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Nov 25, 2006 10:48 pm US/Eastern
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Home Security
by Robb Hanrahan
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
CBS4 takes a look a new wave in home security systems.
Technology, like sophisticated home monitoring systems, enables residents to watch what's happening in their homes through any computer while they're away. Now, newer, more sophisticated technology is taking the trend to a whole new level by allowing residents to monitor their homes through their cell phones.
CBS4 spoke to Csilla Clark who needs to stay connected to her home even when she's on the road uses a mobile monitoring program. "When I go out and I have a babysitter watching my baby, with the push of a button, I can see what's going on in the house."
Clark uses a system called "Homesight," one of several home monitoring services.
"Homesight lets homeowners keep an eye on their home, office or any location by directly monitoring video feeds while cameras detect motion up to 20 feet and send a text message to alert the subscriber. Once that happens, a subscriber can call up the room to view it. This is possible because the system's base unit works hand-in-hand with the software on the subscriber's phone.
Bob Diamond with Motorola HomeSight, told CBS4, "They're being notified of live events, like a door opening, motion being detected."
Many potential customers are wary of the system because of the threat of hackers breaking into the system to spy on unsuspecting homeowners.
Bob Gatchel of Unlimited Technology, Inc. told CBS4's
Robb Hanrahan,"anything that you transmit wirelessly can be picked up by anybody that has a similar technology or compatible receiving device."
Most products like Homesight have encryption technology built into it in order to keep hackers from getting access but that type of encryption must be enabled.
Another Homesight user, Peter Kleiner, said "I'm a single dad and I'm almost never home."
Kleiner keeps an eye on his home through his computer but recently decided to add the cell phone monitoring feature.
"If you're on the road or whatever, you can keep track of just about anything, anywhere," Kleiner said. "I don't have a full blown security system so now I know who's in my house, where they're going, what my kids are doing, it gives me peace of mind."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)