Blog #4: SimpliSafe

1.   For this blog, you will reflect on your impressions & experience with SimpliSafe.  Even if you feel you know the company well, please go to the website at http://simplisafe.com, check-out the attachment & watch this ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjTQGScvrLM&feature=youtu.be so you have a strong sense of what the company is about & how you feel about it.

a)    How would you describe what SimpliSafe offers in just a sentence or two? 

A comprehensive home security solution that is lower cost and a project you can do yourself in an hour.

b)   Is their approach different from other home security companies?  If so, in what way/s?  Is this important to you or not - why?

Yes. It is different since you can install it yourself. This Is not important to me since I would rather pay someone to do work that will impact the look of my house. Any time that I do anything that impacts the look of my house I like to hire someone that is meticulous and will do the job in terms of spending the needed time to make the system look right in the context of the appearance of my house and work properly.

c)    What do you think the founders of SimpliSafe wanted to accomplish?  Name 3 things you think they value & why?  How do you feel about this?

A cost effective, completely reliable system that is different than the competition that a burglar can’t defeat by cutting the phone line.

2.   Just like people, each brand has a “personality” – a look, tone and way of communicating that makes you feel a certain way.
 

a)    Based on what you see, what are 3 words you’d use to describe the “personality” of SimpliSafe?  Do you find this appealing or not – why?

The desktop alarm makes me think of the Google desktop assistant or the Amazon Alexa.

3 words to describe: different, innovative, intrusive (since it sits on a table)

b)   Imagine that SimpliSafe came to life as a person.  Describe what you envision, including work, hobbies, where/who he/she lives with, style & behavior.  Then, upload a picture that depicts him/her & explain why you chose it?

Forrest Gump – different. Fighting for acceptance. (yeah, I really mean this). Do you still need a picture?

c)    What other brands (in any category outside of home security) have a similar personality that you can imagine the SimpliSafe person “hanging out” with?

None. I look at home security as a commodity like electricity because you expect to be always on and working properly.

3.   Go back onto the SimpliSafe website:

a)    What specifically do you notice & connect with?  What images, words, descriptions or tools do you especially like?  Feel free to take/upload screen shots of favorite elements.  Describe why these things connected in particular?

The house diagram with the layout of the devices and the hover over feature to show how they worked and function was good. The rest was not remarkable and did not stand out.

b)   Anything you do not connect with/like.  Please be specific & describe why?

The website did not grab my attention except for as described in (b) above. (This is same the question guys)

c)    Why does SimpliSafe seem like a good fit for you/your family vs. other home security companies?  What specifically makes you say that?

It is a good fit for a starting out homeowner that is trying to save money. It is not for a high income big house owner that wants the system to be ubiquitous and not stand out with table top monitors.

d)   Was there anything that made you nervous or held you back from trying SimpliSafe?  What could SimpliSafe have done to better address this?  Anything SimpliSafe should do differently/offer to make it an even better fit for you?

No. If I ever have a need to set up a system quickly I would buy the system.

4.   Choose an image from the Internet of the person/home who you think is most likely to use SimpliSafe - explain why?  How is this person different from the people who choose other home security brands?  Do you relate more to the SimpliSafe user or another brand user (from Blog #3) – why?

Image: a new young family that has 1-2 kids that is staring out that needs to save money. They use it because they need to save money and get a system installed quick.

5.   Are there any other products or services SimpliSafe doesn’t offer that you wish existed to help protect your home?  Do you feel SimpliSafe could provide these things in the future?  Do these things “fit” with SimpliSafe, in your opinion?

No.

6.   Finally, based on your SimpliSafe impressions & experience with this blog, create an ad that would convince someone like yourself to buy SimpliSafe.  Feel free to use a combo of words, images & even your own drawings.

“Starting out in your first home. Need to save money and get a system installed quickly. Try simply safe. You will have same day security and save money in the process”

THANK YOU!

Blog #3: My Home, My Castle

1.   Today’s assignment is all about your home…

a)    First, choose/post a picture from Google Images that captures how you feel about your home.  Blog about why you chose it & what home means to you.

I feel my home is a shining beacon on a hill that calls out to me every time I see it. It says, this is your place and it is where you are comfortable and it is the space your family occupies and prospers in.

b)   Then, think about how secure you feel in your home today—choose/post another picture that captures this, and be sure to explain your choice.

