Point Keeps Watch on Your Home for Intruders, Fire and More

Point Keeps Watch on Your Home for Intruders, Fire and More

For millennia, a faithful mutt was always the most efficient method of keeping a home safe. The special combination of unconditional love, keen ears to sense intruders, and a sensitive nose to sniff out fire was incomparable. Except, while the furry bundle of love part still applies, I think Fido’s job may now be under threat. Point looks like a sleekly designed fire alarm, but in fact, it is much more. It can listen out for glass breaking or alarms going off, pick up the smoke from a cigarette, and sense other information about your home — and unlike a dog, it can tell you about them when you’re away from home.

Point Keeps Watch on Your Home for Intruders, Fire and More

Superbly following the stereotype of great Scandinavian design, Point is meant to be a friendly kind of security. Instead of taking a big brother approach of filming everything, this Kickstarter project uses passive forms of sensing danger, and requires no setup or maintenance whatsoever, apart from an annual battery change.

Point Keeps Watch on Your Home for Intruders, Fire and More

Inside the unassuming white unit is a microphone, a thermometer, a humidity sensor and a smoke detector, along with a tamper detector (Point knows if it has been taken off the wall) and a Wi-Fi connection to send the data somewhere useful. However, it is what Point’s system does with the gathered data that makes it truly useful. For instance, sounds are analyzed, and are categorized as “front door unlocked” or “loud music in the living room”, and while the thermometer and smoke detector work together to figure out whether somebody has burned some toast, or actually set the building on fire. These reports are then sent via your home Wi-Fi to your smartphone, and events are logged as a very accessible timeline.

The prospect of installing such a useful little device has clearly caught the imagination of many Kickstarter users, given that Point has already reached nearly three times its original funding goal. Even with all the Early Bird pledge tiers gone, the price of a Point for backers is only $79, which seems remarkably good value, and shipping will commence next July.

For more on the project, visit Point’s website or Kickstarter page.

Mark is best known for writing about apps, but he also loves the tactile, hardware side of technology. Being a professional photographer, he's pretty handy with a camera, and he's a self-confessed tweetaholic.
Join the Discussion

You Might Also Like

Flashlightgo EDC flashlights: They shine light on your outdoor adventures

Flashlightgo EDC flashlights: They shine light on your outdoor adventures

I’ve got adventurers in my family. So when the holidays roll around or their birthdays are near, I know exactly what to buy: EDC gadgets. A palm-size, lightweight design characterizes EDC products, so they’re ideal for my favorite boaters and..
Apple Wonderlust: The new iPhone 15 Pro with USB-C, Apple Watch Series 9, and more

Apple Wonderlust: The new iPhone 15 Pro with USB-C, Apple Watch Series 9, and more

We’re following the Apple September event. Everyone who follows Apple know that this one’s all about the—you did not hear it!—new iPhone 15. The event began at the Apple Park with Tim Cook and showed us glamorous Apple Watch upgrade..
Everdure KILN R Series review: An outdoor pizza oven for home that has a rotating table

Everdure KILN R Series review: An outdoor pizza oven for home that has a rotating table

Elevate your home pizza nights with the Everdure KILN R Series. This pizza oven for your backyard cooks pizza in 2 minutes. Plus, it has a rotating table, giving you an evenly-cooked pie, every time. Anyone who loves pizza knows..
Vitaloop review: This filtration water bottle purifies water from nearly any source

Vitaloop review: This filtration water bottle purifies water from nearly any source

Want to drink fresh, safe water while you hike? Maybe you’re not sure about the water quality at your school or office. Well, that’s where the Vitaloop can help. This filtration water bottle cleans water from pretty much any source...
Withings ScanWatch Light & ScanWatch 2 health smartwatches are like personal health assistants

Withings ScanWatch Light & ScanWatch 2 health smartwatches are like personal health assistants

Withings ScanWatch Light and ScanWatch 2 are both health-focused smartwatches equipped with features for tracking movement, heart rate, and menstrual cycles. Plus, they boast an impressive 30-day battery life. Smartwatches offer a wide range of features and functions that make..
Lenovo Legion Go gaming handheld levels up gaming with its portable controllers

Lenovo Legion Go gaming handheld levels up gaming with its portable controllers

Powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processor, Legion Go is Lenovo’s first Windows 11 gaming handheld device. It creates an immersive experience for its gamers. The IFA 2023 event has brought us a delightful surprise in the form of..