Folks of yesteryear would probably never have imagined that a little surveillance camera would help us see in the dark, or help cook our roast. Fortunately, home security companies continue to develop the technologies that bequeath our security cameras with additional functions.  

In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the extra benefits that you can enjoy from your surveillance camera.

1. Motion and Sound Detection

Some surveillance cameras have settings that detect sound and motion, thus switching the device out of hibernation, and recording the source of the movement, or noise. You can also program the cameras to set off a high decibel siren while still capturing images of intruders.

2. Night Vision and Infrared

Seeing in the dark with night vision capabilities is one of the most amazing features offered by modern surveillance cameras. The cameras capture enough light to allow the robust image sensors to capture faces and car license plates with incredible clarity.

The infrared cameras will still deliver quality images even in pitch darkness. Although a preserve of the military and Special Forces, modern night vision and infrared cameras are now available for civilian use. 

3. Facial Recognition

Copyright: Unsplash I License: CCO Public Domain

Life is much easier when you get notifications about who is at your door. A facial recognition capability in your surveillance camera will deliver just that information to you, and you decide whether to let them in or not. 

Intelligent software allows you to pre-program your friends, family members, and any other person so that when they appear in the frame, you receive a check-in notification that someone familiar has arrived.

Facial recognition capabilities mean that you can monitor your service delivery people as well. It will not mistake the postman and nanny for vandals or potential trouble makers; thus, your alarm will not activate.

4. Auto Adjustment of Video Quality During Time of Poor WiFi

Internet connectivity may sometimes lag, or drop altogether, which will affect how your surveillance camera performs. If you are streaming live video feed from your camera and the bandwidth gets compromised, the image quality will have a drop in the resolution. 

As a countermeasure, the camera can adjust the feed automatically and send it to the cloud storage. As such, you’re able to avoid disconnects, pauses, and faltering displays when viewing the images.

5. Setting Activity Zones

Assume for a minute that your pet Lassie has a basket that he relaxes in. The position of the basket is on one side of your front door, where he gets to take advantage of the porch shade during the hot afternoons. Since you do not want your dog's constant movement to trigger your alarm unnecessarily, you can fix your motion detection settings to exclude the basket region.

Just make sure that you still include the doggie door panel, because some burglars would not hesitate to access your house through it.

6. Video Feed Streaming, Standard clip, and Photo 

Copyright: Unsplash I License: CCO Public Domain

Cloud storage is very ideal for video streaming. Surveillance cameras can also be set to store various types of images. You can engage it to give constant live streaming, which means that you have ample storage capacity. The camera can use the program that records short 30 second video clips when it senses motion. However, you can set it to capture image snapshots alone. 

By choosing the type of image footage, you can turn your camera into a remote CCTV monitoring device or, become a streaming and broadcasting character. A celebrity star in your own reality show!

7. Integrated Features

If your camera integrates with other smart devices, this means that you can use Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant to control its functions as you do with your home automation suite. 

 

Having a smart home means that you can start your roast remotely and monitor its progress by using your camera. A hot dinner will be ready when your children arrive home from school.

8. Built-in Speaker and Microphone for 2-way Talk

If your household is extensive, with many people, having another means of communicating with them is always welcome. Some cameras come with built-in speaker and microphone that will allow them to call your cellphone and chat with you at the touch of one button.

Use the two-way Talk to calm down your pets if they become loud or overly playful, and save the hideous vase Aunt Cindy Lou gifted you from crashing down!

Final Thoughts

Security cameras are an excellent way to take care of your security responsibilities. There are more options that you can take advantage of by using your camera’s added attributes. You will not miss the essential life milestones of your family members, while other features will make your security measures more effective.