I feel secure in my home knowing that I have a secure perimeter around my house that is about as good as this low wall that is easily climbed over. The external lighting around my home deters nighttime entrants. The brick walls of my home are sturdier than siding or other wood products and provide a little higher barrier to bad guys or mother-nature.  Last, my security system and its external signs with its constant beep-beep every time a door or window opens provide awareness of what is going on at the perimeter of my home.

c)    How often do you think about the security of your home, and why?  In what circumstances (if any) do you think about it more often? 

I think about it every day and every hour.  Reason being is that it is where all my loved ones and my personal belongings reside. 
 

d)   Would you say you feel more or less secure at home today vs. a few years ago?  Why is that—what factors may have triggered this shift?

I feel the same. The physical boundaries of my home coupled with the situational awareness of what is going on in my neighborhood keeps me assured that I understand any potential threats and have a few barriers against them that lie between me and them. The external lighting around my house helps.

2.   Let’s get specific about what makes you feel secure at home.  

a)    What are the outside factors/forces that contribute to a sense of security?  For each, list the benefits they provide (physical and/or emotional).

The outside factors are a reliable security system that provides perimeter awareness when that gives me the beep-beep sound or alarm when a door or window is opened and it should not be.
 

b)   Do your neighbors & community play a role in your sense of security—explain?

Yes they do. To the extent that I have one cooperative nice neighbor that looks out for my property and they are on the entry side of my cul de sac street that leads to my house.

c)    What measures (if any) have you taken to keep your home/family secure?  For each, list the benefits they provide (physical and/or emotional).

Exterior lighting installed. This provides a deterrent to bad guys at night.
Home Security Alarm System, We use it all the time. It provides an alarm at night if there is an intruder and it provides perimeter awareness of the exterior of the house if a window or entry door is open.
Emotional benefits are that these measures provide peace of mind.

d)   Do you have any non-traditional home security tricks or “hacks” you use to protect your home?  Where did you get them & are they working/not working?

No.

e)    Do you have a mental checklist you go through before bed and/or when you leave home—if so, what’s on it?

Yes. Shut the windows. Lock the doors and turn on the security system.

3.   Now I’d like to understand your personal experience with home security products/systems…

a)    When did you first think about purchasing any home security products or systems, and why—what triggered it?

When I purchased my first home. Why – to protect my family and possessions.

b)   Where did you go for information about home security?  Who/what influenced your first purchases?  If applicable, what role did your spouse/partner play?

I went to ADT since they had the best brand name in the market.  They also had a promotion package that was helpful on pricing when the system was installed.  My spouse helped me specify the features.

c)    Blog about your initial home security purchases:  Which products/components did you start with, and why?  What are all the factors that drove your choice?

Window contactors. Door alarm sensors. Motion sensors on the first floor.  Connection to monitoring system. Battery back up in the event of a power failure.  The factors that drove the choice were feature and function to keep our home safe
 

d)   Which products/components have you added on/switched to since then, and why?  Who/what influenced these additional purchases?

Front door video monitor. Added it for a record of who came to the door.

e)    Give a letter grade (A, B, C, D or F) to each of your major home security purchases.  Which brands/products would you recommend, and why?  Which brands/products would you NOT recommend, and why?

ADT – A. Did good job.

2^nd Purchase – CPI – did a good job.

f)     Are there any brands/products you considered along the way, but decided not to go with—if so, what are they and why?

No.

4.   Lastly, I’d like to understand your familiarity with/impressions of different brands of home security products/systems.  Begin by listing all the brands/companies you are aware of & blog about your impressions of each of them: 

a)    What are they known for?  What are they good at and/or bad at?

ADT – national brand. Some level of standard service. Known in the market

CPI – local to North Carolina. Good reputation for service in the NC market.

b)   Who do you imagine uses each of these different brands?  For each brand/company, choose an image from the Internet of the person/home who you think is likely to use this particular brand/co.—explain your choices.

ADT – homes and businesses – since it is a national brand

CPI – homes and businesses – in NC since it is a trusted service provider in the local market.

c)    Which brands/companies seem like the best fit for you/your home, vs. the one/s that are not right for you/your home—why?

Local service provider that has been in business continuously for a long time since they delver and do their job well.

