The smart camera, once thought of as a single-function technology that lets homeowners monitor their property remotely via app, is finding promising new applications. Vivint's Ping Camera is designed to initiate two-way videochats with one touch, a feature they predict will be embraced by working parents who want to quickly contact their kids who are too young for cell phones. "It is to FaceTime, what text is to email," says Vivint chief marketing officer Jefferson Lyman.  Photo 1 of 9 in Buzz-Worthy Smart Home Innovations Coming Out of CES 2016 by Luke Hopping

Buzz-Worthy Smart Home Innovations Coming Out of CES 2016

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The smart camera, once thought of as a single-function technology that lets homeowners monitor their property remotely via app, is finding promising new applications. Vivint's Ping Camera is designed to initiate two-way videochats with one touch, a feature they predict will be embraced by working parents who want to quickly contact their kids who are too young for cell phones. "It is to FaceTime, what text is to email," says Vivint chief marketing officer Jefferson Lyman.