When my niece started a new babysitting job last week, the first thing she did after the parents left for work was to look around for where their nanny cam might be hidden. “These people are rather sophisticated and work long hours, so they’re probably the type of parents who would use a nanny cam,” she explained. “Of course I have nothing to hide, but I would sure like to know which teddy bear is taking pictures of me!”
Little did my niece know that the days of the traditional teddy bear nanny cam are long gone. Today, there are a wide range of covert surveillance cameras for in-home use — popularly know as “nanny cams”– hidden inside a variety of common household objects. And, nearly all of today’s nanny cams have gone digital, which means that their recording and viewing capabilities are more sophisticated, and their prices have dropped too.
If you are thinking about getting a nanny cam so you can keep an eye on your child care provider, or to monitor the aide taking care of an elderly relative, or to observe any other activity in your home when you’re not around, here’s what you need to know:
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Did you know that the same types of GPS tracking devices used in police surveillance are also available to parents to monitor new teenage drivers? My friend Lisa’s 17-year-old son just got his driver’s license and she wanted to be able to monitor his driving habits, so she installed a GPS tracking device in the car. The GPS lets her see his exact location and on a map on her computer along with the speed he is traveling in “real time.” She can even set boundary and speed limits and get text messages and email alerts if Billy drives too far or too fast!
There are lots of ways to use a GPS tracking device, in addition to keeping an eye on the new drivers in the family. Here’s a quick overview on GPS tracking technology to help you decide which type is best for you.
How Does a GPS Tracking Device Work?
A GPS tracking device uses the global positioning system (GPS), a space-based satellite technology that identifies the exact location of a person, vehicle or object on earth.
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If you’re looking for some original gift ideas, look no further. Here’s a list of clever and useful DIY gifts that are all priced at under $100!
Gifts Under $50
Washing Machine Shutoff Hoses by FloodSafe – This is a simple, non-mechanical solution to protect against the catastrophic water damage caused by broken, brittle washing machine hoses. When the FloodSafe washing machine connector hose detects an excess flow of water, the flow of water is automatically turned off. Needs no electricity, batteries or other power source. Every washing machine owner on your list will appreciate a set of FloodSafe hoses. On sale now for $21.99.
YardGard Alarm for Gates, Windows and Doors – If you’re looking for a unique gift for parents of young children, give them a YardGard Alarm so they can monitor unsupervised children or trespassers coming and going into their yard, pool area, house or potentially dangerous areas. The alarm alert sounds an extra loud 120 dB siren. Kit includes hardware for mounting on gates, doors and windows. Special holiday sale price is only $35.99.
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When I first heard about a product called a “location device” that helps you find people or things, I thought of my friend Sally who is constantly losing stuff – like her cell phone, her three-year-old and her elderly, diabetic cat. (Once, she even lost her grandpa, who lives with her and suffers from dementia!) Sally is a typical suburban soccer mom with four kids who is always on the go, and her life is pretty hectic. But after that time grandpa went missing for four hours, I knew Sally needed help managing her life and this location device sounded perfect.
What is a “Location Device?”
A location device is handheld guide that helps you locate possessions, pets and people. Location devices come with small, battery-powered homing tags that you can attach to whatever you don’t want to lose – such as a pet, a child or a set of keys – and a handset that alerts and directs you to whatever you are looking for. Some location devices are designed specifically for finding lost pets and others are used for locating lost children. And there are other systems, such as the Loc8tor Plus, that are more versatile and come with multiple tags that you can use on just about anything or anyone.
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The holidays are here again and everyone is looking for unique gift ideas. Here’s a list of gift suggestions that that are original, useful and affordable – and sure to bring a smile to those special people on your shopping list.
For Grandparents and Seniors
Amplified Alarm Clock with Wireless Vibrating Pad & Telephone Signaler – Do you know someone who is hard-of-hearing or hard to wake up, or both? This extra loud alarm clock wakes deep sleepers with a loud 90dB signal and/or vibration. The Amplicom TCL 200 Digital Alarm Clock can also signal incoming phone calls. Now offered for $73.00.
