Enabling ordinary objects to become extraordinary tools via an internet connection is the next frontier of high technology. The Internet of Things keeps growing and expanding with the introduction of Knocki, a stick-on sensor that lets you – you guessed it – knock to initiate programmed actions. It eliminates the need for switches, buttons, and remote controls.

As long as it’s within wi-fi range, the Knocki can be stuck to just about any solid surface and activated with a pattern of knocks and taps on that surface. One knock on the dresser can tell the device and its app to turn on your sound system in the morning to get you up and moving. Three spaced-out knocks on the bedside table could tell Knocki to start the coffee brewing.

The system works by detecting vibrational patterns on a surface via an accelerometer. There’s no chance of the Knocki “hearing” environmental sounds like clapping and mistaking them for commands because it doesn’t operate on acoustic cues. The internal software can analyze knocks or taps to determine if they were intentional or if they were, for example, just you knocking over a coffee mug.

In addition to activating various gadgets around the house, the Knocki can be programmed for home security. You can tell it to text you if someone knocks on your front door or to call an ambulance if you tap out a specific pattern. The Knocki doesn’t even have to be in plain sight to work; you can mount it under a table or inside a cabinet. It has a range of up to six feet when mounted on wood and 3-4 feet when mounted on stone or other very hard surfaces – meaning you don’t have to knock directly beside or on top of it.

The creators of the system envision it being used outside the home environment, as well. They say it could be helpful in restaurants to let diners knock on the table to get their server’s attention. That would probably be the most annoying possible use (for the servers, anyway), but it’s a cool idea nonetheless. Knocki is available for pre-order on the company’s site.

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Security systems for the home can be quite costly; not only the initial installation, but the monthly fees are enough to make you consider whether a big dog might be a better idea. Korner is an affordable home security device that, for under $100, protects you, your home, and your family.

The Korner system consists of a motion-detecting tag that sticks to the corner of a door or window frame and a small fob that plugs into the Ethernet port on your router. The fob can control up to 15 tags, which themselves run on coin batteries that last up to three years. The tags have reusable adhesive that allows them to be taken down and replaced when you move.

When the Korner system is activated, the tags sense when a door or window has been opened. The compromised fob emits a high-pitched screech to deter intruders while sending information about the incident to the fob. The fob then notifies you via the iOS or Android app. You can choose to contact the police or a friend who can nip over to your home to check in on things.

You can arm and disarm the system from the app no matter where you are, so if you have a dogsitter coming over at a certain time you can temporarily disable the system to let them in. The system takes less than two minutes to install and is far more streamlined than others of its type. In its first stages as an IndieGoGo project, the Korner raised far more than its goal and is set to go into production in 2014.

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In the early days of coal mining, a canary was the standard alert system for toxic gases. This archaic and primitive practice has been translated decades later with the development of the first smart security system, christened (you guessed it) the Canary.

A cylindrical, astromech droid-resembling pod, the Canary is an alternative to standard installed security systems, which tend to be overly complicated. This leads to false alarms, which in turn cause homeowners to shut the system off completely. “Ninety-nine percent of alarms are false alarms. That becomes such an annoyance that people turn their security off. To us that’s absolutely crazy,” says Canary CEO Adam Sager.

In time the Canary adapts to its surroundings, detecting the contours and usual activity of its dwelling. It can learn to ignore events that a homeowner wouldn’t be concerned about, like a pet moving around. It connects to an app that sends push notifications such as “Looks like there’s movement” or “All is calm and quiet.”

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The DoorBot is a cool way to stay secure in your own home; by bringing a live streaming view of your front doorstep to your mobile device, it lets you see exactly who is ringing your doorbell. The wireless system was developed by Edison Junior, a four-person design lab dedicated to solving everyday problems. With a wi-fi enabled doorbell unit and a free app, the company has made it possible to answer the door remotely from anywhere in the world.

A doorbell unit with an integrated camera is the DoorBot’s claim to fame, and the way it revolutionizes the very simple act of answering a door. When a visitor pushes the button, the resident receives a notification on a synced mobile phone or tablet. The user can talk to the visitor via the mobile device’s microphone, which would be infinitely helpful when telling delivery people to leave a package on the stoop or informing friends to join the party in the back yard.

An optional door lock also lets homeowners lock or unlock the door from anywhere in the world. The Lockitron is another product in the early stages of production that can be ordered – and easily integrated – with the DoorBot’s interface. With the two products working together, users can see who is at the door and decide whether or let them in…all without even being in the house. DoorBot is raising funds for its production run on a new crowdfunding site called Christie Street. $169 gets you the DoorBot while $319 is enough for both the DoorBot and the Lockitron.

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