Baby monitor
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Ababy monitor,also known as ababy alarm,is aradiosystem used to remotely listen to sounds made by aninfant.An audio monitor consists of a transmitter unit, equipped with amicrophone,placed near to the child. It transmits the sounds byradio wavesto a receiver unit with aspeakercarried by, or near to, the person caring for the infant. Some baby monitors providetwo-way communicationwhich allows the parent to speak back to the baby (parent talk-back). Some allow music to be played to the child. A monitor with a video camera and receiver is often called ababy cam.
One of the primary uses of baby monitors is to allow attendants to hear when an infant wakes, while out of immediate hearing distance of the infant. Although commonly used, there is no evidence that these monitors preventSIDS,and many doctors believe they provide a false sense of security.[1]Infants and young children can often be heard over a baby monitor incrib talk,in which they talk to themselves. This is a normal part of practising their language skills.
History
[edit]The first baby monitor was theZenith Radio Nursein 1937. ThisZenith Radioproduct was developed byEugene F. McDonald,and designed by Japanese-American sculptor and product designerIsamu Noguchi.[2]
Video baby monitors (baby cams)
[edit]Some baby monitors also use a video camera to show pictures on thereceiver,either by plugging the receiver into a television or by including a portableLCDscreen. This type ofsurveillance camerais often called ababy cam.
Some baby cams can work at night with low light levels. Most video baby monitors today have a night vision feature.InfraredLEDsattached on the front of the camera allow a user to see the baby in a dark room. Video baby monitors that have night vision mode will switch to this mode automatically in the dark. Some advanced baby cams now work over Wi-Fi so parents can watch babies through their smartphone or computer.
Baby monitors continue to evolve and now also can utilize features such as night lights and built-in lullabies. These are not available in all monitors. Some include temperature and movement monitoring devices to sit underneath a mattress or close to the baby within a cot.
Movement monitors
[edit]A baby movement monitor uses sensor pads placed under the crib mattress to detect movement, if movement stops for more than 20 seconds an alarm will sound.
Wired and wireless
[edit]Baby monitors generally use wireless systems, but can also use wires or may operate overexisting household wiringsuch asX10.
Wireless systems useradio frequenciesthat are designated by governments for unlicensed use. For example, in North America frequencies near 49MHz,902 MHz or 2.4 GHz are available. While these frequencies are not assigned to powerful television or radio broadcasting transmitters,interferencefrom other wireless devices such ascordless telephones,wireless toys,computer wireless networks,radar,Smart Power Metersandmicrowave ovensis possible.
Digital audio wireless systems usingDECT,are resistant to interference and have a range up to 300 m.[3]
Analog audio transmissions can be picked up at a distance from the home by ascanner receiveror other baby monitor receivers, and so present a risk to privacy as long as the transmitter is switched on. Digital transmission such asFrequency-hopping spread spectrumprovides a level of protection from casual interception.
Some wireless baby monitors support multiple cameras on one handheld monitor-receiver. These systems are even compatible with a standardwireless security camera.
FM transmitters,paired with amicrophonecan be an inexpensive solution to a DIY baby monitor, sinceclock radioscan also be used as one.
Smartphone as baby monitors
[edit]Smartphoneappsallow a user to monitor a camera-equipped device, such as another smartphone or a tablet. Alternatively,Wi-FiorBluetoothcan link a camera to a dedicated app on a smartphone or tablet. This means a smart device doesn't need to be left in the baby's room.
Other features
[edit]Portable battery-operated receivers can be carried by the parent around the house. The transmitter stays near the infant crib and is usually plugged into aAC socket.Some baby monitor packages include two receivers.
Baby monitors may have a visible signal as well as repeating the sound. This is often in the form of a set of lights to indicate the noise level, allowing the device to be used when it is inappropriate or impractical for the receiver to play the sound. Other monitors have avibrating alerton the receiver making it particularly useful for people with hearing difficulties.
Systems with several transmitters can monitor several rooms in the home at once.
Transmitters with movement sensors such as a pressure-sensitive mat placed beneath the child's mattress give additional warning of restless activity by the infant.
Standards
[edit]The new voluntaryASTM InternationalF2951standardhas been developed to address incidents associated with strangulations that can result from infant entanglement in the cords of baby monitors. This standard for baby monitors includes requirements for audio, video, and motion sensor monitors. It provides requirements for labeling, instructional material and packaging and is intended to minimize injuries to children resulting from normal use and reasonably foreseeable misuse or abuse of baby monitors.
Privacy
[edit]Signals of baby monitors can be received by third parties, presenting privacy issues.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Antenatal care – information and advice".www.bupa.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 15 February 2017.Retrieved28 November2016.
- ^Onion, Rebecca (7 February 2013)."The World's First Baby Monitor: Zenith's 1937" Radio Nurse "".Slate.The Slate Group.Archivedfrom the original on 11 August 2018.Retrieved7 February2013.
- ^"Philips Babycare".Retrieved28 November2016.[dead link]
- ^"Don't panic, but your baby monitor can be hacked into a spycam".The Register.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-06-23.Retrieved2018-06-23.
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