What if your home could recognize who is coming, even with their face covered by a mask, and immediately send a notification when a stranger is detected? This technology is no longer just a futuristic idea; it has been tested in a recent study.

According to BPS 2023 data, theft remains the most dominant crime in many regions of Indonesia. Standard mechanical locks and CCTV are often not enough to counter the increasingly varied methods used by thieves. The presence of technology developed by an ITK Electrical Engineering lecturer, Amalia Rizqi Utami, S.T., M.T., offers new hope with her research on smart security based on YOLO and face recognition. The system she developed is even designed to recognize faces even when they are covered by masks or other accessories that perpetrators often use to disguise themselves.

In many areas, Indonesian people have a tradition of helping to watch over a neighbor's house when they are away. While this tradition is still relevant, the development of modern lifestyles means not everyone can always rely on old ways. Smart security technology is not here to replace the culture of mutual care but to be a more practical complement, especially in big cities with high mobility.

YOLO (You Only Look Once) works like a "digital eye" that can instantly detect the presence of humans in a single glance. Meanwhile, face recognition identifies facial identities and distinguishes between residents, guests, and strangers. The combination of the two turns a home camera from a passive recorder into an active, intelligent analyzer. As a result, home security is more guaranteed because the system can recognize potential threats even before a crime occurs.

Interestingly, all processes are run automatically using a Raspberry Pi device connected to a camera and a mobile application. As soon as the system detects a strange or suspicious face, a buzzer will sound, and a notification is sent in real-time to the homeowner's phone. This technology makes a home more "alert" with the ability to respond to threats quickly, without having to wait for manual action.

With these various advantages, the home security system based on YOLO and face recognition has proven effective in facing the challenges of a fast-paced digital era. This technology is not only practical but also adaptive to real-world conditions. Now is the time to make our homes smarter, safer, and ready to protect their occupants at all times, in line with the spirit of mutual cooperation that we can maintain in a modern version.