Having a home security system may make it more likely for you to buy a smart home device

Home improvement has become a priority in the age of lockdowns and quarantines. In 2020, this may also entail fitting a residence with IP cameras and other forms of consumer-grade security for the property. A new study by Parks Associates also now suggests that owning such hardware may make smart-home devices more attractive.

The combination of home security and connected devices may offer many advantages, as the OEMs that sell the latter like to make clear during their product launches. For example, those smart speakers with in-built screens can be set to show footage from a user's home surveillance equipment. On the other side of this, many camera-makers tout their more up-to-date wares as those that support Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

Most of those who have taken this kind of equipment up for their home prefer to install it themselves - which may be just as well in 2020. Then again, 23% of US households polled reported that they had set up an appointment with a contractor or service provider for a home-call to install such products.