Four Classic ‘80s Movies Versus Smart Home Security

This week, the Internet celebrated Back to the Future Day: October 21^st, 2015 being the date on which Marty McFly arrives in a high-tech future in the second installment of the 1980s classic.

How does the real-life future stack up to the movie? Not bad at all! Our kids don't have hoverboards yet, but 2015's middle-aged Marty would have enjoyed the ability to control his home from his watchand keep a better eye on his son's comings and goings.

Of course, back in the ‘80s when the movie was made, parents didn't have many ways to keep track of their kids' adventurous activities. Had Alarm.com been around, several classics from the era would have turned out differently…

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

When his parents head off to work, the allegedly-sick Ferris has the run of the house, and all of Chicago, for the day. But first, he needs a reluctant sidekick.

If Cameron's parents had been Alarm.com users, they would have saved their son a lot of trouble. A connected garage door would have meant he and Ferris couldn't get his Dad's 1963 Ferrari California out of the garage without his father knowing. They could still have had a nice day if they had "rented a nice Cadillac", as Cameron suggested.

It would have made a less interesting movie, but it would have saved the car.

Weird Science

One useful feature of Alarm.com is getting an alert if the temperature in your house drops too low. It indicates that your thermostat may need attention.

No matter how much magical manipulation Lisa may have been able to concoct, the notifications generated by snowfall in Chet's bedroom would have alerted the Donnellys that something was up. Wyatt and Gary might have been able to spin a plausible story about a drafty window, but it would be only too easy for the Donnellys to remotely peek into their home with an Image Sensor—and who knows what they might have spotted.

Adventures in Babysitting

With Alarm.com, the Andersons may have felt perfectly comfortable foregoing a babysitter and leaving high-schooler Brad in charge of his little sister Sara when they headed out to their gala. Between video check-ins and real-time alerts, they would have had complete peace of mind.

The Goonies

Data invented an early prototype for the ‘connected home' with his nifty zipline to the Walshes' house. But there'd be no need to do the Truffle Shuffle for entry with an Alarm.com system. Each of Mikey's friends could have been givena unique user code so they could use the home's smart lock. It would certainly have helped keep track of who was coming in and out.

By keeping tabs on when their kids and their friends all left the home as well, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh might have noticed faster how long the crew had been gone on their expedition - and maybe found them before the Fratellis did.

Conclusion? Yep—things would have been different had Alarm.com been on the scene in the 1980s. But don't worry too much about cramping your kids' style. Smart home security has plenty of features that parents and teens will both love.

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