Did I leave the stove on? Is the curling iron unplugged? Anxious but techy consumers may soon fret no more! With the help of Amazon, they may be able to put such nagging questions to rest remotely.
Last fall, American tech company Amazon unveiled a flying indoor camera. The bird’s-eye security device is called the Ring Always Home Cam. At least one alert analyst has asked whether the name reflects the current coronavirus state of affairs. (Always Home. Get it?) But in an October Wired article, Amazon says it chose the name long before the pandemic caused such a mess. It intended to provide a virtual presence when home occupants aren’t—present at home, that is.
With Ring’s new technology, absent homeowners can direct the Always Home Cam to hover over the stove, check window locks, or even peek at Fido’s antics.
When not in use, the indoor-only drone sits on a small base. It automatically takes flight if it senses movement in the house during its “away” setting.
Users will need to program the drone’s “flight path” by hand-carrying the camera portion around the house. Ring engineer Jamie Siminoff writes on the company blog that the flying camera “give[s] users the flexibility of every viewpoint they want around the home”—and omits any they don’t. Specialized “obstacle avoidance technology” keeps the drone from crashing into a pet or a person.
Amazon’s Ring brand is best known for doorbell cameras. But in addition to the flying drone, Amazon says it will soon enter the video game streaming business and launch a camera and alarm system for cars.
Critics have long raised privacy concerns about the Ring concept. They say the company’s close relationship with police departments—which might use images captured without a subject’s knowledge—are potentially problematic.
Amazon says the drone records only when it is in the air. Company reps also point out that the drone’s rotors make a distinct sound when it flies. That keeps it from being too stealthy.
Siminoff says, “We even designed Always Home Cam to hum at a certain volume, so it’s clear the camera is in motion and is recording.”
Amazon expects to sell the flying camera next year—pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The price for the extra set of (flying) eyes will be around $250.
!!!!!!!!FIRST COMMENT!!!!!!!!!
I think that is really creepy for someone to watch you.
2nd comment!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I think that would be creepy .
Third Comment
They say it's only recording when you hear the hum, so couldn't they have it silently take a video? Also they couldn't use any footage from the Ring in a court case, because it is private information I'm pretty sure, since there isn't any warrant.
Whoa, cool!
You can use that to see what's going on in your house, even when you're not home! Now that's a great way to do security. And that part in this article that said "Did I leave the stove on?", that was funny.;D
Hmmmmmm(5th comment!!)
It seems that us Americans are getting lazier and lazier. But it could still be useful
Lolol more like "is the
Lolol more like "is the straightening iron unplugged?"
7th!!!!!!
I dont wanna stream my Video games from Amazon!!!! I am in ownership of a WiiU and Nintendo Switch! I would rather buy video games physical from GameStop or physical from Amazon. Not Stream them
Cool! But also creepy!
I think it's cool that we have this technology, but I wouldn't trust it alone in my house. Alexa is border-lined. I don't consider myself a conspiracy theorist, but I also want to be private.
OK, this is like, a terrible
OK, this is like, a terrible idea. For real, this thing can fly around checking on your house whenever, (despite what Amazon may say) recording who knows what.
:)
I think havin a flying drone watching you around your house is kinda creepy too, and you also don't know were those images are going. but I guess it would be nice when your gone, in case of a robber or fire. ect.
hmm
i dont find that as creepy as an echo home, but that would be kinda fun to have
Yeah
Yeah, I guess it would be maybe like a cool drone flying around you house watching out for danger.
13th comment
I bet youtubers are going to trick these things out I think the first will be The Hacksmith.#SubscribetoHacksmith
Ok, there is danger
I recently found out the your phone camera is always looking at you, so hackers can look at you, too!!! What if this thing does the same thing?? Hackers (or worse, the creators of this camera-floaty-thing!) Can find out your personal information and track you! Beware!
Always cover your phone camera while not in use.
@Above
I agree with Titus about people getting lazier! I mean, if they know they can check it at any time, then why bother double checking to see if you turned the stove off? I would not want one in my house. You never know. But it can be good for people, but then again...
I was talking to my brother
I was talking to my brother the other day about playing piano, and I looked down at the tablet that was in my hands and "google assistant" started talking and saying like "Here are some video's to learn piano" and we were a little freaked out xP
this is Mylee
look at my comment on science advisor levels up! Our family needs a secirity camra outside but not inside flying around watching you creepy : l
@ NA
That . Is . Creepy. ..
Which is why I switched off Siri on all my family’s devices.... I don’t think they even know I did it : P
Cool!
Now I can see what my pets to while i'm gone. But then again, my parents can see what I do when they're gone...
As i said before...
TAKE ME BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES! This is too scary! take me back to when this stuff wasn't even heard of! time machine, please!
As i said before...
TAKE ME BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES! This is too scary! take me back to when this stuff wasn't even heard of! time machine, please!
Welcome to The Beginning of Communist America
China ,North Korea ,Russia. THEY ALL HAVE THESE FOR WATCHING PEOPLE AND LISTENING TO THEM!!!!
MMMMMMMM?
I don't know about this I think it is cool and all but it is another pair of eyes that you don't really control.
=(
The last thing I want is for some camera to see me do all my personal stuff....
I think it's creepy!
yeah, the idea sounds really cool but if you think about it it's really creepy. there's cameras or listening devises on almost all the technolegy we own! any hacker could hack
in and see and listen to you!
creepy!
who knows what's watching you!
@LifeHack
my family always puts paper or a sticker over the web cam!
hmm
I feel like it could be creepy but also could be useful.
cow chow nugg
cow chow nugg
This is pretty neat, but I
This is pretty neat, but I think our cat would probably destroy it in like the first week we got it lol.
@DESAROSE
Eh? I dont knoweth what thou are sayineth.
Caden W
Alas, the world hath grown evil in the past century. Knoweth thou what i speak of?
@Caden
For, the world seems to have forgotten the code of chivalry and courtesy. Alas, i and thou seem to be the only ones that even speaketh correctly in this dark and frightful age. For this is a gadget of sorcery that is spoken of in yonder document, doedst thou agree? By my sword, it shall be destroyed!
XD XD XD XD
@ DESAROSE
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
@Caden
it was fun.....XD XD XD lol
@Desarose
Yep!
@Desarose
Yep!
Cool yet creepy
That’s a really cool idea, but in my opinion that’s just plain creepy! What if the government or something are just looking through it! (I don’t mean to offend anyone, that’s just my opinion)