Wireless Motion Detector – No one wants to be surprised by strangers at the door. With this wireless passive infrared sensor, grandma can monitor an entrance, walkway or other covered location up to 600 feet away and be warned when a person or vehicle approaches. The Dakota Alert IRWR-3000 Wireless PIR is sold as a kit for $149.99. Extra sensors can be added.
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Many mobile phone users ask us what’s the difference between GSM and CDMA wireless cellular service and, if given the choice, which technology should they choose for their cell phone or cellular terminal? This article provides a simple explanation of the two technologies and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each.
GSM vs. CDMA
GSM and CDMA are two competing cellular network technologies. GSM – which stands for “Global System for Mobile Communications” – was introduced in 1987 as an international standard for mobile phones. It is now the most popular standard in the world with over five billion users worldwide in 212 countries. GSM is used exclusively in Europe and other parts of the world. CDMA – which stands for “Code Division Multiple 
Access” — was originally a proprietary standard developed by Qualcomm but evolved into the more dominant network standard in North America and parts of Asia. There are now over 575 million CDMA users in the world.
Both technologies have introduced 3G (third generation) standards which provide fast mobile broadband access to smart phones and computer modems, and its successor 4G is under development.
Incompatible Technologies, but Both Used in the U.S.
Both GSM and CDMA technologies transmit voice and data, but in different ways, which makes them incompatible.
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Did you know that for less than $300 you can add a cellular connection to your office that can be used for voice and text service? This revolutionary device — called a “fixed cellular terminal” – works anywhere there’s a cell signal and can be used to provide cellular connectivity for any device that needs a dial tone, including security systems, remote monitoring systems and fax machines. You can also use a cellular terminal to add an extra phone line or replace your landline phone. More advanced models even provide Internet access. There are many ways a cellular terminal can help small businesses save money and improve operations. Here are five of them:
1) Reduce $$$ for calls to and from cell phones – Route all incoming and outgoing cell phone calls through your cellular terminal to reduce or eliminate charges. Nearly all cellular service plans charge less for cell phone-to-cell phone calls than they do for cell phone-to-landline calls. And if the calls are in-network, they are usually free!
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Did you know that poor sleep affects both memory and learning? For many college students, lack of sleep is a leading contributor to poor academic performance. Studies show that college-age students need at least 7 hours of sleep per night, but only 11 percent of American college students sleep well consistently. Irregular bedtime routines make it hard for students to get to sleep and even harder for them to get up in the morning. A really loud alarm clock can work wonders to rouse a groggy student, but improving sleep habits should be every college student’s ultimate goal. Here are some tips to help college students sleep better: Read the rest of this entry »
Sophisticated remote monitoring systems are used widely in commercial greenhouses to help growers maintain the right balance of temperature, humidity, light and soil moisture in order to optimize growing conditions. Affordable remote monitoring systems with similar functionality are also available for amateur gardeners who want to get the most out of their home greenhouses.
In a backyard greenhouse, a remote monitoring system can provide 24/7 monitoring of important variables such as:
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
- CO2 levels
- Power status
- Soil moisture
- Zone water presence
- Motion
- Smoke
One of the most popular features of a remote monitoring system is the autodialer. Because greenhouse growing requires a lot of care and attention, many gardeners worry about leaving their home greenhouses unattended when they’re away on weekends or vacations. It is during these absences that a remote monitoring system can act as your home greenhouse “babysitter.” If the conditions in the greenhouse fluctuate outside your set points, the remote monitoring system notifies you immediately that there is a problem via a phone call, text message or email (note that the form of notification varies, depending upon the model).
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If your dad likes to show off his cooking skills on his backyard grill or at the weekend tailgate party, one of these cool grill accessories will make a great Father’s Day gift for him. Most men love electronic gadgets, and they like to be very precise about their cooking, so these BBQ tools are sure to be a hit. Remember, Father’s Day is celebrated on June 19th this year. Read the rest of this entry »
