Duane Pearsall developed the first practical home smoke detector called the SmokeGard 700. There are two main types of smoke detectors - ionization and photoelectric - which work by disrupting particle flow or light beams when smoke is detected. Smoke detectors have two key components - a sensor and an alarm - to quickly detect fires and alert occupants. Common applications include commercial and residential fire alarm systems. Future improvements could enhance detection capabilities and interconnectivity.