Surveillance Camera / Pet Owl Startup

Published Nov 04, 2015 05:00 AM

Surveillance cameras can be sleek, they can be boxy, but rarely are they whimsical (well, exception here).

Now, one startup is raising funds for a camera that is built like a pet owl. Genius or crazy?

In this note, we review its specifications, pricing and potential fits.

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Comments (9)
Avatar
Attila Szűcs
Nov 04, 2015

I think it is a great way to make home "surveillance" more friendly and acceptable. People usually afraid about putting cameras inside their home, but the clever integrations, like set temp, light etc on movement, or the expressions for weather are funny and makes you simle.

For sure, if your router is hacked, you will show your home to the hackers. But for example I'll use this to check my dog during the day, and will place somewhere which not tells so much about my home/life :)

For me: Instant get

(3)
(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 04, 2015
IPVMU Certified

I can't help but think they should've named this thing Bubo:

(1)
U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 04, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Will the Pet Owl be Jibo compatible?

Jibo, A Different Approach To Home Security?

SM
Steve Mitchell
Nov 04, 2015

I saw this on my Facebook feed a few days ago from a non-industry person who 'liked' the Spanish language version of the video. So I suspect it's getting at least some traction.

In the consumer market style is important. Products like Nest and the iPhone succeed mostly due to style and brand even in the face of functionally superior and cheaper alternatives.

From a design perspective, when you think about it the owl avatar and animation does present a lot of intuitive user interaction and feedback that would be more challenging with a convention UI of words or lights. But I don’t think as a gimmick it can overcome the myriad other, conventional barriers to entry into this market.

U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 05, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Especially without IR and video recording, it is not much of a surveillance camera.

Not much, but I think a lot more residential video is used live than in SMB. I'm thinking baby cam, doors and street.

Are there any numbers on how many people buy dropcams but don't have a recording plan?

JH
John Honovich
Nov 05, 2015
IPVM

A while back, Dropcam said 60% do not buy recording plans.

However, all Dropcam's have integrated IR. With this camera, even live, at night / dark, you will get nothing. I am curious if this can be overcome given their design.

Avatar
Attila Szűcs
Nov 09, 2015

Installing a cheap Far-East IR for 20$ is not painful, and inside can be OK. Just wondering the camera sensor can use IR or not. If not that's sucks.

(1)
Avatar
Attila Szűcs
Nov 09, 2015

But checking again the website:

"Infrared night vision let Ulo see clearly in total darkness."

JH
John Honovich
Nov 09, 2015
IPVM

Attila,

You are correct. I missed that. I've updated the post above.

I still wonder how far and well it can see, given the small form factor and the housing design.