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We looked inside some of the posts by andylocksmithtipsntricks and here's what we found interesting.
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Hearing Bumps in the Night? Here's What to Do
It's the season for spooky activity, but mysterious bumps in the night haunt us year-round. Discover three easy ways to restore your peace of mind. Article source here: Hearing Bumps in the Night? Here's What to Do
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Keeping Nurses and Doctors Safe and Well with Wellcam
In early 2020, smart business security expert Jake Voll helped to answer an urgent request for help from a local hospital on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. The solution that he recommended was Alarm.com's Wellcam. Article source here: Keeping Nurses and Doctors Safe and Well with Wellcam
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How to Stop Stolen Packages In Three Easy Steps
We're all doing more of our shopping online this year. For package thieves, that's a gift. Here's how to stop them. Article source here: How to Stop Stolen Packages In Three Easy Steps
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Four Smart Home Tips to Help You Manage Back-to-School 2020
As a parent, back-to-school is usually an exciting time. This year, you're just trying to figure out how to adapt. We can help. Article source here: Four Smart Home Tips to Help You Manage Back-to-School 2020
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Alarm.com for Business Review: "It's Worth It."
When an intoxicated customer caused problems in Chase and Scott's store in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, their Alarm.com for Business video technology helped them to manage the situation from offsite. Article source here: Alarm.com for Business Review: "It's Worth It."
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Know These Five Facts for a Safer Summer at Home
Do you know how many house fires are started by outdoor grills every year? Get the facts on five seasonal dangers that could cloud your summer, and some expert tips on how to prevent them. Article source here: Know These Five Facts for a Safer Summer at Home
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How to Save Energy Easily This Summer with Smart Home Technology
Are your energy bills higher than they were last year? Smart home technology makes it easy to turn things around. Simply apply these set-and-forget energy saving features, and relax. Article source here: How to Save Energy Easily This Summer with Smart Home Technology
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Protecting Betty's Independence with Alarm.com's Wellness Technology
At 82 years old, Betty doesn't hear well, which makes it hard for Karen and John to check in with her by phone when they need to know she's safe and well. Alarm.com's Wellness technology helped them solve that problem. Article source here: Protecting Betty's Independence with Alarm.com's Wellness Technology
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Keeping Dad Safe and Well: How I Use Wellness by Alarm.com
Home security technology used to be about keeping people out. Now, families are using it to keep their older parents safe within their homes. Alarm.com's Steve Chazin is one such "virtual caregiver". Article source here: Keeping Dad Safe and Well: How I Use Wellness by Alarm.com
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Keeping Dad Safe and Well: How I Use Wellness by Alarm.com
Home security technology used to be about keeping people out. Now, families are using it to keep their older parents safe within their homes. Alarm.com's Steve Chazin is one such "virtual caregiver". Article source here: Keeping Dad Safe and Well: How I Use Wellness by Alarm.com
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Research: We're All Worried About Our Older Parents. What's the Solution?
An Alarm.com study reveals that we typically worry about our older parents five times a week, with health, distance and crime as the top concerns. Could connecting more often be the answer? Article source here: Research: We're All Worried About Our Older Parents. What's the Solution?
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How to Protect Your Alarm.com Account from Intruders
When you use smart technology to keep your home secure, it's extra-important to protect your account from unauthorized access. Here are four easy ways to do that—plus two mistakes to avoid. Article source here: How to Protect Your Alarm.com Account from Intruders
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Five Smart Scheduling Tips for Work-From-Home Wellbeing
Feeling daunted by another day of juggling work and managing your kids at home? Is your to-do list only getting bigger? It could be time to design a better daily schedule. These tips will help. Article source here: Five Smart Scheduling Tips for Work-From-Home Wellbeing
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Why Staying Connected Matters—And How To Do It
It's more important than ever to stay connected with your family, friends and community. Discover why it matters and what you should do today. Article source here: Why Staying Connected Matters—And How To Do It
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Four Easy Ways to Keep Your Neighborhood Safer
When our neighbors are victims of crime, we worry about our own homes too. Here's how to get proactive and team up with your neighbors to keep everyone's home safe and secure. Article source here: Four Easy Ways to Keep Your Neighborhood Safer
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How Do We Pick the Safest Cities? Our Rankings Demystified
Our Rankings Demystified
We use FBI crime statistics and US Census population data to rank the safest cities in each state and across the country. To add extra insight and depth to that assessment, we include demographic information and the results of our proprietary State of Safety research study.
The safest cities rankings are intended to highlight cities with low crime rates and ignite conversation and action around how to make all cities and communities safer
How the Safest Cities Are Ranked
We use the most up-to-date FBI crime data as the backbone of our reports. This means we rely on information that cities across the country report through the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. If you don’t see your city listed, it could be due to incomplete UCR data or the failure to submit a report.
