abode's IoT and Home Security Platform Makes Connected Home Accessible to Visually Impaired and Blind Community

    PALO ALTO, CA, June 21, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- abode Systems, Inc. (www.goabode.com), an innovative, professional-grade DIY home security and automation system, recently received high praise from Chris Grabowski, founder of Mystic Access, a technology review program for the blind and visually impaired communities.

Mystic Access was founded as a result of Grabowski's own personal experience. He notes, "We are totally blind assistive technology users ourselves, and therefore understand the frustrations and hurdles that occasionally need to be surmounted in order to successfully learn your technology." While building out the platform, abode's founders, Chris Carney and Brent Franks, focused on ease of use with maximum flexibility, creating an accessible DIY home security system that is easy to set up and use for everyone.

While reviewing the abode system at the Mystic Access Podcast (available at: http://bit.ly/abode223), Grabowski's team highlights potentially lifesaving features of abode. "If you have a smoke detector that goes off and if you have a smart lock connected to abode, you can have the system automatically unlock your doors so you don't have to fumble with a deadbolt to get out of the house quickly," Grabowski states. The team also highlighted the ease of use and applicability to the visually impaired community by pairing the Amazon Echo to abode with its direct integration. abode's innovative platform includes powerful home security and automation features that enables everyone, including the visually impaired community, with easy to use integrations. For example, Amazon Echo, other connected devices, and assistive technologies from Apple and Google on iOS and Android, allow users to determine what is happening in their home in real time, regardless where they are located.

Carney, co-founder and CEO of abode, recognized in 2014 that the smart home and IoT were rapidly evolving, and as a result, set out to completely reinvent the home security experience for everyone. The tightly integrated software and hardware platform provides DIY, professional-grade security with no long-term contracts, no required monthly fees, and optional on-demand professional monitoring. Carney states, "My previous 20-years spent at a large residential, professional security company allowed me to focus on where abode should focus to truly put the customer first. I'm thrilled to be selected by Mystic Access and honored that we can provide value to the visually impaired community by providing the convenience of immediately knowing when a door opens or closes, automatically locking or unlocking a door, whether there is motion in a user's home, or if there is an active alarm that needs to be addressed."

The abode solution goes much further than innovative technology. Brent Franks, abode co-founder and CTO notes, "We wanted to change the industry and focused on making our technology extremely easy to install and use, while also reinventing the business model and design aesthetics of our hardware. We wanted to ensure abode was technology you would be proud to showcase prominently in your home, unlike traditional, commodity security hardware." Franks continues, "We also wanted to ensure that our on-demand model was fully embraced by users regardless of whether you are on our free monthly plan or our premium professionally monitored solution. We offer the first true on-demand home security application. Home security and the smart home should be for everyone."

Follow abode on Twitter: https://twitter.com/goabode
Like abode on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goabode

About abode Systems, Inc.
abode Systems, Inc. is The Future of Home Security. Backed by industry veteran and former CEO of ADT, Mike Snyder, the company has created the first DIY, professional-grade home security solution with a powerful home automation platform for the Internet of Things (IoT). The abode system goes beyond traditional home security approaches: it protects the home and its contents while safeguarding the images, video and data collected by the system from cyber criminals with the strongest encryption available. For more information about Abode Systems, please visit: goabode.com or call +1 (650) 443-7836.

About Mystic Access
Founded by Chris Grabowski, the Mystic Place Blog and Podcast has been operating since November 2007. Since that time, Mystic Access has been recording podcasts and writing about products and services for the visually impaired and blind communities. Mystic Access also offers comprehensive audio tutorials and one-on-one training, consulting services and self-advocacy sessions over the phone or Skype. www.mysticaccess.com

Media Contact
E-mail: [email protected]

# # #