Blog #2: IMHO (aka In My Humble Opinion)

1.   Technology is a part of everyday life in today’s world.

a)    Think about your relationship with technology, the role it plays in your life & how you feel about it.  Find/upload a Google image that represents this, describe why you chose it and why you feel this way?

Here is an image of my iPhone.  The role it plays in my life is that it helps keep me organized.  I feel that it is a great help and it has essentially replaced a written calendar / day planner that I used to carry around.  I chose it because it is a great organizational tool. 

b)   Go through your home & take pictures of 2 of the “newer” technologies you use in your life (outside of your phone).  For each, explain: 1) why you bought this brand/product, 2) what you love about what it does for you, & 3) the role it plays in your life in human terms: “It’s like my _____ because it _____.”

TV Set
1, I bought this brand / product because it is reliable and I enjoy watching a large screen TV.  I got Samsung because it has a good reliable reputation.  I love the fact that I can see all my favorite TV shows on it.  The role it plays in my life is to provide an escape from the world and a form of relaxation.

Mac Book lap top.
1, I bought this brand / product because it is reliable and my laptop helps me conduct personal and professional business.  I like having a physical key board. I got Apple because it has a good reliable reputation.  I love the fact that I can see all my soft copy files of my important documents using my laptop.  The role it plays in my life is to help keep me organized.

c)    Do you love all tech or are there examples of technology that you steer clear of?  If so, provide an example and explain why it’s not for you? 

I steer clear of gaming since this form of technology is addicting and not the best use of time since it can make you become disconnected from people.

d)   Where do you generally learn about new tech?  Are there any blogs, magazines or other information sources that you use regularly?

Through work of mouth from friend and coworkers. Also, from TV shows like “Today” on NBC. Lastly from websites like CNN and CNBC in their tech sections.

2.   Many brands strive to make their products or a task more approachable, simple & easy to do/use.

a)    Think of 2 brands/products that are designed to make something more approachable, simple or easy.  For each, upload a pic (from the Internet or one that you take) and explain: 1) what you find appealing about it, and 2) how the user benefits from its specific design.

Apple iPhone – each design version incorporates user feedback and provides more useful feature and function.

MS Office 365. This is a great technology since it allows you to have all your email for both work and personal on one device.

b)   How important is an approachable, simple, easy-to-use design in technology products?   Explain why and provide an example or two. 

Yes, it is important. If it is not simple I am not interested in using it.  An example is the use of Google blog. This is not intuitive for a first time user like me and it does not work perfectly. It is actually frustrating. 

Another example is the “Goode” Application for getting work email on your personal device. You have to log into a separate application and the screen layouts are different that the typical Gmail account.

3.   The word value means different things to different people. 

a)    Describe how you define value in your own words, why & provide an example.
Value is getting something that is above the standard offer in the market and you do not have to pay much extra for it.  An example is exta free apps loaded on your iPhone

b)   Are there certain categories where it’s more important to pay extra to get the best?   What are some examples & why?

It is important to pay extra for things that affect / help your health and safety.  Examples are organic food.

c)    Does “value” play a role when making technology purchases, or do you have different priorities?   Are there trade-offs between “value” and getting “the best”?   Provide an example of a tech purchase you made and how you weighed your priorities.

Yes.  You want to keep costs down for both your business and personal life in order to be competitive with your products and not to overpay for your personal items.  An example of a tech purchase I made was my macbook. It was worth the extra money vs. windows based laptops since the embedded Apple operating systems work better vs. MS windows.

4.   One final topic area for today’s assignment: DIY (aka “do-it-yourself”).

a)    Some people love DIY projects; others, not so much.  Upload a Google Image depicting how you feel about DIY projects, and explain why.

I like DIY projects. The best example is yard work and making the outside of your house look good.  Sometimes you can do something better than what the result would be if you paid someone to do it.  Other times you must pay someone else to do the work if you do not have time to do it your self.

b)   As you walk around your home, think broadly about the things you might consider “do-it-yourself” and share what comes to mind.
Yard work. House cleaning. These are things I can easily do myself since they do not required specialize skills.

c)    What are DIY examples that you enjoy or feel comfortable doing?
Yard work

What are DIY examples you do not enjoy or would not choose to take on- why? 
Painting and electrical work. Reason is that you need specialized skills to do it correctly and to hav