IC Realtime Video Surveillance Cameras Integrate with Amazon Echo Show

By way of development work with Amazon’s camera API, IC Realtime has made it possible for more than 100 of its video surveillance cameras to stream live video to Echo Show. Sent securely through IC Realtime’s ICMyCloud service, the video is activated by simply saying ‘Alexa, Show My Camera’

  • Jun 22, 2017

IC Realtime announced today a surveillance camera integration with Amazon Echo Show. The result of a significant development project wherein IC Realtime’s R&D team worked with Amazon’s camera Application Programming Interface (API), more than 100 existing IC Realtime surveillance cameras have the added ability to stream live video to Echo Show.

IC Realtime offers a wide array of video surveillance cameras and recorders. The brand is well-recognized within the professional security channels for its products’ performance attributes and ability to natively integrate with complex home automation systems. The company’s products are sold and installed worldwide by security systems and audio-video integration specialists.

IC Realtime models compatible with Echo Show include the brand’s suite of ‘ICIP’ series IP cameras (68 models in total) as well as dozens of its Standard- and High-Definition cameras that work in conjunction with an IC Realtime digital video recorder.

According to IC Realtime Technical Manager of Software Integration Chris Callaway, because the Amazon Alexa architecture is primarily Internet-connected, a requirement of the Amazon integration is that connectivity of cameras must take place through a back-end cloud service.

For several years IC Realtime has offered subscribers a cloud storage service called ICMyCloud, which grants users in home and business settings the ability to stream and record high-definition video footage from their IC Realtime cameras as often as 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.  IC Realtime’s Echo Show compatible cameras connect through ICMyCloud.

Locations in the home where security cameras are commonly placed include nursery rooms, entertainment and living rooms, front/side/back doors, garages, pool areas and more. 

The ICMyCloud camera works with Echo Show the following way: “The Alexa ‘skill' pulls the ‘Camera Name’ you’ve assigned within ICMyCloud,” says Callaway. “Let’s say for example you have named a camera for the Nursery.  You simply say, ‘Alexa, Show the Nursery camera.’ Alexa would respond with ‘OK, showing Nursery camera’ and begin its stream. When you are finished, you would simply instruct Alexa to ‘Hide my Camera.’”

Callaway also notes that keeping the video data safe is of the highest-priority. “IC Realtime implements stringent security protocols for the cloud- and internet-connected camera integrations, ensuring support of strong encryption methods, password complexity, and unique session URLs to guarantee the strongest integrity possible,” says Callaway.

“The ability to share video from our security cameras via the Cloud to Echo Show is a prime example of today’s ‘Smart Home’ graduating to an ‘Internet of Things Smart Home,’” says IC Realtime CEO Matt Sailor. “IC Realtime and its parent company IC Real Tech continue to bring to market innovative ways for people to capture and interact with their video surveillance - from crime/forensics to 360-degree lifestyle video.”Expanding upon the popular Alexa devices such as the Echo and Echo Dot, Echo Show adds a 7-inch touchscreen, dual Dolby optimized speakers, video-calling and a front-facing camera.

IC Realtime is the leading IP video surveillance camera brand in the custom residential channel. The company makes a vast array of security cameras and video recorders. Notable achievements include the company’s pioneering of the Cloud Video Recorder™ and the IC Real Tech ALLie Home 360-degree x 360-degree Lifestyle camera. 

For more information on IC Realtime cameras compatible with Amazon Echo Show, visit www.icmycloud.com/alexa.

Featured

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.