There is a lot of
hype regarding the new iPhone and some skeptics wonder what the excitement is
about, but part of the wonder is finding the obscure things it can do. One
possibility is opening a garage door. So far there is just one option for
native applications, mydooropener.com. This program also requires some serious
DIY skills to get the hardware components to work. This might be a time to contact
a professional. There is also the safety
question that manipulating a garage door wirelessly, but just as many folks
push a traditional remotes button from around the corner, using an iphone is
just a different sort of button.
So far this technology
can't provide a live video of the door. It can let alert the user that the door
is open, if a switch is already in the system.
If someone wants
to control more than just the garage door, there are also other more plug and
play options for someone not adverse to little boxes plugged in around the
house. A computer program called X10 that can be used to remotely control any
number of circuits or power outlets and the iPhone can then be a remote control
for that program. These boxes connect to the homes personal computer to turn on
and off lights and could be wired into the garage door. The security of these
devices is questionable, but the wow factor for friends and family is hard to
beat.
This is simply an
extension of the smart home concept for the technology minded. Garage doors,
with their remotes and simple circuits are an obvious choice for adapting. Many
homeowners are curious about adding Jetson's like features to their home.
External garage door openers that work by numerical code can be handy for
youths who might loose a key. They are simple to have added to the homes
system. So if soldering circuits give a person hives, remember there are easier
paths to opening the garage.
There are also
bio-metric openers available, if security is more of a priority than simply
cool gadgets. These scanners are programed and work just like the number code
controllers, but they have the added fun of an infrared scanner that read a
fingerprint rather than just remembering a code. This technology has come down
a long way in price, but each homeowner will have to decide the price of their
safety and convenience.
Many of these
systems will integrate themselves with an existing garage door opener, but some
older systems will need to be updated. This update will also provide modern
safety features, similar to adding a deadbolt to a door with just a doorknob
lock. Really old garage door openers besides being noisier are also less
secure. Contact a garage door retailer for more information about all the options
available.