Korner promises cheap and simple home security
By Ben Coxworth
Home security systems can certainly bring peace of mind to well-off home-owners, but they're generally not thought of as something that's used by people who are on a budget, such as apartment-dwellers. The designers of Korner hope to change that, however, with a simple system that costs under US$100 and requires no monthly fees.
Korner consists of two parts: a curved motion-detecting "tag" that adheres to the upper corner of a door frame or window frame, and a fob that plugs into an Ethernet port on the user's router.
When the system is armed, and the tag detects movement that it associates with the door or window being opened, it sends a message to the fob using the Zigbee wireless protocol. The fob responds both by emitting a high-pitched audio alarm of its own, and by notifying the user via an app on their iOS or Android device.
Using that app, the user can then contact the police, or forward the alert to someone else who can look in on their place. The app also lets them turn the system on and off manually, or set it to a program.
As the system currently stands, one fob can support up to 15 tags, and each tag should be able to run for three years on its included coin cell battery – the app will let users know when any of the batteries need to be replaced. The adhesive on the tags is reusable, so they can be taken down when the user relocates to another building.
While a few somewhat similar home security systems do already exist, most of those incorporate a two-part equivalent of the tag, in which one part is attached to the door and the other is attached to the door frame. The Korner team claim that not only is their system easier to install, but it's also less prone to false alarms, and doesn't look as kludgy.
They're currently raising production funds for Korner, on Indiegogo. A pledge of US$89 will get you a set of one fob and three tags, when and if the product is ready to go.
More information is available in the pitch video below.
Source: Indiegogo
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