Is Big Brother Watching You? Or Are You Watching Big Brother?

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Is Big Brother Watching You? Or Are You Watching Big Brother?

Is Big Brother Watching You? Or Are You Watching Big Brother?

Isn't technology a wonderful thing? I thought this as I received the text to my mobile phone telling me that my home security camera had detected movement. Someone or something was where they shouldn't be at the rear of my house and I was 2000 miles away on vacation ? yet I still knew they were there. Fortunately the text wasn't followed up by another from one of the sensors on my windows telling me that someone was breaking in and it was urgent I did something about it.

A quick call to my neighbour and the drama was over, must have been that big old moggy over the back on his nightly prowl.

Just imagine the peace of mind knowing that my castle was safe and was being looked over by technology and that my worldly possessions weren't strewn all over the back yard as some bad people made their hurried get-away and it was all down to technology.

Just a month earlier I had installed an add-on to my home security system that allowed me to monitor the state of various things around my home from anywhere in the world, either over the world wide web or by alert to my mobile phone. Even better still, I can logon to the internet in some friendly internet café, wherever I am, and set things up. I can setup lights to come on and off at will, I can turn the central heating on for a snug and warm return, I can even make a cup of tea (should any burglar want one whilst the police arrive) by controlling my trusty tea maker and all from anywhere in the world!

I am sure I am not breaking new ground here, this is not technology to revolutionise space travel or to solve the African drought problem but it certainly answers a need for me, the peace and mind of knowing my possessions are safe.

I got the idea to monitor my home remotely when, in the course of my work, I came across a little device that monitors anything from anywhere.

That's probably a sweeping statement and needs to be qualified slightly, it might struggle to monitor wind speed on Mars and send the results to Venus but you know what I mean.

When I came across it first, it was monitoring a whole host of things in remote water pumping stations, interesting things like bearing vibration and motor temperature, water leaks and intruder alarm. It was sending information back to a central location in collaboration with dozens of it's brothers and sisters in their remote pumping stations, all sending back information to the one central location ? fantastic!

Of course it was the intruder alarm bit that sparked my imagination (I don't have many vibrating bearings in my home). As I researched into it further I found that this remarkable little device (or one of its kinfolk) really could monitor ANYTHING and send the information ANYWHERE. I found that this technology was in use in areas that I had never imagined could benefit from remote monitoring or control, and for a variety of reasons. Reasons ranging from holding down costs to just plain peace of mind. It is used in healthcare to monitor vaccine temperatures in doctors surgeries, environmental monitoring in computer rooms, monitoring experiments in laboratories, in fact it's uses are limited only by your imagination, if you've ever wanted to keep and eye on whats going on with ANYTHING from ANYWHERE in the world, you can.

So you see, in my case, in my humble "home security" application of this wonderful technology, Big Brother IS watching and I AM Big Brother, watching over my home wherever I am, give it a try, I can recommend the peace of mind.

Colette York has peace of mind knowing that her home is watched over by Netcommander and she knows her possessions are Secure

In The News:

Modesto Bee
Comcast's 'intelligent home' offers high-tech peace of mind
Sacramento Bee
It's part of the growing interest in "intelligent home" systems, which let consumers – wirelessly from any location using their computer, tablet or smartphone – check their home's security system, as well as flick on the lights, ...
Comcast joins growing home-security marketSacramento Business Journal

all 3 news articles »

Lock up your home to avoid holiday blues
gulfnews.com
By Dina Aboul Hosn, Staff Reporter Dubai: Police have renewed the call for holidaymakers to register their houses in the Home Security Programme before leaving the country, which ensures the safety of their residences while they are away.

and more »

TIME
The battle for the 'smart home' heats up
Baltimore Sun
They're now also competing to help you operate a "smart home." Comcast and others — from home alarm incumbent ADT Security Services to wireless and broadband competitors such as AT&T and Verizon — are all jockeying to supply technology and services ...
New Comcast service turns TV into data centerBoston Globe
Comcast's Xfinity Home aims for comprehensive controlElgin Courier News

all 136 news articles »

Protect America, Inc. Ranks Among The Top Ten Residential Home Security ...
Houston Chronicle
Founded in 1992, Protect America is a leader in the industry and the first to create the monitored self-installed wireless home security system business model. Protect America announces it is ranked as the 8th largest residential home security company ...

and more »

Financial Times
AT&T Expands in Home Security to Seek Gains Beyond Phones
BusinessWeek
By Scott Moritz on May 07, 2012 AT&T Inc. (T) (T), looking for growth outside its slowing phone business, plans to start selling home-security services in a move aimed at challenging market leader ADT. The service lets users watch camera footage of ...
ATandT barges into home security and automationBoston Herald
AT&T Plans Nationwide Launch of Wireless-Centric Home Security and Automation ...MarketWatch (press release)
AT&T Mobility moves into home security marketNewsOK.com

all 395 news articles »

Events for the family
Philadelphia Inquirer
Kwikset Smart Security Tour Home security show. Home Depot, 1651 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. 5/25. 9 am-1 pm. Also at Home Depot, 4640 Roosevelt Blvd. 5/26. 9 am-1 pm. The Liberty Party DJs, food, drink specials the fourth Saturday of each month.

ABC News
Limbaugh bust security costs Mo. taxpayers $1100
WLNE-TV (ABC6)
(AP) - The Missouri House has spent more than $1100 in taxpayer money on a security camera to keep watch over a new bronze bust of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, the House clerk said Thursday. Clerk Adam Crumbliss said he authorized the camera ...
Limbaugh bust security costs Missouri taxpayers $1100KMOV.com

all 206 news articles »

Consider Home Security Your Biggest Home Improvement
MarketWatch (press release)
The first step in protecting your home is to consider a security review and audit of your home. Established security firm Dyno are the UK's largest mobile emergency locksmith service and offer a free security review with no obligation to buy.

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Wall Street Journal
USDA Is a Tough Collector When Mortgages Go Bad
Wall Street Journal
"It was a shock when I got the note that they were going to garnish my Social Security check," says Jeanne Marie Andersen, a 74-year-old widow who lives in Lake Crystal, Minn., and took out a USDA loan in 2007. Ms. Andersen lost her home to foreclosure ...

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Police warn of possible alarm company scam
WNDU-TV
Initially, O'Connor asked the home security representative if there would be any additional charges or new contracts associated with the system upgrade. The representative answered no to both inquiries. Yet, Thursday night O'Connor noticed a contract ...

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