Why Two-Way Audio Is a Great Feature for Security Cameras

Photo byHerry

Modern security cameras come with tons of great features that were unavailable a decade ago. The more features you want, the pricier the cameras get. Yet some features are well worth paying for. Two-way audio is one of them. It is a must-have feature on every exterior camera I buy. It is pretty cool for interior cameras, too.

If you are not sure of what this feature does, it's pretty simple to understand. On-board two-way audio enables conversations between homeowners and guests via built-in speakers in microphones. The guest essentially communicates through the camera while the homeowner uses a smartphone or tablet.

Think of the possibilities here. There is so much you can do with two-way audio – with both exterior and interior cameras, by the way. Let us start with exterior cameras and dealing with burglars and porch pirates.

Surprise and Doubt

Two of the most effective weapons in the fight against crime are surprise and doubt. Surprising criminals in a safe manner can mentally disarm them long enough to send them fleeing in fear. And of course, if you are able to plant a seed of doubt in a burglar's mind, the chances are pretty good that he will go look for another target.

How does this apply to cameras with two-way audio? Imagine you have a home security system from Vivint Smart Home. The system is equipped with several exterior cameras with onboard audio capabilities. You get an alert on your phone while you're at work.

You instantly bring up the live feed from the camera focused on your front door. Using the camera's two-way audio functions, you can warn the burglar that you are watching his every move. Just hearing your voice could be enough to surprise him and rattle his nerves.

The surprise factor alone may be enough to send him packing. But if not, he now needs to question whether or not you are home. You have planted that seed of doubt in his head. If you are home, trying to break in is foolish. If you're not, he knows he still faces the prospect of getting caught because you know he's there.

Other Uses for Two-Way Audio

Built in two-way audio can be used as a crime deterrent. But it also has a number of other use cases. Are you expecting a delivery? You can communicate with a delivery driver as she approaches the front door. Through your camera, you can give her instructions about where she can leave the package so it's kept safe from porch pirates.

Inside your home, two-way audio is a handy tool for keeping in touch with other family members. It is ideal for keeping track of:

• The Kids – Maybe you want to talk to your kids after they get home from school. You can check in with them and give them any instructions they need to know. They can contact you if they have questions about their homework, their chores, etc.

• Senior Parents – Two-way audio is ideal for checking in with senior parents who might be living with you. Imagine the potential if your parents have health issues that make leaving them alone for any length of time a concern. Security cameras with two-way audio guarantee you are never out of reach.

There is a lot more I can talk about in regard to equipping security cameras with two-way audio. In my opinion, two-way audio is one of the best features modern cameras offer. I will not buy another camera without it. There are just too many use cases in which two-way audio capabilities come in handy.