Smart Bell presses all the right buttons

An English schoolboy is on course for a $380,000 windfall after inventing a doorbell that fools burglars into believing someone is home at an empty property.

Smart Bell, designed by 13-year-old Laurence Rook, dials the homeowner’s mobile phone when pressed, allowing them to talk to whoever is outside their front door.

The device even produces a small amount of white noise, so any unexpected guests assume they are speaking to someone inside the house on an intercom system.

The invention would also allow homeowners to give instructions to drivers who are making deliveries at their property.

Rook said he came up with the idea after his mum grew tired of travelling to the post office to collect deliveries that were made when the family wasn’t home.

“When I started to develop Smart Bell, I realised it could also be a great burglar deterrent,” the teenager said.

Security measures for the home are always welcomed by consumers, as evidenced by the profit Rook stands to make from Smart Bell. Can you think of any ideas that increase consumers’ safety and convenience?