If you have a voice-activated service at home like Alexa or Google Assistant, you have probably already used it to do a variety of cool things like get the latest weather report, order pizza and turn on your current favorite playlist of tunes.
These personalized tech assistants can also answer a variety of questions in an often amusing way, help kids with their homework and even bust out their inner comedians. You can ask Alexa, “tell me a joke,” and she may say something like, “What’s a pirate’s favorite letter? You might think it’s R, but his first love be the C.”
As useful, clever and fun as these features are, Alexa and Google Assistant are also fully capable of taking on a far more serious topic: your home’s security. Depending on what types of home security/smart home gadgets you have, you can often integrate them with Alexa and Google Assistant to make them work even more effectively and efficiently. Here’s how.
Use Your Voice to Activate Your Security Camera System
Certain makes and models of home security camera systems can be activated with a hands-free voice control. For example, many security camera systems from Lorex feature Smart Home Voice Control. They are compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and you can activate camera features and also access live or recorded footage on your smart TV. Some things that you can say include, “Alexa, show me backyard camera” and “Alexa, turn on front porch siren.”
Ask Your Doors to Lock — and They Will
Depending on what type of smart door locks you have, you can now activate them with your voice and either Alexa or Google Assistant. For example, the Yale Real Living line of locks connects with Alexa to either check the status of your locks or lock your doors. Once the Yale locks are installed, you simply download the app and connect the various locks to the app, naming each lock in the process. Go with simple terms like “front door” or “garage door” that are easy to remember; once everything is set up, you can use your voice and Alexa to help secure your home.
Call for Help
You don’t have to be an older adult to need help sometimes. People of all ages can tumble inside the home, or you or a family member may be spooked by a weird noise outside and want to call for help. Thanks to Ask My Buddy, Alexa or Google Assistant and your voice, you can call for help when you need it. When you say “Alexa, Ask My Buddy to Send Help” or “Hey Google, Ask My Buddy to Send Help,” it will make a voice call, send a text message and e-mail to your predesignated contacts. While this is not a replacement for 911, it can be useful in case you have misplaced your phone or cannot reach it. You can also choose if the alert goes to one or up to five contacts; for instance, you could set it up with a babysitter and if there is some type of emergency at the home, he or she can ask Alexa or Google to contact only you for help.
Your Voice Is a Powerful Tool
Technology has had such a positive impact on so many parts of our lives, and our home’s security is definitely part of this. Thanks to the combination of Alexa or Google Assistant, your voice and innovative technology, our homes can be safer and more secure than ever.
