Wiz has revolutionized the way we use lights in our homes with the WiZ Home Monitoring Starter Kit.
Wiz has unveiled a new home monitoring system that uses existing Wi-Fi smart light bulbs with motion sensors in conjunction with Wiz ’s new $70 (€90) indoor camera . It takes advantage of Wiz ’s “SpaceSensing” feature to detect changes in Wi-Fi signals caused by motion, then sends an alert to the app warning you of any intruders in your home. You can then check the camera to see what’s going on, while the smart light bulbs can flash at intruders to scare them away.
Similar technology has been used by Linksys ' Velop mesh routers , which send motion detection alerts to the app. While not as powerful as a full-fledged security system with dedicated sensors, WiFi detection is a decent alternative that's much cheaper and simpler. The indoor camera records in 1080p and has a 120-degree field of view, along with infrared night vision, image-based motion detection, and two-way audio thanks to a built-in microphone.
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The camera is pretty basic in terms of hardware, but it's the software features that really shine here. If the system can deliver on its promises, its simplicity and low price make it a very interesting home security solution, especially for apartments and smaller homes.
To set it up, all you need to do is find a spot for the camera and screw the Wiz full-color A19 smart bulbs into your existing light bulbs or sockets. From there, if the alarm is triggered by motion, the lights can be set to flash to let intruders know they’ve been detected. At the same time, the system sends notifications to the new WiZ V2 app , and you can even set it to monitor only certain areas of your home.
It even allows you to program routines that control the lights and monitoring, which can be set on a schedule or activated via the app. Of course, you can use your smart bulbs as you normally would in a smart home, activating them with voice commands, the app, and more. For example, you can set them to turn on and off randomly to give the impression that someone is home.
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The $160 WiZ Home Monitoring Starter Kit includes three WiZ A19 Full-Color Smart Bulbs and an indoor camera. You can record footage locally via an included microSD card or subscribe to cloud storage for up to 30 days of video recordings (all footage is end-to-end encrypted, WiZ promises ). The company has promised that 80-90% of its current smart lighting and home products will be compatible . The kit launches in Europe on June 15 , but there's no release date or pricing for the U.S. yet.
WiZ smart lights are an easy way to add home monitoring capabilities without having to install complicated systems. With their easy installation, you can quickly have peace of mind knowing your home is safe while you're away.
Source: engadget.com
