MacDirectory Magazine

What Campaign Will You Be Supporting? Making your house a smart home was never easier. As a homeowner I want to make sure I have an eye on everything in my house—from the basement to the upstairs bedroom. But until the OVAL arrived, there was no easy way to do it. This tiny device, about the size of a quarter, attaches itself to anything and will let you know when it senses activity. It will notify you via the app immediately if there have been any changes. You can also use a web browser on a laptop to adjust the settings and get updates. The OVAL won't solve all your problems at home, it won't open windows and close doors, it won't dim light bulbs—this device is used to inform you, and hopefully prevent a disaster. It will notify you via text, email, and it will even give you a call if it detects any changes. You can add more than one number to the notifications list. So that way, more than one person can get notified in case of an emergency. The sensor is extremely sensitive so you want to make sure to set parameters that won't have your phone buzzing all day long. It detects motion. You might think why would I need to know this? Security is one of the most important things to any homeowner. You can place OVAL on the door, or a window The OVAL Smart Sensor System when you go on vacation and you will be alerted when this one is tampered with. Another place where you can put the OVAL is a private cabinet. The sensor will notify you if it has been opened. Using the application, you can customize how sensitive you want it to be. I tried it at very high sensitivity and the slight touch of the OVAL sent a notification to my phone. It also detects light. This option is also customizable. You can place the OVAL on a lamp, and using the application you can pick the acceptable level of light of the specific place the sensor is at. If you have kids staying up late, you will know right away. One of my favorite features is its ability to detect moisture. In a similar way how the user can customize the acceptable light, the user can also customize the acceptable levels of moisture in a specific space. For example, put the OVAL in your basement and as soon as it detects high levels of humidity it will send you an alert. If it's consistently humid, maybe it's time for a dehumidifier. It also detects floods. So if it rains hard, or a pipe bursts in your basement while you are away, you will know right away and get to the problem sooner. You might already have a Nest at home, but for those without it, OVAL provides a simple solution to prevent your home from getting too hot or too cold. The temperature monitor allows you to select actual and target temperatures, and select at what temperature range at the OVAL will send you a notification. Finally, make sure all your precious belongings stay close to you. The proximity monitor will notify you if the sensor is out of range and too far from the gateway. Like I said before, this is an informative tool—it won't tell you where this belonging went. The OVAL sensor works together with a gateway which connects to the router or modem—it needs the power of the internet to work. Make sure you place each sensor within 150ft of the gateway, otherwise it won't work. Finally, you can use up to 15 sensors with one gateway— wouldn't that be fun! For more information, and to buy it now, visit: www.indiegogo.com/products/oval-the-first-all-in-one-smart-sensor-system 1 26 MacDirectory COLUMN BY CLAUDIA PAREDES

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