Final week, I visited the world of the professionally put in sensible residence. That is the promised land. Every thing simply works, your voice assistant doesn’t attempt to promote you rest room paper, and you’ll management your complete residence with only one app. After all, you pay a hefty worth and have to surrender a lot of management for the privilege.
Technology
The perfect smart home controller exists — but you probably can’t buy it
The Ava sensible distant might be the love little one of an iPhone and a Logitech Concord distant
I used to be at CEDIA Expo 2022, the annual commerce present of the Customized Electronics Design and Set up Affiliation (suppose CES, however much less bizarre stuff and extra stuff you — or somebody with more cash than you — can really purchase).
Right here, I acquired to carry the just about excellent sensible residence controller: a modern touchscreen, wrapped in a clean anodized aluminum physique with a tiny bezel and a pleasant pad to relaxation your thumb on. The Ava Distant might be the love little one of an iPhone and a Logitech Concord distant.
I say “virtually excellent,” as a result of the Ava Distant prices $1,300, is barely out there by means of customized integrators, and doesn’t make a very good AV distant as a result of it has no bodily buttons. And that’s an actual disgrace, as a result of these three issues apart, it seems like they’ve completely nailed it.
The Ava is the primary Google Licensed distant management, which implies it runs the Google Play retailer, and you’ll obtain any app on to the machine. However in contrast to a cellphone, it’s not a private machine — in order that embarrassing textual content message gained’t pop up while you hand it to your mother-in-law.
It’s like a extra superior model of the Control4 Neeo distant (it was designed by the identical individual, Raphael Oberholzer). However the Neeo solely works with Control4. The Ava can work with any ecosystem that has a suitable app within the Google Play retailer: Crestron, Roon, and different customized integrator apps, but in addition Google Dwelling, Philips Hue, Lutron, Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music, simply to call a number of. (It’s not presently suitable with Control4).
It’s a genius thought as a result of, whereas there’s a lot of discuss in regards to the ambient sensible residence and the house that is aware of what you want and does it for you seamlessly, we’re not there but. The inescapable truth is right this moment’s sensible residence has been designed to be run out of your cellphone. The producer’s app is usually the most effective interface to regulate your lights, locks, or music, however nobody needs to regulate their residence with their smartphone.
I’ve misplaced observe of the variety of occasions I’ve been sitting on the sofa, pulled out my cellphone to show off the lights as a result of I didn’t need to use voice or stand up and push a button, solely to be distracted by notifications and emerge 10 minutes later having completely forgotten what I used to be doing. Most individuals want to depart their telephones alone after they’re at residence, and that’s virtually inconceivable to do in a sensible residence.
As I’ve written earlier than, the sensible residence wants easy, common management units that anybody in a family can use. These have to be simply accessible, simply charged, and simple to make use of by everybody, from relations to guests.
Shoehorning an previous smartphone or pill into the position of a sensible residence distant management doesn’t work properly
Voice just isn’t at all times the answer; there are many occasions you don’t need to must name out to a speaker to regulate your lights (to not point out loads of occasions when it will get it incorrect). Present sensible shows lack respectable person interfaces for sensible residence management as a result of they’ve been designed to be managed by voice.
In-wall controllers such because the touchscreen Sensible Management Panel and Orro sensible switches go half option to fixing the issue, however there’s nonetheless a necessity for a distant management that sits on the espresso desk, nightstand, or kitchen counter and is simply there for residence or music management.
Shoehorning a tool like an previous smartphone or pill into the position of a sensible residence distant doesn’t work properly as they’re designed as private units. Plus, they don’t final greater than a day without having to be plugged in (or migrating into somebody’s bed room as a private machine).
The Ava addresses virtually all of those points. Made by a Swiss-American producer specializing in audio streaming and residential management, the machine’s 2,200mAh battery ought to last as long as six days on one cost. It has a USB-C-powered magnetic charging stand designed for one-handed use, and it may be locked to at least one app when you simply need it to regulate simply your Google Dwelling or your Philips Hue lights. (It really works with the Google Play retailer, so it’s not going to be an Apple Dwelling controller, nevertheless it does work for Apple Music.)
The inescapable truth is right this moment’s sensible residence has been designed to be run out of your cellphone
It additionally has a built-in microphone and speaker for voice management along with your voice assistant of selection, and to work as an intercom between rooms. There’s no lock display screen to mess with; you simply choose it as much as wake it up. With a quad-core, 2 GHz processor underneath the hood, it might probably deal with working a number of apps easily, one thing your previous repurposed smartphone or pill may not be capable of sustain with.