We know that crime statistics are only one measure of what makes any community safe.
We also use population thresholds for each state. We use US Census Bureau population data to identify the median city population in each state and report only on cities with populations above the median. This reduces the risk of outliers and lowers the likelihood of an extreme outlier skewing the data.
The FBI UCR data is just one way that cities report crime statistics, and we know that it may differ from other reports a city or police department submits. But, to make sure that we’re comparing apples to apples, we’ve chosen to use this data as the basis of our safest cities reporting. Plus, this is the most consistent report available for most cities across the nation.
How the Safest Cities of 2020 Were Decided
To identify the safest cities of 2020, we reviewed 2018 FBI crime report statistics (the most recent complete report available at the time of ranking) and population data.
Cities that fell below identified population thresholds—or that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI—were excluded from the report. Four states (Hawaii, Iowa, Nevada, and North Carolina) were also excluded from the rankings due to a large number of cities with incomplete (or no) crime reporting.
Calculating Crime Rates
Our rankings are based on both violent and property crime numbers. We looked at the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) in each city and the number of reported property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft).
Arson is excluded from the FBI’s property crime rates, so we excluded it as well.
To level the playing field, we calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. This makes it easier to directly compare the likelihood of these crimes occurring in cities with vastly different populations.
Both violent and property crime numbers were weighted equally. That means that a city with no violent crimes reported could end up lower on the list due to a higher property crime rate, and vice versa. We also standardized violent and property crime for each state before weighting.
Where the State of Safety Report Comes In
In addition to ranking the safest cities of 2020, SafeWise also conducted its second annual nationwide survey to find out what people are actually worried about when it comes to safety.
This data helped us compare perceptions of safety and danger to the reality of crime statistics. We added these correlations and other useful findings to our Safest Cities reports.
The Survey
The State of Safety study used a 10-minute online survey that was fielded in September and October 2019. We spoke to 5,065 respondents across the US; at least 100 from every state. Responses were weighted for population. Based on the number of completions, the margin of error is ±1.4%.
The State of Safety survey asked participants to rate how concerned they were about each crime and safety issue using a scale from one to seven. One was “not at all concerned” and seven was “highly concerned.”
Ranking Concerns and Perceptions
We then looked at the issue that ranked first place in each state as the most concerning issue. From there, we compared the overall percentage of “highly concerned” responses from each state to see which safety issues had the highest and lowest levels of concern.
We also asked respondents which crimes they think they’re most likely to fall victim to, and what (if any) safety and security precautions they use to protect themselves and their property.
For the first time, we asked survey participants about their perceptions of and concern about mass shootings.¹ After coming up in many spontaneous answers in unaided questions last year, it seemed relevant to include this safety issue in the study.
While mass shootings are incredibly devastating events, they are outlier occurrences. We don’t believe they indicate the overall or general safety of a city or community.
For full details about what safety issues people are most worried about, check out the complete State of Safety report.
Endnotes
1. Mass Shooting Definition SafeWise uses the GVA definition of a mass shooting: “If four or more people are shot or killed in a single incident, not involving the shooter, that incident is categorized as a mass shooting based purely on that numerical threshold.”
The post How Do We Pick the Safest Cities? Our Rankings Demystified appeared first on SafeWise.
Article source here: How Do We Pick the Safest Cities? Our Rankings Demystified
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Owlet Smart Sock Review
Overall Rating
4.5/5
Mobile notifications
Heart rate and oxygen tracking
Financing options
View on Amazon
Quick Review
Owlet’s smart sock is the answer to parental paranoia about whether or not your baby’s doing okay—especially overnight and during nap time. This innovative baby health monitor tracks oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep patterns. And all it takes to get that valuable data is a little sock that wraps around your baby’s foot.
One of our safety experts, Scott, tested the Owlet Smart Sock 2 with his daughter, Isla, for several weeks. He gauged how easy it is to work with, if the tracking is accurate, and whether or not his girlie would keep it on her foot. See the results of his test below—and our recommendations for using the Owlet with your little one.
“For me, with my first one, in the middle of the night I would be like, ‘Okay, I’m just going to go in there and make sure that he’s breathing.’ And they’re so still. I’d just put my hand on their chest to make sure, but try not to wake them up. That’s one thing that the Owlet does really, really well.”
Scott, dad and product tester (his baby pictured below)
A class action lawsuit was filed against Owlet in 2019. The complaint “alleges that the company markets the Smart Sock as safe and providing peace of mind for parents, but it points out that false alarms, burns, and the failure to register actual problem incidents do not have that effect.” Owlet has not recalled the Smart Sock or Smart Sock 2. SafeWise has found only positive reports from parents and testers, but that is a small sample of people using the Smart Sock. We recommend that parents fully investigate any product before using it with their infant or child.
