> The user interface for current smoke detectors is very thoughtful. It is based upon experience. Is that so? It's not because it's a commodity device built wi

> The user interface for current smoke detectors is very thoughtful. It is based upon experience. Is that so? It's not because it's a commodity device built with "lowest bidder" mentality out of the cheapest possible materials? There are a lot of things that we are stuck with that are just plain stupid -- like emergency exits that are illuminated RED, the universal color of "stop", and only written in english. But the function of a smoke alarm doesn't have to be one of them. I think you're spinning straw men here man. Reading the documentation it's clear this device sounds an audible alarm at the same concentration as old fashioned devices. It just has an add'l feature of an early-warning spoken alarm. And the wave to dismiss is no less safe than the push-button-to-dismiss that is commonly used.