Founded in 2005, Myfox benefits from years of consumer insight that newer smart home security startups lack. Studying user feedback from across Europe, the French company found 30 percent of users were unplugging their cameras when home to protect themselves from hackers' prying eyes.

The Myfox Security Camera responds to these concerns with an ingenious solution: a motorized shutter. Using a smartphone app, homeowners can open and close the camera's aperture as needed. Thus, it is as effective at safeguarding your property as it is your privacy.

The lightweight camera, which provides a 1080P video sensor with CVR capabilities and 4x zoom, retails at $199.

Dropcam cameras with motion detectors are installed throughout the property. Willson also uses them to manage beer and wine fermentation remotely.

Users can also opt for the Myfox Home Alarm ($279), a compact disc with a smart sensor that uses vibrational algorithms to detect break-ins and trigger an alarm. The company's research concludes 80 percent of intruders were deterred by the siren alone.

“The layout and openings allow ample flow to the exterior, and paths and decks have been developed to ‘flatten’ the sloping site enough to create generous outdoor gathering areas,” Herrin says. “These areas take into account sunlight at different times of day as well as protection from prevailing wind,” he adds. One-by-six-foot ipe planks comprise the decking, and hemlock end grain by the Oregon Lumber Company was installed indoors.

Smart Security Cameras–Your smartphone camera is great for capturing all kinds of fun events and activities. And now, with the aid of smart security cameras, your phone can give you a birds-eye view of all that’s happening in and around your home any time of day while you’re away. Activated by motion, smart cameras record clips of detected movement for added security. They also come in handy for looking in on the nanny, kids, pets, or elderly parents in your absence.

“Dropcam, now owned by Nest, is a video monitoring and security camera system. It can send alerts and records to the cloud, allowing you to view footage remotely."

Architect Christian Tonko played with a double metaphor when designing the Camera Lucida studio. The name of the cantileverd hillside space, Latin for "bright chamber," references the open window facing the valley below, as well as the skylight that bathes the workspace in natural light.

The trailer is stored about an hour from his home, so security was a top concern. Wink—via a Nest Protect device, seen here—alerts Pendl when there's smoke or carbon monoxide. Sensors on the trailer's propane tanks, which keep the unit warm in winter, also send an alert when fuel is low. GoControl sensors tell him when doors or windows have been opened.

The office houses the letter “U" as well as cameras.

Friends from Tonko's hometown of Bregenz, Austria, commissioned the studio when they acquired some land next to their home. They use it for drawing and sketching, as well as creating clay and gypsum sculptures that are later cast into bronze. Since the area is close to where he grew up, Tonko was incredibly familar with the view from the hillside.

Vigilant Floral wallpaper by Flavor Paper, Jesse Hlebo, and Carlos Benaim "Carlos created a new scent that was [meant to embody] the 'scent of 100 makers’ creativity,'" Yuzna says. "It builds up layers as you walk up the stairwells of the museum. [Artist] Jesse then used these layers as inspiration to recognize the creative communities that make NYC so special."

Canary cameras detect motion and send Willson alerts with a video clip of the activity. From the app, he can summon law enforcement if desired.

Dojo is available for pre-order via Amazon for $99 with 12 months of service (the usual suggested retail price is $199 for the same service). It will begin shipping early 2016.

Apple may not be exhibiting at CES this year, but it will still have remarkable reach thanks to HomeKit, a platform that lets companies develop smart-home gadgets that users can control with an iPhone or iPad. The introduction of HomeKit has sparked a race among innovators to create gadgets that can run on the platform. One of these, Withings, made a name for itself with wearables and other gadgets that promote health. This year it is branching out with Home, a smart HD camera and air-quality monitor that users can control from anywhere with an Apple device via HomeKit.

Once installed, Dojo's software adds all the devices—cellphones, printers, tablets, security cameras, etc.—that use your home's wireless network. It then begins to track with whom they communicate: for instance, if one device begins sending data to an unusual server abroad, it raises a red flag. Dojo itself comes with two pieces of hardware: a palm-sized pebble and its dock. The latter connects directly to your router. The former, which glows red when there's unexpected or alarming network activity, is mobile and can be placed in easily-accessed or visible parts of your home.

The term “Internet of Things” was first documented by British visionary Kevin Ashton in 1999. The first Internet appliance was a Coke machine at Carnegie Melon University in the early 1980s. The programmers could connect to the machine over the Internet, check the status of the machine and determine whether or not there would be a cold drink awaiting them, should they decide to make the trip down to the machine.

Home security system by Canary, $249 at canary.is This all-in-one security system "learns" the rhythms of your home and monitors activity and noise levels, air quality and temperature, notifying you by text (with an accompanying high-definition video) when anything seems out of sorts.

Of course, Dojo also comes with an app that allows you to remotely monitor activities and tackle threats. The software will automatically resolve issues, signalling you only when you need to take action.

With new technology comes new issues, like safety and privacy, which we explore in the first of three features on home security penned by Geoff Manaugh.

While many home-fortification projects are designed primarily with burglary in mind, Al and Lana Corbi of SAFE recommend thinking about much broader risks—including the possibility of widespread social unrest, earthquakes, and even extreme weather events.

A bedroom occupies the top of each tower; a ladder leads to a sleeping nook and an east-facing window seat in the Sunrise suite.

Illustration by David Galletly

Back Camera

Sliding walls can be pulled shut when privacy is desired.

With a recently fulfilled crowd-funding campaign, the Notion system will be made, but is not shipping until July 2015. It might be worth waiting as the connected home evolves. But, given this brand’s impressive origins—the company is a product of Techstars, an startup accelerator whose graduates have an high rate of success—we expect it to be among the best options available.