Home Security and CES 2010

Hey folks,

Just got back from CES 2010. As always, there were about ten million things worth seeing. However, my brain started shutting down after a while, so I didn't get through everything. But, what I did get through was interesting and I thought I'd share it with you. Ok, well actually I'm just going to share one thing with you, but it will comprise most of the cool stuff I saw: home integration.

In the past we've had home automation and home security. And, certain systems (the ElkGuard is the best example) allow for integration between the two. Other systems are, at best, clunky when it comes to custom home integration. But, that seems to be changing. Control4, DLink and a few others all showcased their complete home integration systems...and man, were they sweet!

So, just wrap your head around complete control, with remote access. On business in Switzerland and want to look in on your security cameras? No problem. While your'e at it, you might as well check on the thermostat, dim some lights and shut off the music you left on in the living room. And its all seamless. As the Guiness guys would say: Brilliant!

There were a few other things that I'll let you know about as we go forward. They should really make things interesting.

Until next time...

Home Security and Automation

There are home security systems that do everything a home security system should do. They monitor your home via security devices and alert the system when a door or window is opened, a motion detector picks up activity, or a smoke detector senses fire. You can then have your system contact a central monitoring station to take the appropriate action. These systems will definitely give you peace of mind. Then there are home automation systems that do everything they should do. They control lights, thermostats, home theater, audio and more. These systems will increase your comfort and convenience level and make day to day living more enjoyable.

Then there's the Elk M-1 Gold. It is a top-line innovative home security and automation system. It will do everything a home security system should do (and sometimes even more) and it will control home automation perfectly. It is the best of both worlds.

I'll be doing follow-up posts on the Elk M-1 to illustrate just how impressive this system is. But for now, I'll leave you with two simple examples of how the Elk can integrate your home security and home automation in pretty neat ways.

1. You can turn off lights in a room if the motion detector doesn't sense any activity for a set period of time (say 3 minutes). This will help cut down on your energy bill and your energy wastefulness.

2. You can have the front porch and front room lights come on when your car passes a driveway sensor that you've installed. It gives you the comfort of having a well-lit house in just the areas you want when you come home after dark.

Visit SafeMart's site for more information on Elk's amazing products. I think you'll like what you see.

Home Automation with the Elk M1

Home automation is something we frequently hear about, and frequently see in movies or TV shows. Usually its some super-rich home where everything can be controlled with the touch of a button. It also usually seems a little unrealistic. Well, while some of the automation in movies may be ridiculous, most of it is also entirely possible, and you don't have to be a millionaire to have it.

This is where the Elk M1 comes in to play. Its a home security and automation system designed to protect your home and loved ones while also giving you amazing capabilities to automate almost everything you can imagine. And its designed for normal home owners.

That's not to say its cheap. It isn't. It will cost you to have a home security and automation system that does everything you may want it to do. But it is worth it for what you get. Lets take a moment and think up just a few of the scenarios for which you may want to use the Elk M1:

1. We'll start simple: Lets say you get up every morning at 6:00 AM. Well, you can have the light automatically turn on at 6:00 AM every morning as part of your wake-up routine. Or, to give a more practical example, lets say that you are on vacation. You want to give the impression to would-be intruders that someone is still there. Simply set your system to turn on a few determined lights every evening at 7:30 PM and turn them off (perhaps at varying times) at 10:00 PM. This would give the impression that people are home and make it less inviting to burglars.

2. Lets move to something a little more interesting/fun: I heard a story yesterday about how one customer uses this system. He put two driveway alarms along the edge of his driveway. Alarm A is closer to the road and Alarm B is closer to the house. This homeowner wanted the lights to turn on in his home when he or his wife arrived after dark. So, he set his system to turn on the front porch lights and the lights in his front two rooms whenever a car passed Alarm A and then Alarm B and it was after 8:30 PM. That way, if he was leaving and passed Alarm B and then Alarm A, nothing would happen. Or if he came home for lunch, since it wasn't after 8:30 PM, nothing would happen. Pretty amazing stuff, huh?

3. Now a more practical, but still very neat application: If you're like many homeowners, or if you have children and they are like most children, lights are frequently left on in your home. You move from room to room without turning off the lights, perhaps not to return to some of those rooms until you are ready to go to bed. And whats the end result of this? You waste money! So, how can the Elk M1 help you with this? If you have a motion detector in a room, you can set your system to automatically shut off the lights in that room if the motion detector goes for a certain period of time (1 min., 2 min., 5 min, whatever you want) without detecting any motion. And the end result of that? Less frustration with the kids and yourself and....more money saved!

There are hundreds and hundreds of other things that you can do with your system. I'll just leave you with this. If you are interested in home automation and home security, you want the Elk M1. It may cost you a little, but it pays for itself in the long run.

X10 Home Automation

X10 Home Automation is probably something you've heard of.  You may have heard it described as "Smart Home" or just general "Home Automation."  But what exactly is it, and how does it relate to home security?

According to Wikipedia, X10 is an "...industry standard for communication among electronic devices used for home automation..."  What does this mean?  Basically, you can purchase an X10 controller that will send a signal through the electrical wires to your X10 devices, "commanding" them to perform some function.  The possibilities are pretty much endless.  An easy example is lighting.  Using X10 you can control all, or some of the lights in your home remotely.

So, how does this play into home security?  Well, some home security systems, such as the GE Simon 3, are now X10 compatible.  And many home security devices are now X10 devices.  For example, you can purchase an internal siren that will automatically sound in the event of an alarm.  When an alarm is registered on your system, it sends out a signal in the electrical wires that is picked up by any X10 devices set to pick that up.  You could have all of the lights in your home immediately turn on or only have a strobe light to disorient and frighten an intruder.  The possiblities are endless.  Basically, it adds a new level of convenience and protection to your existing home security system.  

Technology Gives New Boost to Self Reliance and Security

Older People Want to Use Technology to Help Them Remain at Home

A sad reality in many cases is that people are unable to take care of their elderly parents. Sometimes it’s a difference of living halfway across the country; other times, the elderly parent has lived on their own for so long that moving in with their children is not something they want. In these cases, people frequently think that a nursing home is the only option. And perhaps in the past, that was true.

However, as this article shows, thats not the case anymore. It shows an increased willingness in people over 65 to make use of new technologies, such as home security or automation systems, so that they can remain at home. It’s an interesting article and well worth a read for anyone, but especially those who have to care for their older parents.

A specific example that would help is a security camera for the front door. This way when the doorbell rings, the homeowner can check first to see who it is, and if they want to answer. There are countless other options to help in this regard.

A home security system can't replace a loving relative. But, if you are unable to take care of an elderly family member, home security and home automation can go a long way towards restoring peace of mind.

Increase Your Home Automation with In-House Audio

SafeMart is now offering a whole line of JBL speakers. These are top quality speakers that can be easily integrated into an existing home theater or a home audio system. They are also paintable, so your system can be very discreet. Right now, we have the residential, in-ceiling and in-wall models. However, watch for us to begin carrying a commercial version designed for school auditoriums, concert venues, etc. This really is a whole new level of audio.

Wait a minute! Why are they carrying audio speakers? Isn’t SafeMart a home security company? It is, but it’s also much more. Our specialty and primary focus has been and always will be home security. We are still committed to offering you the lowest prices on the best systems with excellent customer service.

However, many customers have asked us about other “smart home,” low voltage, do-it yourself type features. So, we decided to add them. We are now carrying items ranging from speakers to central vacuums to GPS systems. It’s all part of our goal to make your SafeMart experience the best it can possibly be.