On the Brink

Home security stands ready to leap into the future

  • By Paul Dawes
  • Feb 14, 2008

Think about it. Two decades ago, cell phones were the size of bricks and could barely receive phone calls; today, they are wafer-thin and offer Internet access. Traveling to unknown destinations required detailed instructions scribbled on a notepad; today a car’s navigation system will direct the driver while the kids watch a DVD in the back seat.

So why hasn’t home security evolved?

Traditional monitored home security is just that—traditional. The system installed in a home 20 to 30 years ago is not too different from what’s being installed today. Central monitoring stations are partially automated—some devices such as motion detectors and door sensors are now wireless, and many systems now offer cellular backup to old telephone service connections. But, the core home security value offering is as dormant as the VCR that keeps blinking 12 a.m. when the power goes out.

Security 2.0
So what’s next for home security? The better question might be, what’s next for broadband? The Internet has changed lives, offering new ways to stay connected and access information across the world. Most traditional home security providers have yet to truly embrace Web technology, bringing their offerings into the 21st century and, in turn, opening the door for a new breed of competition.

Introducing broadband connectivity to traditional home security systems not only offers another source of communication to a central monitoring station, but it also opens up an unlimited supply of functionalities, enhancing homeowners’ peace of mind. Web-based remote home monitoring and home control services can now accompany a security system that keeps you connected to your home via any Web browser or mobile phone from virtually anywhere in the world. This is home security 2.0— the future of home security.

In addition to central station-monitored protection, newer products offer always-on connectivity. So if you forgot to arm your security system before you left home, you can access the secure Web portal and click a button. Need to let the maid service in without setting off the alarm system? Just click a button from your cell phone and the system is disarmed.

It also is possible to receive text and/or e-mail messages when happenings occur— or do not occur—in your home, such as a front door opening, a room being entered or the basement temperature nearing freezing conditions. View live video, video clips or pictures of your home via wireless cameras. Program the system to capture video of the person walking in the front or back door so you always know who’s entering.

Imagine how this functionality will minimize or eliminate false alarms. Better yet, imagine being able to know when the kids get home from school, what they are doing while you’re at work or if the pet sitter arrived. Now your computer and mobile phone are your eyes into your home while you’re away.

In Control
Also consider the advantages of remote home control. Turn lights off, change a thermostat setting remotely from your Web portal or mobile phone, or set lighting and thermostat schedules to maximize energy efficiency. It is even possible to preheat the pool or hot tub in a vacation home so they are ready for your arrival.

Is it unexpectedly raining today? Access the Web portal to deactivate the lawn sprinkler system. Remote home control ideas are endless, and manufacturers such as Intermatic, Leviton and others who support the new Z-Wave wireless protocol are now offering devices that enable this functionality.

Some pioneering security companies are already embracing the future. Monitronics, one of the largest and fastestgrowing home security providers in the United States, recently announced it will deploy the new technology, offering it to all customers.

“As technology advances, consumers are demanding new capabilities from their home security systems,” said Mitch Clarke, vice president of marketing and market development at Monitronics. “Our customers want more—in addition to securing the home, they want to stay connected while away. This new functionality offers this and greater peace of mind to our customers.”

Other home security companies likely will follow, but not just to stay competitive. Broadband providers and telcos are now stepping into the home security space, and they know they must offer a better solution than traditional monitored home security. You may say, “What? My phone company is going to try to sell me something else?” Of course they are. The more services they sell you, the less likely you are to switch to another service provider. Since acquiring a new customer is substantially more expensive than keeping one, there’s nothing more that a telco or ISP would rather do than increase customer retention.

A New Standard
The attractiveness of this next-generation concept for home security companies and service providers centers around interactive functionality. It’s estimated that 50 percent of home security users who have a monitored home security system don’t arm the system when they leave home. Eventually, they realize they are paying $35 a month for a service they don’t use and then disconnect it.

The new integrated solution brings interactivity to home protection. Seeing live video of your home, receiving text messages when a door is open and taking pictures or video clips of unanticipated events makes the service tangible. Remote home control allows the homeowners to stay in charge.

Monitronics has not announced equipment or monthly subscription pricing yet, but it is estimated to be a moderate upsell from the traditional offering. The new service caters to a semitech-savvy customer who is accustomed to spending a little more for enhanced services as long as the experience proves to be worth the added expense. However, with broadband penetration estimated to hit 60 percent in the next four years, we’re all becoming aggressive adopters of technology, which makes this solution much more of a mass market offering.

Is this truly a new revolution in home security? At the very least, these trends represent progress that the industry hasn’t seen in decades and have the potential to become the new standards in home protection.

Featured

  • Data Driven, Proactive Response

    As cities face rising demands for smarter policing and faster emergency response, Real Time Crime Centers (RTCCs) are emerging as essential hubs for data-driven public safety. In this interview, two experts with deep field experience — Ross Bourgeois of New Orleans and Dean Cunningham of Axis Communications — draw on decades of operational, leadership and technology expertise to share how RTCCs are transforming public safety through innovation, interagency collaboration and a relentless focus on community impact. Read Now

  • Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

    Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits. Read Now

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.