Many of us think of smart home technology in terms of what it can do to make our lives easier. We can check the weather from our refrigerator, thermostats learn our habits and sensors can quickly trigger a shutoff when they detect a water leak. Of course, smart technology can also make your home safer — going way beyond an alarm or a call to a monitoring service. And while you’ve probably heard of doorbell cameras and smart locks, these systems have gotten even more advanced.

“Home security has gone from an emotional sale to a gadget sale,” says Michael Pittman, president of Allied Home Security, a Texas company that serves the D-FW area. “In the past, people would buy home security systems because they were worried about getting broken into or they saw something going on in the neighborhood that didn’t make them feel comfortable. But security has changed into a system that makes you more in tune with your house.” From AI technology to better quality cameras, Pittman outlines trends in home security.

Doorbell cameras with AI technology

“The No. 1 thing that people want now is cameras,” says Pittman. “I’ve owned the company for over 10 years, and when we first started selling security systems, we were selling sensors for the doors and windows. However, our customer now wants to see the outside. They want to see what is going on.”

There are many options for doorbell cameras, starting with budget-friendly, self-install versions like the Arlo or the Ring; local security company can usually install a higher-grade camera with a better view and additioanl functionality. “You want to make sure the doorbell camera has a portrait view,” Pittman recommends. “A lot of doorbell cameras come with a wide view, but you need a portrait view so you can see the porch, especially where your packages are.” Some cameras come with AI package detection as well. “It will tell you if there’s a package at your door, and it will also tell you if a package has left,” he says. (Ring, for example, offers package detection through its Ring Protect subscription service.)

Another perk of AI technology is facial recognition. “The problem with some doorbell cameras is that you get a lot of false notifications, like when a car drives by,” shares Pittman. “Then the homeowner turns off their notifications, because they can be annoying. But that’s why AI is important. It will you tell if a person is at the door.” That makes the notifications more useful. Try the Google Nest Doorbell for the ability to distinguish between people, packages, animals and cars.

Smart locks with new features

“Smart home door locks, which use a code instead of a key, are really great for people with kids, those who have a housekeeper or nanny, or even homeowners who need to let a worker or painter in,” says Pittman. He explains that you can even set a temporary code for those who need limited-time access — those workers or perhaps guests in a vacation home — and then you can delete the code, all with a press of a button on an app. These locks are also convenient for homeowners, who don’t need to dig for a key while simultaneously lugging in groceries, kids’ backpacks or other belongings.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 allows you to unlock your door with a code, a fingerprint or, with the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus, a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch. You can also use the app to monitor who has entered your home and when.

Security cameras with color night vision and audio

Security cameras have traditionally provided black and white images, but you can now choose models that let you see in color, even at night. That will help you gather important details, such as, say, the color of a suspicious vehicle. “You want to get a camera that has audio as well,” says Pittman. “The audio can help identify people [through] voice, or you can hear what they are saying.”

Pittman suggests hard-wired cameras, as opposed to Wi-Fi versions. First of all, when the Wi-Fi goes down, the security cameras can’t capture data. “Another good thing about going with hard-wired cameras is that you don’t have to pay monthly fees for cloud storage or worry [about the devices not working] when you change your Wi-Fi password or service,” he says. He adds that burglars can use Wi-Fi jamming devices before breaking in. “Sticking with hard wired is your safest bet,” he says. Pittman suggests installing cameras at all entry points, including doors and gates.

If you’d prefer to purchase cameras yourself, rather than going through a security company, Pittman says to make sure that the model is NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) compliant so that overseas manufacturers aren’t collecting your data. “Cameras really need to have that stamp of approval,” he says.

This GW Security camera is NDAA compliant and offers color night vision and two-way audio.

Integrated, automatic lighting

Integrating a lighting system with your smart cameras adds another layer of security. “If a doorbell camera detects a person,” explains Pittman, “it will tell the security system to turn the front porch light on.” You can also program other lights in your house, like a living room lamp or a room light, to turn on with motion detection. “It makes it seem like a person is home,” he says.

Security companies like Pittman’s offer full integration between cameras and lighting, and allow you to control everything from one smart app rather than toggling between multiple apps and smart home systems. If you’re tech-savvy and want to install the system on your own, Ring offers a lighting line as well. You can turn your lights on and off, set a schedule or customize how the lights turn on when motion is detected. The FEIT brand offers an entire line of smart lights that allow you to turn them off or on with the touch of an app or by using voice controls integrated with Google, Alexa or Siri.

Pittman recommends scheduling lights in your home to turn off and on at various times of the day, especially when you’re traveling.

Smart garages

No more wondering if you left the garage door open — these days, you can just check an app after you leave the house. “Or when you go to bed at night and you forgot if you closed the garage, you don’t even have to get out of bed to look,” he says.

And there are other benefits as well. In addition to app-based control, the Chamberlain smart garage door opener comes with integrated, motion-activated LED lighting. You can sync with other smart devices and even enable secure, in-garage delivery for Amazon Prime packages.

What’s next for home security technology

Technology is always advancing, so what’s on the horizon for home security systems? Drones and better AI capabilities, says Pittman. “Let’s say that a camera detects a person in the front yard. A drone can deploy and go follow that person.”

Improved AI technology will make identifying porch pirates or burglars even easier. The next wave will include facial recognition, with the ability to program your family member’s faces into the system so that it will be able to distinguish an approved face from that of a stranger.

Love homes, design and real estate? Get more good stuff from Abode by following us on Instagram and Facebook.