CONNECT

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

By Ryan Tucker

Home technology just keeps getting better and better, and more interesting in terms of its capabilities. Now property owners and renters can remotely manage anything from safety devices such as smoke detectors to kitchen faucets. It seems today’s devices and apps can run the whole house.

Let’s start with overall systems and what can be remotely managed. “Smoke detectors, thermostats and house management apps are all gadgets or tech systems that are available for property owners to install and use,” said Tom Kelly, chief technology officer at Life Part 2 (lifepart2.com). These devices can be easily managed on either smartphones or tablets.

All properties are required by law to have smoke detectors, and therefore, new tech solutions can offer some unique ways to not only ensure the smoke detectors work, but also eliminate those unwanted times when they accidentally go off. “Smoke detectors and security systems are two of the most common gadgets or tech systems

used in a property,” said Daniel Chan, chief technology officer at Markplace Fairness (marketplacefairness.org). “Smoke detectors work by sensing the smoke in the air and triggering an alarm to let people know there is a fire.”

Home security systems use multiple technologies, including numerous sensors for each part of the house, cameras and alert systems that relay information via smartphone apps or tablets. All of these components work together to secure the home. Some of these systems also include the smoke and CO2 detectors as a part of the entire package.

Infrared cameras connected to Wi-Fi send livestream footage to the security system. If the camera detects anything from movement to package deliveries, the system alerts the user. Infrared aka “color-night vision,” allows broader visual coverage and enable audio so you can speak to whoever is on camera. Some cameras even integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Little “home-security pals” have also come out. One such device is called Novi. This small devices works like an average smoke detector and offers other features. “It has a 360-degree rotational camera to detect any sketchy motion, and also a siren that alerts you of any intruders,” said Jason Wise, chief editor at Earth Web. “It’s very easily controlled by an app that lets you watch the live camera footage and sends you notifications for any detected security threat. Pretty much a one-stop security solution.”

Some cool new products have come out called “SmartLocks.” “Smart locks are one the best technological upgrades a property owner can use to help automate their operations. It saves you time and hassle of having to drive out to the property for emergency situations such as renter lock-outs, contractor access, Airbnb guest access, prospective buyer showings, etc.,” said Bill Samuel, a real estate broker/investor at Blue Ladder Development based in Chicago.

“You can have a lockbox with a key on the door of the property, but this doesn’t provide nearly the versatility that a smart lock will provide,” said Samuel. “For example, a smart lock with a keypad will allow you to control the lock from an application on your cell phone from anywhere as well as at the property in person using the keypad or physical key. The other main issue we have discovered with having a lockbox with a key is that people will occasionally take off with the key, causing you to have to do an emergency run to the property to let someone in and replace the key (keyless entries solve this problem).

Since few things in the home aren’t able to be controlled by technology, why exclude the kitchen sink? According to Aimee White, co-owner of Keyboard Kings (keyboardkings.com), “An interesting new tech gadget for the home is the smart kitchen faucets. These faucets work in a number of ways. You can control them using voice activation through Alexa, or through the Alexa app. This will turn the tap on, and you can also ask it to change the temperature of the water to suit your needs too.”

What can we expect to see in the near future? Wise said, “Personally, I’m very excited about using Wi-Fi signals for security purposes. Recent developments in the Wi-Fi technology have revealed how it can be used to detect motion, precise to decoding a text message by detecting finger taps. It’s also being used to tell the height, silhouette and motion of any person who moves in the signal range. I’m sure there are a lot of privacy concerns that also rise here, but used ethically, Wi-Fi technology can make astonishing breakthroughs in the security industry.”