How We Evaluated the Owlet Smart Sock
While Scott started testing the product out with his daughter, the rest of us got to work researching everything we could find about the Owlet Smart Sock. We looked at the history of the product (we tested the Smart Sock 2.0), the pricing, customer feedback, and expert reviews. I also conducted an interview with parents who relied on the sock for the life of their infant. You can find more details about how we review products on our methodology page.
Owlet Pricing and Specifications
Owlet Smart Sock 2 Price $299.99 Financing Starting at $25/month Technical Requirements Wi-Fi connection Guarantees 45-day Peace of Mind Guarantee Warranty 1 year View on Amazon
How the Owlet Smart Sock Stacks Up
When my kids were babies, I hovered obsessively over their cradles looking for signs of life. It may sound morbid, but I’ve never met a parent who didn’t do the same thing at least once. Let’s face it—when you become a parent, those wee ones take over. And you want to do everything you can to make sure they stay in charge for a long, long time.
Enter the Owlet Smart Sock. This ingenious device does all the obsessive hovering for you. And it actually knows what to look for. If I’d had the Owlet, I’d have gotten a lot more (well, a bit more) sleep in those early months with my new baby. And everything about the Owlet sock is designed with your baby’s needs in mind, from the lullaby alert to the soft, adjustable construction of the sock itself.
Our tester, Scott, put the Owlet through its paces and came out a big fan. But because he used it with his second child, he felt it wasn’t as life changing as it could have been. For parents who aren’t newbies, the smart sock makes the most sense if there are health concerns in play—especially with such a big price tag.
“The price is high, so with me having a child that was in all regards healthy, I didn’t necessarily feel a need for it. But I also tested it on my second child. If this were my first child, and if I had really understood how the Owlet works, I may have purchased it. And it likely would have been worth the price for my well-being.”
Scott, dad and product tester
Price and Contract
The good news is there’s no monthly subscription or long-term contract required with the Owlet Smart Sock, but the bad news is a steep up-front price. The Owlet costs around $300, which is pricey for a baby monitor that doesn’t include video or audio. But that’s just a one-time cost, and Owlet offers no-interest financing options if you’d rather spread out the payment. Plus, you don’t have to purchase any extra equipment—everything you need comes in the box.
Owlet Financing Options Monthly Payment Repayment Period $25 12 months $50 6 months $100 3 months
The company also includes its 45-day Peace of Mind Guarantee with every Owlet Smart Sock purchase. That means if you don’t love it within the first 45 days, you can return it for a full refund, no questions asked. And if you’re a bargain shopper, Owlet sells refurbished smart socks for about $100 less than a brand new setup. Refurbished sensors and base stations have to pass a 13-point inspection before they can be sold. And you won’t get used socks—the refurbished kit includes three brand-new socks.
Pros
One-time purchase
No contracts
Financing available
Peace of Mind guarantee
Cons
Expensive price tag
Tech and Equipment
There is some assembly required. The Owlet sensor isn’t in the sock when you unpack the system, but it’s easy to slip it in. It comes disassembled so you can use the right-sized sock—you’re going to have to change it when the baby grows anyway, so it’s helpful to learn how to install it from the start.
It’s apparent that Owlet spent a lot of time considering the needs of infants and new parents. The base station communicates primarily with light—you won’t find blaring sirens or piercing beeps here. It has five different status notifications that use different colors of pulsing, blinking, flashing, and static light to let you know what’s going on with your baby. And when it does make noise, the Owlet base station plays a lullaby.
You can also get notifications on your smartphone with the Owlet app. The app was easy for Scott to use and understand (and this is a guy who’s in a constant battle with his Spotify app).
What’s in the Box
3 Owlet socks (sizes 0–18 mos.)
Sensor
Base station
Charging cords
Setup instructions
Quick reference guide
Warranty
Owlet Socks
This adjustable sock holds the sensor and wraps around your baby’s foot to take heart and oxygen readings.
Smart Sock Sensor
This pulse oximeter tracks oxygen levels and heart rate.
Base Station
The base station communicates with the sensor and app to collect data and send alerts.
You can use the Owlet app to check live readings from your baby when they’re wearing the sock. But if you want historical oxygen and heart rate information you need to download the Connected Care app. We think it’s worth it to have two apps, though. One of the most helpful things in the Connected Care app is the trended sleep data. You can see exactly what’s going on when your baby’s in dreamland, which is helpful if you’re in the midst of sleep training or if you’re trying to decide how and when naps are most effective.
