I tried solving the “Big Brother” feeling of Home Cameras
I have a couple of security cameras at home to monitor the house when I’m away or simply to check things remotely (“Did I turn off the lights?”). But I’ve always experienced two main problems with these devices.
The first one is privacy, of course.
When I’m at home, constantly walking back and forth in front of a camera lens, I never feel completely “free.” It’s the classic “Big Brother effect”: the feeling that someone is always watching you. Even if the cameras I bought are supposedly 100% secure, having a camera pointed at me still makes me uncomfortable (even when the camera itself is unplugged).
So I started adopting a very simple solution: whenever I’m home, I physically turn the cameras toward the wall. Cheap, easy, and effective! The obvious downside is that every time I leave the apartment, I have to remember to turn them back again.
The second problem might sound minor, but to me it’s just as annoying: most security cameras look terrible.
Don’t get me wrong, I like minimalist and clean design, but security cameras almost always look like white plastic blocks with a giant lens staring at you. I’ve moved apartments several times, and every time I have to place the cameras somewhere, I end up trying to both hide them and make sure they still have the right viewing angle. They’re simply not designed to be exposed as part of the home. The design often feels cheap, clinical, and something you want to hide.
So I tried to solve both problems by 3D-printing a cover for my cameras. The cover hides the plasticky, sterile look of the device while also adding an extra layer of privacy and making it blend better into the environment. The camera lens only pops out when needed.
Of course, it’s still just a plastic cover with a servo motor connected to the internet, but even as a prototype it already makes me feel much more comfortable when I’m at home.
I’m thinking about putting more effort into the project — refining the design and maybe experimenting with better materials like ceramic or concrete — because the concept is actually working well for me.
Am I the only one who feels this way about home security cameras? What do you think about this solution?