SALT LAKE CITY – A new high-tech system can remind homeowners to walk the dog as well as warn them about people entering their home when they aren’t there.
Xfinity Home is a system that includes cameras and other tools that allow homeowners to do a variety of useful things.
Xfinity Vice President Dennis Mathew said the system can do things like show you video whenever someone enters the home.
“So you can now, in addition to arming the system and making sure the home is secure, you can set up rules so that, you get a video clip for example, when the door opens, and you can see who's coming into your home,” he said.
The system can be controlled with a smart phone or tablet, and the options include controlling the lights and thermostat.
“For most folks, really their heating and cooling is the most expensive element of their energy usage,” Mathew said. “With our smart thermostat and with our ability to control lights, you can really start to manage that on a whole new level in a very easy manner.”
Xfinity Home user Ray Child said he likes that the system lets him see when his kids come home.
“It gives me some great lifestyle opportunities, like if my kids are coming home from school between three and four, I can easily set up a rule to take a photo of them when the front door opens just to make sure that I know they're there,” he said.
The system also features things like automatic door locks and reminders to complete regular tasks.
“I can set up rules very simply, in just a couple minutes,” Child said. “I can set up a rule that sets a reminder to remind me to take out the trash on Tuesday evenings. At seven o'clock, a voice comes on and says, ‘Don’t forget to take out the trash’ so I like that. I like to think I’m all together and I’m going to remember that every week, but that's a nice reminder for me.”
Mathew also said the system can be used by pet owners who like to keep a careful eye on their animals.
