The Daily Mail in the UK released a story last year about how an African Grey parrot had learned how to use Alexa to order the food it wanted. It was an incredible story – an example of how the unexpected can emerge on a daily basis in this complex world of ours – but Alexa’s skills go far beyond talking to smart birds. Now the technology can integrate with the security systems in your home.
Adding an integration like this is a major boon for many homeowners. If given a choice, people would rather say something like “Alexa, arm the alarm” than have to set it themselves or punch in codes every time they leave the house. What’s more, they’d like a system that allowed them to get alerts about alarms on their mobile devices, even while they’re out of the house: Amazon says that Alexa can do this too.
It should be pointed out that Alexa isn’t the only home assistant product that can manage your home security – Google Home can do it too – but as always, Alexa is a couple of steps ahead of its competitors, thanks to its first-mover advantage.
Alexa Integrates With Home Security
It was always only going to be a matter of time before Alexa, and other voice-assistants, began integrating with home security systems. Owners already had the option of combining cameras inside and outside their homes with voice control, but now it appears that the compatibility is being taken to the next level. Thanks to its microphones and ability to sense what’s going on in a house, Alexa is an ideal guard dog. Unlike regular dogs who don’t have the intelligence (or the manual dexterity) to pick up the phone and call you when there’s an intruder on the property, Alexa can do that, silently and instantly.
The system is particularly useful in the business setting too, although Amazon hasn’t marketed Alexa as a business tool. The voice assistant can integrate with existing business security systems.
Fire Protection
According to experts at Advanced Protection Systems, fire monitoring systems are one of the most critical safety features of any building. When a fire starts, it can be hazardous, leading to loss of property and life. But now that Alexa can integrate with fire alarms and smoke detection systems, Amazon says that it makes homes a much safer place and could ultimately result in less damaging fires. If a fire starts, Amazon can alert the homeowner who can then immediately call the fire department. In some situations, Alexa may be able to do this herself.
Carbon Monoxide Alerts
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas because it binds to hemoglobin in the blood, preventing the uptake of oxygen and causing suffocation. Carbon monoxide alarms are great, but without integration, you often don’t know there’s a problem. Alexa can take over this role, telling you that you have a carbon monoxide problem in your home without you having to breathe in dangerous gases in the process. Alexa can also recommend specialists to come to your home to fix whatever is causing the leak.
