Smart homes should include a safe word for emergency situations

When you think home security, Alexa and Google Assistant are not the first devices that come to mind (despite the inclusion of a camera in the Nest Hub Max.) After all, no one really wants their smart assistant to be that smart — the last thing we need is a Terminator situation.

The question is: Why not? A programmable safe word is a perfect addition to the current smart home, especially if it could be used without first triggering the command word (like Alexa or Hey, Google.) You could program in a quick, uncommon word that would contact authorities. For instance, you could use ‘pernicious’ as a safe word. How many people do you know that use that word in everyday language?

How the smart home can improve on the security front

Smart home technology has evolved far beyond just standard convenience. Modern devices are capable of tasks well advanced from what early adopters might ever have imagined. For example, there are smart doorbell cameras that can measure a person’s body temperature when they ring the doorbell. With features like that in mind, why can’t a smart home be more proactive in keeping the occupants safe?

Many smart cameras have facial recognition capabilities. This feature allows the camera to provide more specific notifications like, “Bill is at the door.” However, it could also work in reverse — if your camera is armed and it sees a face you don’t recognize, it could contact the authorities.