Pros
Unpacks easily
Keeps baby comfy
Includes 3 sock sizes
Provides live data
Reports health and sleep history
Cons
Requires some assembly
Uses a different app to track historical health and sleep data
Features and Usability
Overall the Owlet Smart Sock is easy to use and delivers what it promises. Setup is fairly simple, and the mobile app is easy to navigate, even for a sleep-deprived parent. Best of all, Owlet’s notifications are gentle instead of jarring. Owlet helps both you and your infant get better sleep—you because you’re not worried, and the baby because you’re not disrupting their slumber to make sure they’re okay. And it’s nice to know that if Owlet sends an alert for something nonemergency like a low battery, it won’t act like your smoke alarm.
Owlet Setup and Use
Getting the smart sock up and running was “doable” though not strictly easy, according to our tester, and Owlet has numerous resources to make it that way.
“One thing that’s nice is that I was already feeling really hesitant when I opened the box, but then they have these guides. And you immediately open up the app on your phone, and the app gives you step-by-step instructions and a video. So it was very doable —I don’t know if easy is the right word, but I was pleased with the instructions.”
Scott, dad and tester
Like nearly all smart products, the Owlet uses your home Wi-Fi network to communicate among the sensor, the base station, and the app. Scott was pleased with how easy the Wi-Fi setup went.
“When I set up a lot of Wi-Fi connected things, I assume there’s going to be some errors, it usually takes a few times, but not with this. Of course I had to get the passwords for my router and my Wi-Fi network ready, but once it was connected, it worked just fine. It synced up on the first try—to my surprise.”
Scott, dad and tester
The trickiest thing about using the sock is wrangling the baby. Owlet uses pulse oximetry to monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen level. That’s just a scientific way to say that the sensor is taking the baby’s pulse to get the information it needs. But to take the pulse, the sensor has to be placed on the back of the baby’s pinky toe.
Whether or not this placement will be challenging depends on you and your little one. Scott and his baby girl didn’t struggle at all. In fact, he said that he was surprised by how much she didn’t react, “It was like she didn’t even know the sock was there.” But I remember my own wriggling wee ones, and I’m sure that getting things lined up correctly would have been a challenge.
Because the socks come disassembled and in three different sizes, they can seem a little complicated. But with instructions both on the socks and in the app, Scott says, “It’s pretty hard to mess it up.” While Owlet advises that most errors with the product come from the user, Scott didn’t run into any issues or alerts that he had done it wrong.
Owlet Alerts and Notifications
One of the most unique things about the Owlet is that it takes a gentle approach to alerts. As we mentioned before, there’s no clanging or screeching that would scare the heck out of parents and the baby—not to mention how it would wake everyone up.
Scott particularly liked that alerts about a low battery or connection problem (re: wiggling baby) aren’t startling. Instead of getting an alarm, the base station light turns red and it plays a lullaby. But you need to make sure to keep the base station in your sightline or you’ll miss out. If you want freedom from the base station, use the Owlet app for notifications.
Even though our test didn’t turn up any health alerts, we know a couple who relied on the Owlet when they brought their baby home from the hospital with health concerns.
“As first time parents, our lives were turned upside down when we brought our little boy home on oxygen. Stress and worry continued when it was time to transition him off of supplemental oxygen and his oxygen level monitors. At this point, we quickly began looking for options to help ease the transition.
“Purchasing an Owlet was easily the best decision we could’ve made! We tested the Owlet against our hospital grade pulse oximeter and were greatly satisfied with its accuracy. Noninvasively and conveniently monitoring his oxygen levels while he slept gave us confidence and immense peace of mind.”
Lyndsay, mom and Owlet user
Pros
Quick, simple setup
Gentle lullaby alert for errors
Excellent tutorials/instructions
Easy-to-use app
Cons
Placing sensor can be tricky
The Bottom Line
We loved the Owlet Smart Sock and we think you will too. This smart baby health monitor is what parents have needed for generations. No more obsessively watching to make sure your baby is breathing—with the Owlet all you need to do is check the app or look at the base station for a status report. For the price, we think it’s a splurge for parents who already know the drill or have an infant with no apparent health issues. The Owlet is much more applicable to first-time parents or parents of a baby with health concerns.
Pros
Easy setup
No contracts
Excellent instructions and online support
Live health data
Peace of mind
Cons
Costs a lot
Requires some assembly
Uses two apps
More Ways to Stay Safe (and Sane) With a New Baby
Smart Baby Gadgets for New Parents
Baby Proof It: A Room-by-Room Guide to Securing Your Home
Best Baby Monitors
Baby Proof Your Home With Help From These 6 Gadgets
Best Nanny Cams
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The post Owlet Smart Sock Review appeared first on SafeWise.
Article source here: Owlet Smart Sock Review
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