Smart devices are always lauded for how great they are at providing home automation, and that too in an inexpensive way. Isn’t that great though? Having control over certain devices and things in your home with the tap of a button on your smartphone, or with a single voice enabled command? It’s pretty cool if we may say so ourselves.
However smart devices are more than just about automation features, they are also starting to be recognized as great additions to a home for energy saving purposes as well as for security too. But security being a main concern for the safety of the households, are smart devices really reliable for that specific purpose?
Smart Devices for Home Security
Though there is the question of reliability of smart devices when it comes to home security, here are examples of two smart devices that are usually used for the purpose. You can be the judge of it yourself to see whether they really are worth it or not.
1. Smart Locks
Smart Locks provide for a tamperproof, keyless means of entering your home. How to install a smart door lock you may ask? These devices are pretty much easy to install by yourselves – most of them attach to the deadbolt of your door, just follow the instructions on the manual. Though there are different types of smart door locks, with keypads, with just motion sensors and so on, here is a general overview of what they can do.
Smart Door Locks can be controlled through their respective mobile apps, as well as be controlled via voice enabled commands if synced to any voice assistant. It makes it much more efficient to lock and unlock your door. You won’t have to wait by the door and fumble for the keys in your bag, or wash your hands and dash to the door to unlock it for the guests – a tap of a button on your phone, or a simple voice command would do the work. Some of these devices also auto-lock themselves, while some feature the option to set timers and schedules for the device to follow.
Nonetheless, you won’t have you leave your keys behind with anyone ever again! Or a spare key under one of the planters on the porch, or even lend your passcode to any friend.
2. Smart Cameras
Smart cameras are a much better and advanced version of surveillance cameras. Why is that? While regular surveillance cameras do the job of deterring intruders or warn people that they are being watched, they do have issues which are taken care of with the technology provided by smart cameras.
As opposed to regular surveillance cameras, smart cameras are available in wireless variants too, making them easier to place anywhere and move to a new spot whenever you chose to. Their video feed is in HD, colored and features night vision too. But it also supports two-way audio; you don’t just hear what’s going on in the live footage, you can also speak to whoever is at the other end of the camera! And vice versa.
What’s more is that smart camera video footage is accessible through their apps on our smartphones and tablets. These devices also feature motion sensors which send in real time alerts to our devices whenever any movement is detected. So even if you’re at work you can watch over your home, or just have tabs on whatever’s going on with the notification feature.
The Probability of Reliability
For us to calculate the probability of reliability of smart devices when it comes to home security, would require some rocket science to navigate through to get answers. Instead we can point out one major factor that could make someone weary of the reliability of smart devices.
Stable Internet Connectivity
What all smart devices require is a stable internet connectivity. Pretty much every smart device connects to the Wi-Fi at your home, just like your smartphones and Smart TVs do too.
Wi-Fi is taken as the backbone that supports the working and features of smart devices. Without seamless connectivity there can be glitches and hence lags in the performance of these connected devices. Just like your video call lags over WhatsApp, in the same way the smart thermostat changing the temperature the second you adjusted it from your phone can take a minute to do so.
So if there are internet connectivity issues, chances are your devices may not work as fast and efficiently as they are meant to. And often times could potentially skip the command that you set. That in itself poses a risk.
So what’s The Verdict?
Whether or not smart devices are meant for home security is for you to decide. You just need a stable internet connection and you’re good to go. Maybe reach out to your internet service provider and see what can be done. You may potentially have to change your internet package or just add additional routers to solve the problem.
