Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Piper detects when no one’s home and lets you arm the alarm remotely

Add as a preferred source on Google

Even the best home security systems are only effective if they’re actually armed. Unfortunately, it’s easy to walk out the door without remembering to set your alarm. To reduce human error, the Piper system now features smart arming, a feature that allows users to set their system from their mobile device when it detects that no one’s home.

Smart arming is the result of a partnership between Piper and Life360, and it lets household members check in and out of the home by pressing a button. Users can use the Piper app to see if anyone is home and if the alarm needs to be set. The app can also send notifications — by text, phone call, push message, or email — to inform you of any security developments, including when no one is home but someone forgot to turn on the system. If you get the notification on your phone, you can arm the system without opening the app.

Recommended Videos

“We’re focused on providing peace of mind for families, and so far that’s been by letting people know where their families are and that they’re safe,” said Alex Haro, co-founder and president of Life360. “The Piper partnership is exciting because it allows us to take another step forward in our vision of providing peace of mind by connecting people with their homes, cars, and devices.”

Piper is a DIY home security system from Icontrol that uses a Wi-Fi-enabled, Z-wave-compatible camera to monitor your home using panoramic video and motion and sound detection.

The addition of smart arming comes shortly after the Piper’s launch of Marketplace, an addition to the Piper app that makes it easier for users to shop for home security accessories compatible with the system.

Available at: Amazon

Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
What Mattress Firmness Is Right for Back Pain?
Why the right balance of cushioning and support matters for better sleep
Sleeping

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Sleep Number.

Waking up with a stiff back is a miserable way to start the day. The usual advice is to buy the firmest mattress you can find. It sounds reasonable, but your spine, shoulders, and hips don’t work that way. The needs differ for each person, but there are a few ways you can get that healthy sleep with the right mattress.

Read more
How to Choose the Right Mattress for You
sleeping

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Sleep Number.

Shopping for a new mattress sounds simple until you start looking. Memory foam or hybrid? Soft or firm? Cooling covers, pressure-relief zones, motion isolation, sleep tracking — suddenly, you're comparing features that barely existed the last time you bought a bed. Even the most expensive option could be a poor match.

Read more
Amazon unveils Alexa Home Map, letting you control your smart home in 3D
Alexa Home Map lets users control individual smart home devices from one place, without remembering their names or searching through menus.
Alexa Home Map on a smart home hub display

Amazon has been a major player in the smart home market for years, but fresh competition from Apple may have lit a fire under it. The company has just unveiled a new lineup of Alexa devices, including Echo speakers, a smart alarm clock, a photo frame, and the Echo Show 16. On the software side, Amazon also introduced Alexa Home Map, which puts your connected devices on an interactive 3D model of your house, letting you monitor and control them from one place.

Your entire smart home on a 3D map

Read more