1. Basic facts
We start with official documentation for current features, availability, service requirements and pricing. These sources confirm what the supplier says the system does. They do not independently prove benefits.
2. Independent evidence
Where health, wellbeing or care outcomes are claimed, we look for peer-reviewed studies, independent evaluations, public-sector reports and credible service data. We distinguish a study of the exact product from evidence about a broader category.
3. Evidence grades
Relatively strong
Independent controlled evidence, replicated findings or a substantial credible literature.
Promising or established
Useful independent studies, established care practice or strong evaluations with limitations.
Limited
Small studies, indirect evidence, case material or observational reports.
Mainly claims
Manufacturer evidence, testimonials or plausible mechanisms without useful independent confirmation.
4. Failure modes
A product description explains normal operation. A care decision also needs to consider batteries, broadband, mobile coverage, false alarms, missed detections, ignored prompts, subscription changes and the availability of whoever receives an alert.
5. Privacy
We report cameras, microphones, location tracking, cloud dependence and family dashboards separately. A camera used deliberately for video calls differs from passive monitoring.
6. Commercial relationships
Affiliate links or sponsored visibility do not affect evidence grades, limitations or availability information.
7. Corrections and dates
Every directory entry carries a last-checked date and source. Use the contact form to report a factual error or outdated source. Substantive changes should be recorded in a public update log as the database grows.
Use of AI
Software may assist with data structure, consistency checks and drafting. Factual claims must remain traceable to sources.