The one factor the Ava doesn’t have is bodily buttons, which limits its use as a distant for complicated AV setups. With the Logitech Concord gone (Logitech discontinued it final yr), there actually isn’t a common AV distant that can also management your sensible residence. Luxurious sensible residence producers corresponding to Crestron, Control4, and Savant have remotes with tactile buttons designed to regulate your sensible residence and your AV set-up. I noticed a number of on the present, and largely, they appear to be the Concord.
To be truthful, CEO and co-founder Raphael Oberholzer tells me it’s actually not designed for controlling your TV system. It’s a devoted sensible residence distant. However in case you have your AV system arrange with Crestron or Savant — which many Ava clients will, because it’s solely out there by means of customized installers — you may no less than management your AV system with their respective Android apps. However with out bodily buttons, it’s simply not the identical.
There are some AV/Good residence options for the DIY sensible residence if you’re all-in on one ecosystem — the Apple TV and its slippery distant does an okay job, so long as your TV is at all times on and also you belief Siri to get all of your voice instructions right. (Why Apple doesn’t have a local Dwelling app on the Apple TV continues to be a thriller). Amazon’s new Alexa Voice Distant Professional paired with a Hearth TV Dice has some primary sensible residence performance, with two devoted buttons that set off Alexa Routines. However neither Apple nor Amazon (and undoubtedly not Google) has nailed the “controlling my sensible residence on my TV” expertise.
As I’ve mentioned, the sensible residence has been designed to be managed from a smartphone, and as such — when you can typically management units from totally different producers by means of one app — in lots of instances, the machine’s devoted app provides higher controls and a extra intuitive interface.
For this reason Ava’s easy answer feels prefer it may actually work. It is a vanilla distant that you simply put what it’s essential management your own home onto, whether or not you’re a Crestron integrator, somebody who runs your complete residence by means of Google Dwelling, or when you simply desire a easy touchscreen interface to take a seat by your Sonos speaker, so you do not have to tug out your cellphone each time you need to create a playlist.
The Ava isn’t the easy answer for everybody — not at that worth — nevertheless it’s an indication of what might be. That may be a moveable, touchscreen sensible residence controller for everybody in my sensible residence that’s as highly effective and as straightforward to make use of as a smartphone, however is unquestionably not my smartphone. It must have lengthy battery life and a worth level underneath $200, so I can have one in every major room of the home. And I would like it to regulate my TV, in addition to my sound system and sensible residence. Plus, it must look good sitting in its charging stand in my lounge. Is that an excessive amount of to ask?
Correction, Monday, October third, 6:30 PM: A earlier model of this text mentioned the Ava Distant works with Control4. There may be not a certified Control4 app that may be accessed by way of the AVA Distant.
Technology
Lego is bringing summer vibes with K.K. Slider and new Animal Crossing sets
Good news for those of us who love Animal Crossing and Legos. Starting August 1st, Lego is launching two new Animal Crossing sets and a minifig of one very special canine crooner.
Lego teased the news on its X account, which shows K.K. Slider doing his thing and a brief glimpse of the two new sets. (Amusingly, Lego notes that the K.K. Slider minifigure does not actually move or sing. Bummer.) K.K. Slider is part of a fall-themed Town Hall set, which includes Isabelle and Audie. There’s also a small truck, snack stand, and some foliage to go along with K.K. Slider’s concert setup. The other set is of a Dodo Airlines airport, complete with a control tower, dock, and airplane. Granted, hordes of your turnip-hungry friends won’t be flying through this particular airport… but it does have minifigures of Wilbur and Tangy!
That said, we only have this short teaser to go off of. As of yet, there are no details on prices or the number of pieces yet. Lego and Nintendo first teamed up to offer five other Animal Crossing sets earlier in March, with prices between $14.99 to $74.99 and pieces ranging from 164 to 535.
Technology
AI-powered home security system strikes back with paintballs and tear gas
A company from Slovenia, called PaintCam, is shaking things up in the security world.
It has come up with this wild new gadget, the PaintCam Eve.
It’s not just another security camera watching over your house. This thing packs a punch with paintball and tear gas projectiles to really give intruders a surprise they won’t soon forget.
CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER
How does the high-tech deterrent work?
The heart of Eve’s capability lies in its sophisticated computer vision technology. It can identify human faces and animals even in low-light conditions, distinguishing between friends and foes.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
The system, which comes in 3 models, Eve, Eve +, and Eve Pro, allows homeowners to categorize visitors via an app interface — making decisions about who is welcome and who is not. But the most intriguing feature? When Eve detects an intruder, it issues a stern warning, and if not heeded, it proceeds to launch paintballs or tear gas.
