Home Security: Smart Houses and Other Waves of the Future

Security cameras are not unusual on residential properties today, as they are very affordable and allow homeowners to maintain their property's security even when not at home. These cameras and their programs often include a private website where you can view your property in real time, and also allow you to record video digitally, to store it on something other than a clunky video cassette. This can help law enforcement if there ever should be a break-in or vandalism on your property, and you then don't need to invest in hundreds of video cassettes to record what's happening around your home. When you're in the market for a new security camera, note a few important features to look for.

Glass and clarity

Many security cameras will give you a clear picture of what is happening just a few feet or meters in front of them, but then will record a very fuzzy image any distance past that. This can limit the ability law enforcement may have to see the face of someone who has vandalized or broken into your home, or to even note a good description of their height, build, and the like. The glass on the camera lens often affects its overall clarity, and while better glass and more clarity may mean a more expensive camera, it can be worth it to ensure your camera is actually getting a good recording of your entire property.

Password protection

It's not enough to have a closed URL where you can see your camera's display in real time; as obscure as the URL address may be, it's easy enough for hackers to find that address and monitor your property, checking out the blind spots of your camera and when you might habitually turn it on or off. Be sure your program is password protected and that you can change your password often, to keep out those hackers and keep your monitoring secure.

Speakers and microphones

 A speaker allows you to speak through the camera so that you can alert potential prowlers to the fact that you know they're on your property. You can also use the speaker to answer a doorbell when you're not home. A microphone lets you pick up on sounds that may alert you to a potential prowler or break-in; you can hear a window breaking in an area that is not seen by the camera or hear a gate lock being forced open, and alert emergency services as quickly as possible.