Watch out, porch pirates. A brand-new home security camera is on the horizon, and it promises to use paintballs fired with "ultra-high precision" to scare away potential burglars and package thieves.
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| The PaintCam Eve: Security Camera |
A Slovenian firm called OZ-IT is seeking funds to build an AI-powered home surveillance system that will shoot paintballs or even tear gas pellets at would-be miscreants using face recognition and an app.
The PaintCam Eve has a built-in speaker, a warning laser, and night vision capabilities that allow it to tell would-be invaders to leave. The homeowner has the option to shoot the intruder with a paintball gun if they don't depart.
With its "zero compliance, zero tolerance" warning system, the gadget, according to a ridiculous promotional film, is meant to keep out undesirable animals, robbers, and maybe even innocent bystanders out for their nighttime stroll. On the other hand, by designating residents and authorised guests as no-fire, homeowners may ensure that their loved ones are safe to approach. Also, the camera will notify the user's smartphone and prompt it to take action if it notices an unfamiliar individual with a known guest.
On the other hand, by designating residents and authorised guests as no-fire, homeowners may ensure that their loved ones are safe to approach. Also, the camera will notify the user's smartphone and prompt it to take action if it notices an unfamiliar individual with a known guest.
There are some issues with the PaintCam. For example, how can it distinguish between your cherished family dog and a cheeky raccoon? What about the menial delivery driver for UberEats or Amazon? Although users of the PaintCam have the option to disable its autonomous functioning, it is undoubtedly possible for highly paranoid or trigger-happy persons to abuse such a device.
The legality of the gadget is another issue. Although most paintball guns are legal to purchase in Canada, there have been discussions about whether it is humane to use projectiles to threaten unwelcome visitors with paintballs, and in at least one instance, police have cautioned individuals that doing so might result in assault charges.
In the end, it's hard to predict what the judges will deem to be reasonable force.
For the time being, PaintCam's website has little details. Little is known about the exact specifications, cost, or the company's intentions to control what appears to be a very indiscriminate monitoring technique. There are now three different levels of the camera, but only the top tier has facial identification capabilities, so if you want to avoid your letter courier becoming the target of everyday paintball attacks, you'll probably need to pay more money.
On April 23, PaintCam's Kickstarter campaign launches. The release date has not yet been announced.