Here is one of the more unique smartphone apps I have come across in the past week: The Sentector. Here’s how it works: the app is able to monitor a particular sound in any room or setting. All you have to do is calibrate the app to pick up and detect the sound by pressing the “Train” button. The most effective ways to make sure the app have correctly picked up and “memorized” the correct sound include making sure you’re creating the sound in close proximity to your device’s microphone for at least 30 seconds, repeat the sound a few times for good measure and avoid making any unnecessary noise that could interfere with the audio calibration. Hitting the Train button pulls up a recording alert dialog box and every time the proper, recorded sound has been detected, the box will flash yellow.
The training process will confirm your saved sound and will end once the Cancel button changes to Done. If it doesn’t work the first time, just simply Retrain the app to pick up the sound. It may take you a few times before it works depending on what type of sound you’re attempting to record. The Power button programs the app to detect a power outage. The app will recognize a power outage when the running alarm loses electrical power and the device is running on battery only.
Essentially, Sentector works best when you place a tablet or secondary mobile device near the sound source such as a car alarm, fire alarm or house alarm while you are away from either of those locations. When the trained sound is heard by the app, Sentector will send you an alarm email along with a picture that is automatically captured upon the alarm sounding off. You can also control where to send the urgent alarm messages and what attachments should be sent in the email.
Sentector acts as a virtual guard dog trained to alert you of any suspicious activity that occurs in your car, house or another location. This app will undoubtedly come in handy in case your security system provider fails to contact you in a timely manner once your home alarm beeps, in case you immediately ignore your car alarm going off because it sounds similar to every other car alarm or in case you have no way of knowing when or if your fire alarm rings when you are not at home. The only downside of using this app is its need for two devices to function optimally; otherwise, it’s a moot point because you don’t have a secondary device to monitor the alarm/sound.
The idea and concept behind Sentector is innovative and creative because the app’s ability to serve as your alarm’s backup security system. The app is easy to use and is customizable with adjustable settings including sound detection threshold, the frequency and length of the trigger alarm alert and setting multiple alarms at one time. If you run into any trouble, the help tabs and web support forum site link, both found within the app, will be available at your disposal. Sentector is less than 2MB in size and is available to download free of charge in the Google Play store.
App Name: Sentector
Developer: AB Dev Labs, LLC
Market: Google Play
Cost: Free
