. You’ll get automatic stranger alerts on the accompanying app as well as customizable notifications for events you’re interested in, like the arrival of children or grandparents. If you’ve got kids to keep tabs on throughout the week, Netatmo is for you.
Welcome is intended for indoor use, while Presence is for your yard. The latter lacks facial recognition but makes up for it with a “smart floodlight†feature, plus real-time alerts and property reports. If you want a robust, family-friendly and customizable connected home security solution, Netatmo is the company to watch.
If you want family-owned: Lloyd (or a similar company)
Serving the greater Minneapolis area exclusively for over 10 years, Lloyd Security brings the touch of a small business to the futuristic world of connected technology. The kind of personalization that comes from supporting local markets is something many homeowners value, and Lloyd is an excellent example of that.
If you’re an established homeowner in the Minneapolis area and you want a partner in security you can keep on speed-dial, Lloyd is what you’re after. The security company marries its wide variety of home security essentials — like burglar alarms, motion sensors, video cameras and lightning-fast response times for emergencies — with the convenience of its mobile app.
If you’re looking for similar options in a different area, there are many other location-specific smart security systems available. Just search Google for “smart security systems in my area†or check out the business listings on your local news’ website.
If you like the classics: Vivint
Vivint is another stalwart in home security. It’s a name many of you will know and trust as reliable and familiar. Smart home security from Vivint comes with the 24/7 and 365 monitoring you’d expect from a full-service home security company.
The Vivint smart home app lets you remotely enable and disable your security system, configure and receive alerts about visitors, intruders and events on your property and even full control over and navigation of your thermostat, locks and light — provided they’re part of your connected home system.
Like Lloyd Security, Vivint is a full-service installer of home security equipment that stands by with in-house monitoring and instant dispatch in the case of emergencies. As such, pricing will vary. If you’re an established homeowner who wants to put together a very smart and very comprehensive collection of security elements — including connected indoor and outdoor cameras, doorbells, garage door controllers and thermostats, consider what Vivint brings to the table.
How will you choose?
Homeowners and renters alike are right to take home security seriously — and now it’s easier than ever to do it.
No matter your comfort level with connected technology, there’s an option out there that’s just right for you. What do you look for in a connected security system?
Kayla Matthews is a writer and tech blogger, talking about connected devices and smart tech on websites like MakeUseOf, VentureBeat and Motherboard. Check out her blog: Productivity Bytes.
Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/2017/03/26/how-to-decide-which-security-system-is-right-for-you/