Smart home technology: Saving kittens from impending doom

You may know that Wi-Fi enabled smart homes can play your favorite music or turn on a lamp with a voice command. But did you know that this technology can also provide extra safety and security and save time too? For example, Central Alabama Electric Cooperative employee Derek Blankenship received a phone call from his mother one afternoon when she was not only concerned about the security of her home, but more importantly the safety of her two kittens. A pest company technician had noticed that her garage door and the door leading into the home were open and called to report it. Derek’s mom was at work nearly an hour away, and she was rightly concerned about frightening scenarios running through her head of someone breaking into her home or her kittens becoming lost or injured. Derek rushed to her home to assess the situation and arrived to find the garage door was still open but the door to the house was shut. After cautiously entering the home and checking room by room, he verified that no one else was inside and nothing had been stolen. Just as importantly, two oblivious kittens showed no concerns at all. He was able to call his mom and put her mind at ease. How could Wi-Fi enabled smart technology have helped Derek and his mother in this situation? Two simple technologies could have prevented a lot of worry: security cameras and a smart garage door. A smart garage door would have allowed her to shut the garage door from wherever she was, removing the fear that anyone could have walked into her home through that entry point. And through a simple camera system, she could have accessed a view into her home from an app on her phone to see if any doors were open or if anyone was in the house. Many cameras even have speakers so she could have even called out to her favorite felines to see if they were still in the home. And instead of kittens to check on, smart technology can give those of us with aging parents peace of mind by enabling us to check on their wellbeing whether through cameras, speakers or medical alert systems. Having high-speed internet with Wi-Fi access at home opens up a whole new world of useful technology, whether to offer more convenience, or to feel safe when you’re there and peaceful that all is well when you’re gone. Central Access is a locally-owned fiber based internet service provider serving communities in central Alabama. As a subsidiary of Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, our mission is to provide reliable, lightning-fast and affordable internet service to rural Alabamians. To find out if you’re eligible for service in our area, visit www.centralaccess.com and enter your address.