MORE: CREEPY TOOL LETS CRIMINAL HACKERS ACCESS YOUR HOME VIDEO CAMERAS
User control and responsibility
PaintCam does offer users a significant degree of control. The system alerts the homeowner when an unknown person is detected in the company of someone known, asking whether to “take the shot” or not.
This feature places a heavy responsibility on the user, turning home security into a more interactive and potentially morally complex activity. How users will navigate these choices, especially in high-pressure situations, is yet to be seen.
MORE: 6 BEST OUTDOOR SECURITY CAMERAS
Ethical and legal implications
While the prospect of a security camera that can “shoot” at intruders may sound appealing to some, it raises significant ethical and legal questions. The use of force, even non-lethal, by an autonomous system could lead to unintended consequences.
For instance, what happens if the system mistakenly identifies a neighbor or a child retrieving a lost toy as a threat? The legal ramifications of such scenarios remain unclear, making Eve a subject of debate among security experts and civil rights advocates alike.
MORE: SNEAKY LIGHTBULB SECURITY CAMERAS ARE THE NEXT BIG THING IN HOME SECURITY
Market potential and challenges
The global home security market is set to garner a market size of an estimated $106.3 billion by 2030, indicating a vast potential customer base for innovative products like Eve. However, its market success will depend not only on consumer interest but also on navigating the legal landscape and public perception challenges that such a confrontational device presents.
When will Eve be available?
PaintCam launched Eve with a Kickstarter campaign on Tuesday. At the time of publishing, the exact cost of the security device has not yet been disclosed. You can sign up for notifications about the product on PaintCam’s official website, as well as on the Kickstarter product page.
PaintCam’s commitment to proactive defense
The company posted this mission statement on its site:
“We offer innovative solutions that seamlessly integrate with your environment, establishing both passive presence and active deterrence. Our unwavering commitment is to make the world a safer place, not by fortifying intimidation strongholds, but by delivering intelligent, adaptable, and elegant security options.”
Kurt’s key takeaways
This innovation invites us to reflect on the nature of home security. Are we moving towards a future where our homes are not just passively protected but actively defended by machines? And at what point does the integration of such technology in our daily lives challenge our notions of privacy and safety? Only time will tell whether systems like Eve will become the new norm or remain a curious footnote in the evolution of home security technologies.
Considering the potential for mistakes, do you feel comfortable with the idea of a security system like PaintCam Eve that can autonomously deploy paintballs or tear gas? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
Gym teacher accused of using AI voice clone to try to get a high school principal fired
A physical education teacher and former athletic director of a Baltimore County high school has been arrested and charged with using an AI voice cloning service to frame the school’s principal.
The Baltimore Banner reports that Baltimore County police believe a recording whiich circulated through social media in January with purported audio of Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert making racist and antisemitic comments was fake. Experts told The Baltimore Banner and police that the recording, which briefly resulted in Eiswert’s suspension, has a “flat tone, unusually clean background sounds, and lack of consistent breathing sounds or pauses.”
Baltimore County police traced the recording to Dazhon Darien, a former athletic director at the school whose name was also mentioned in the audio clip. He allegedly accessed school computers “to access OpenAI tools and Microsoft Bing Chat services” as reported by WBAL 11 and NBC News. He was also linked to the audio’s release via an email address and associated recovery phone number.
It is not clear what AI voice platform Darien allegedly used.
The police arrested Darien on Thursday at the airport, and said in a statement “It’s believed Mr. Darien, who was an Athletic Director at Pikesville High School, made the recording to retaliate against Mr. Eiswert who at the time was pursuing an investigation into the potential mishandling of school funds.” He has been released after posting bail, and faces charges including theft (for the issue with school funds), disturbing the operations of a school, retaliation against a witness, and stalking.
In this fraught environment, OpenAI decided in March to withhold its AI text-to-voice generation platform, Voice Engine, from public use. The service, which only requires a 15-minute audio clip to clone someone’s voice, is only available to a limited number of researchers due to the lack of guardrails around the technology.
US lawmakers have filed, but not yet passed, several bills like the No Fakes Act and the No AI Fraud Act that seek to prevent technology companies from using an individual’s face, voice, or name without their permission.
Update April 25th: Clarified that Pikesville High School is in the city of Pikesville in Baltimore County, MD, added details about Darien and Thursday’s arrest.
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