The explosion of smartphone and tablet controlled home automation devices continues with the introduction of “Piper”.
Piper connects to your home network with its 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and will monitor your home security and send you alerts and notifications as well as allow you interact with it from anywhere in the world from an app on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.
The Piper has an estimated ship date of this November for North American backers ($189) and next April for European customers ($249). Head over to the Indiegogo page to help fund the project and check out the video and the PR below…
Blacksumac today announced the launch of Piper, the first home security and automation device that combines HD panoramic video, Z-Wave home automation, and environmental sensors into a single elegant product that works with smartphones and tablets. Piper is now available for pre-order on Indiegogo, starting at $189 for the earliest backers.
According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, there are an average of 250 burglaries every hour in the US, and another study conducted by Temple University states that homes without security systems are 2 to 3 times more likely to be broken into. However, even those with systems regularly deal with false alarms, long expensive contracts, complicated intrusive equipment, and often lack any camera capability. For those who live in apartments and condos there are even fewer options.
“Combining security, high quality video, and home automation just makes sense,” said Russell Ure, President of Blacksumac. “You can’t get real peace of mind without actually seeing what’s happening at home, and the possibilities for making your home more secure and interactive really open up when you add automation into the equation.”
At the heart of Piper’s security and monitoring system is its panoramic HD video camera. From a mobile device, users can pan and zoom around from wall to wall and floor to ceiling, or switch to quad view to watch four different areas of a room at once. While watching live video, users can interact with family, pets, or even unwanted guests at home with two-way audio.
“I’m bullish on this new category of Internet-connected surveillance cameras with built-in security features,” said Julie Jacobson, editor-at-large for CE Pro and a home automation specialist. “Piper is the only product I’ve seen that goes much further with 180° digital pan-tilt-zoom video and security features and home automation with a rich user interface for remote monitoring and control.”
Security rules for Piper are completely customizable on the app, so users can decide how Piper will protect their place while they’re at home, away, or on vacation. Piper can send a text message alert and set off an alarm if someone enters the home while the homeowner is away.
Piper works with dozens of home automation accessories to make homes safer, smarter, and more comfortable. For example, lights can be turned on from anywhere, with a schedule or when it gets dark.
“I’ve been using Piper on a daily basis for weeks now, and I’m so pleased with how it fits into my home and my life,” said Caroline Warburton, an early pilot user of Piper. “I check in on my kids when they get home, turn my lights on automatically when it gets dark, and watch my pets while I’m at work.”
Piper’s Features
- Security – High definition panoramic video, motion detector, two-way audio, piercing siren, 3 customizable security modes.
- Automation – Z-Wave controller that works with hundreds of home automation accessories. Integrate Z-Wave accessories into Piper’s security rules, control them remotely, on a schedule, or using environmental data.
- HD Panoramic camera – 180° field of view both vertically and horizontally; HD live and recorded video; electronic pan-tilt-zoom allows panning, zooming around a room; watch video in quad view, full panoramic view, or fisheye view.
- Environmental Sensors – Stats on temperature, humidity, ambient light and sound.
- Alerting System – Customizable alerts for user and user’s trusted circle of contacts. Phone call, text message, email, push notification alerts describing events with recorded video attached.
- Elegant Design – Simple, intuitive app. Stunning, compact, two-toned form with brushed aluminum legs.
- Smart Hardware – ARM processor running Linux, battery backup, internal memory for video storage, 802.11 Wi-Fi enabled.
- Easy setup and use – Plug Piper in at home, connect it to Wi-Fi, set up security and automation rules on the app, and you’re done.
- Smartphones and tablets – Interact with Piper on iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets.
getpiper.com : Piper on Indiegogo
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I love Piper! Exactly what the world has been waiting for!
Fabulous, innovative and very affordable.
Piper is positioned to be the next “must have”!
wow some very cool features! The environmental sensors are something new. Is it coming to the UK?
Bought one of these about a month ago [I’m A UK customer and got stung for a Fed-Ex charge though].
Working well so far, been using the ‘basic’ package plus two z-wave door sensors.
The basic functionality is great, but having problems with the door sensor which I fitted to my front door. I’m attributing that to a Wi-Fi ‘black spot, or weak signal spot, because if I test the door sensor in the living room where the Piper unit is based it works great. Once in situ, not so great! I’ve ordered a wi-fi range extender to see if that helps. Otherwise, no problems and really handy!