Turn a Smartphone into a Security Device

RicoCustomers wanting to breathe a second life to a spare smartphone might be interested in the Rico, a toy-like security device which uses any older smartphone as its brains and eyes.

The concept behind the Rico is that smartphones already have a camera, microphone, speaker, processor and wifi/3G connectivity, and while the average handset has a shelf-life of around 24 months, older devices should be recycled in a creative way. That's where the Rico unit comes in. It houses any smartphone (Android 2.2 or iOS 6) under 4.5-inch in size and adds motion detection, temperature, carbon dioxide and humidity sensors, as well as the ability to control smart sockets.

It also pairs with one's current mobile device via companion Rico app to provide live video streaming, alerts, sensor data tracking and smart socket control functionality.

Developers Mindhelix say they already have a working prototype and a finished companion app, and are now looking to fund further developments via the Kickstarter crowdfunding/preorder platform, with shipments set to kick off from November 2015.

Go Rico