Security Cameras

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When Visual Data Is Essential

Vision is the most powerful sensory mode humans have for gathering and processing information about the world around us. The primacy of vision means that security cameras can provide valuable data for almost any smart home family.

Intelligently-placed cameras are like having a virtual eye witness on duty 24/7, keeping a look-out for anything that might need attention. They will:

  • Show you who’s at the front door, before you get up from the dinner table, or remotely open the door.
  • Capture images of suspicious people loitering near your home—while you’re away.
  • See who you daughter brings home with her after school, before you get home from work.
  • Check up on the puppy you’ve just adopted— while you’re out shopping.
  • Observe the behavior of a new babysitter, while you’re enjoying a concert.
  • Make sure you’re aging father is really OK, even when he says he’s fine.

Security camera technology is evolving rapidly, supported by advances in digital photography, cloud storage, and related technologies. Current options include:

  • Internet protocol (IP) cameras that can send images directly to your computer, smartphone, or cloud storage—for later retrieval or forwarding to whoever you choose.
  • Cameras which capture images in High Definition.
  • Cameras which can Pan left and right, Tilt up and down, and Zoom from wide angle to telephoto.
  • Cameras with facial-recognition software.

Camera placement must be chosen thoughtfully. Covering the outside perimeter of the home with cameras is a no-brainer. Inside, things can get more complicated.

Placing cameras inside the front and back doors is generally considered non-invasive, as well as in a nursery. And most people might not consider them intrusive in spaces like living and family rooms, especially if there is a legitimate need. But for bedrooms and bathrooms, privacy needs generally override security concerns, unless compelling safety reasons exist.

For example, an aging parent who lives alone and has dizzy spells at night might feel more secure with a camera installed in the bedroom, even though it might intrude on their privacy. But they should still be permitted to consent to the idea. See Surveillance: Balancing Safety and Privacy (coming soon)

Used intelligently, security cameras can deter crime, provide peace of mind, identify emergencies, and keep track of activities in your home—when you’re not there to oversee things. Used inexpertly, they can intrude on privacy, or provide a false sense of security.

A Smart Home expert can help you select the camera technologies and locations that are right for your family and your home—and find the correct balance in implementing them.