Getting started with a home security system can be a real headache under the best circumstances but, thanks to its smart home integration features, Amazon’s Echo and Google Home devices serve to make things easier. Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that doesn’t mean that simply owning either device – or both – will somehow make the process instantly accessible to anybody and everybody. The difficulties presented by the prospect are amplified number of security options available and the almost countless number of ways those can be used in combination with one another. Moreover, users will need to choose options that are compatible with the digital assistant chosen and, making matters worse, the vast majority of options available to users don’t necessarily integrate well with others without being integrated through a central hub. With that said, the process doesn’t have to be impossible and either companies’ device provides users with just such a central control point.
As mentioned above, there is a wide variety of options available to consumers who want to make their living or work space more secure. Manufacturers have embraced the IoT in order to create connected devices that range in size and function from smart doorbells and connected door viewers to motion detection and alarm systems. The options are nearly endless but the ability to bring everything into a single control center serves the purpose of creating what is effectively a single system. Smart lights and those enabled with motion sensors allow users to dissuade burglary by automating the system to give the appearance that somebody is still home, even when that isn’t the case. Smart doorbells, on the other hand, can come equipped with two-way speaker systems to achieve a similar effect when somebody rings the doorbell. Both those and connected door viewers allow users to view and review individual instances where somebody has approached the door, while camera systems of a staggering variety can provide real-time views of a given property or location. More traditionally-styled home alarms systems can also be integrated, as can thermostats, door locks, and a number of other items that improve security. So, the specifics regarding how any one person goes about setting up their system is going to largely depend on the level of security they are looking to achieve – or which individual devices or systems they want to incorporate.
Meanwhile, the exact options available for use with either company’s ecosystem will largely depend on whether Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa is being used. Some hardware related to home security and automation, such as Philips Hue-branded smart lighting, works well with both. Google’s Assistant ecosystem lagged behind on the connected home front after its initial launch, but most options recently made available and that will become available in the near future are likely to fit in with either setup. Having said that, it shouldn’t be too difficult to check compatibility before buying since the connectivity options of any smart home product are likely to be well-advertised by the manufacturer.