Home security cameras are usually a bit yawn-worthy, but this one is more playful than most.
It’s called Ulo, and it’s a home security camera that looks like a cute little owl. Like all the best designs,
You interact with Ulo through its eyes. When the battery runs low, Ulo looks tired, for example. Take a snapshot, and it blinks. Watch its live video stream, and it squints, and its eyes follow you around the room, like it’s watching you.
You can customise its eye colour, shape and size. And its beak is actually a two-way mirror that hides its night vision camera and motion sensor.
Double tap its head and you’ll activate alert mode. This records every movement as an animated GIF as soon as your smartphone leaves the Wi-Fi network, and sends them to you via email. If anyone breaks into your house, you’ll know about it. Come home, and as soon as your smartphone is reconnected to the Wi-Fi network, alert mode is disabled.
Read more: Nest Cam security camera is ‘always on’, researchers claim
It communicates using its built-in speakers, and it’s waterproof, so can be used outside. It even looks sad when it’s raining.
It’s raised over a million euros, smashing its goal of €199,000. All the early birds have gone, so prices start at $149. It will ship in November next year.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.