Recently Filed in Safety and Security

CEDIA Expo is not just for exploring new technologies and enlightening CE Pros. It’s also a great place for doing your own virtual shopping – virtual as in, “If I had the money, I would buy ….” Virtual shopping also applies to products that are not yet available, and ones that are inexpensive enough, but you couldn’t be bothered to install them. After CEDIA Expo 2009, I came away with a nice shopping list for my own home—some items I’ve coveted for years; others that… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • Video Screen • Furniture • Lighting Control • Shades and Blinds • Safety and Security • Product News • Slideshows

Millions pay $12.95 a month for TiVo and millions more the same for satellite radio. The question is, will they pay $12.99 per month to control their homes? Schlage and Trane think so. The Schlage LiNK Home Control system starts with a Schlage door lock, which comes in many different finishes and arrangements, from brass entry locks to brushed nickel deadbolts. Each has the same basic features, a keypad for keyless entry and the ability to communicate with a Z-Wave wireless RF “mesh” network. Add… View this story
Home Control • Home Control Systems • Safety and Security • Home Security Systems • Reviews • Product News

Over the past several weeks the yard at my friend’s home has been the target of teenage horseplay. Toilet paper has been tossed among the trees and egg yolks have stained the finish off their siding. Needless to say, they’ve had it—so much so that they’ve decided to invest in a surveillance camera. It’s something they’d rather not have to buy … I wish they didn’t, too, but the unfortunate circumstance has inspired me to track down the top features to look for when shopping… View this story
Safety and Security • Surveillance • Web Cameras • Security • Info and Answers

Having a decked out home theater and audio and video spread throughout the house is always fun. But does that ever make you wonder if anything bad will happen to your house when you’re not around? If someone knows about your electronics obsession? What about when the family is gathered around the theater, the surround sound blasting, popcorn popping. Do you want to scare away intruders? Security products may never be as sexy as other gadgets, but they can give you peace of mind that… View this story
Safety and Security • Security Sensors • Smoke and Fire Detectors • Surveillance • Web Cameras • Security • Slideshows

I hate remembering passwords, but soon we’ll be able to just smile and fuhgeddabout ’em. Our faces will be the keys to unlocking our future. As we step in front of doors, computer monitors or home control panels, facial recognition will trigger activities. “You want your personal settings to be remembered, and a biometric sensor allows devices to know who you are and adjust accordingly,” says Alex Carrausse, business development manager for XID Technologies, a Singapore-based developer of facial detection solutions. “Say you arrive at… View this story
Home Control • Home Control Systems • Safety and Security • Home Security Systems • Web Cameras • Enhancements • Info and Answers

My wife and I are on the fast track to becoming “helicopter parents.” You know, those parents who hover over their children. She recently dusted off the old baby monitor (wireless camera with TV monitor) so we could keep tabs on our 4-year old who moved to the bedroom on the third floor. I bought a set of Uniden two-way radios (or walkie-talkies as we call them) so we can hear his demands for another glass of water from our first floor living room. Our… View this story
Safety and Security • Cell Phones • Software • Automotive • How To • Info and Answers

With Memorial Day rapidly approaching and the weather warming up, another season of grilling, suntanning and swimming is almost here. As we focus on hamburgers and hot dogs, one element of summer might be overlooked: pool safety. Obviously a safe pool is clean and, more importantly, is well supervised by its adult owners, but realistically it’s not always possible to keep an eye on a pool every possible second.  PoolSonix’s Solar-Powered Wireless Pool Alarm offers pool owners a unique approach in electronic monitoring pool activities… View this story
Safety and Security • Pool and Spa • Green Technology • Product News

Glass-break detectors are designed to “hear” the sound of breaking windows, creating a “first line of defense” for your home. The technology has improved immensely over the past several years. But do they really work and are they right for your home? Here are 4 things you need to know about glass-break detectors before you choose them as part of your security system. 1. Why Do I Need a Glass-break Detector? Glass-break detectors are designed to prevent a burglar from getting into your home by… View this story
Safety and Security • Security Sensors • Security • Info and Answers

In the market for some extra peace of mind? Maybe you’re looking to add some smart features to your home security. Even if you don’t have a fancy alarm system, you can beef up the locks and deadbolts, and even control them with a remote—and get alerts when your kids are safely into the house after school—with Schlage’s LiNK System. The company’s just made it easier for the masses to enjoy, making it available on the Lowe’s website. Currently the Schlage LiNK page includes a… View this story
Safety and Security • Locks and Hardware • Remote Monitoring • Product News

Having your home protected with smart door locks is pretty cool. Being able to use a touchscreen or your mobile phone to unlock them, and at the same time trigger lighting, audio and climate events in your home is even sweeter. That’s how Home Automation Inc. (HAI) wants you to roll when you open one of the new electronic motorized locks from Black & Decker, its latest connectivity partner within its home control provisions. Black & Decker showed off some automated door locks for the… View this story
Home Control • Home Control Systems • Touchpanels and Keypads • Safety and Security • Locks and Hardware • Product News

Security may not be as sexy as home theater or even lighting control, but your home automation system wouldn’t be complete without it. Neither would your peace of mind. If you have a system from Colorado vNet, your home security options have been expanded, because the company has added integration of DSC and GE offerings to go with the Honeywell Vista models already included. The new offerings feature integrated security from DSC’s PowerSeries and GE’s Concord 4 Series of products. With Colorado vNet’s Security Application… View this story
Home Control • Home Control Systems • Safety and Security • Home Security Systems • Security • Product News

D-Link has added three new web-enabled home monitoring products to its security line. The D-Life Internet Surveillance Camera Starter Kit (DHA-390), D-Life Internet Surveillance Camera Expansion Kit (DHA-310), and D-Life Internet Surveillance Video Player (DHA-330) are now shipping to dealers. The DHA-390 is a surveillance camera that can monitor rooms from anywhere over the Internet. It has two color-coded Powerline adapters that use existing wiring to connect to the Internet. Up to four cameras can be viewed and controlled simultaneously. Other features: E-mail notification of… View this story
Safety and Security • Surveillance • Web Cameras • Security • Product News