If you're savvy and want to do a bit more home monitoring, these interesting sensor ideas might be worth trying.

Abstract: This paper provides details about the design and operation of a Collision Avoidance System in smart cars, with the Arduino board as the central control unit, interfaced with an ultrasonic ...

Local-first wins.

In recent years, integrated platforms equipped with microcontrollers (with Arduino probably being the best-known brand) have been gaining popularity.