When it comes to modern society nothing seems to move quite as quickly as technology and due to the way in which we live this advancement touches most, if not all aspects of our lives. Certainly the medical advancements that technology have made possible stand above the rest; however, there are many fields that technology has touched that tend to go unnoticed except for those interested in the field. One of these often overlooked fields in which technology has played a significant part is the home security and surveillance niche. Most homes in the United States that have been built in recent years are equipped with some variety of home security system whether it is a smoke alarm, a sprinkler system or a top of the line security alarm.
The mention of security alarms generally conjure up the image of television commercials of anthropomorphic alarm systems that see all and hear all that happens within the premises. Perhaps for the time being the attribution of such humanistic characteristics to an alarm system seems like a stretch, but with the incredible advances that the technological field is making it may not be long before our homes become our own bodyguards. It may seem absurd but with a look at some of the more recent creations in terms of home security it does not seem like so much of a stretch!
One of the aspects of home security that is instrumental in being able to both monitor property on and off location is the installation of video cameras. At one time video surveillance consisted of a camera that recorded footage to a VCR which would be overwritten every week or so. In more modern times; however, video camera footage has made leaps and bounds and has become something that can stream directly to hard drive locations where footage can be reviewed in real time or months after the event. Such advanced camera hardware is, by no means, a new discovery these days, but some of the newer advances on camera hardware and software bump these necessities in home security to a whole new level. As digital cameras improve, the security camera market is benefitting from these advances as well which led to the introduction of a 264 megapixel camera in Arecont Vision’s Megaview day and night line of video cameras! Sure keen detail will not only allow for better identification of intruders to the home but it will also lead to better identification of family and friends by younger family members who will be aware when it is safe to open the door to someone and when it is not. This particular line of cameras also comes with a vandal-resistant housing unit which makes sure that your investment remains safe and your surveillance system can continue monitoring under any situation. While the development of vandal-resistant housing may seem like a small advance, it is an advance that protects the integrity of any data captured during a break in and allows for higher rates of prosecution in property crimes.
When it comes to home security, protection from fire is one of the basic necessities in modern day housing. Where previously homes would contain add in smoke detectors that focus on the detection of smoke (which is why they obnoxiously squeal whenever someone burns toast,) current fire alarms are particularly more advanced. Modern homes now have built in fire alarms that work on the premise of detecting heat rather than smoke, this allows for more efficient detection of fire versus burning toast as well as a faster warning of potential disaster. Some of these heat based fire detectors are sold as standalone units; however, many times they become integrated in to home surveillance and security systems. For the safety of the nation it is hoped that all newly constructed will rely on heat based rather than smoke based fire detection methods since they are much more accurate and reliable.
Back when home security systems were installed in the very first homes there was no direct connection to phone lines, in fact the purpose of the alarm system was to make so much noise that enough attention was drawn to the house to capture the criminal or at least drive them away before they had time to grab anything. As time marched on we began to hook up our alarm systems through phone lines which gave the police, fire department and alarm monitoring companies access to our homes in order to facilitate a faster response time to any emergency that may occur. Most home security systems today still work on this method since it has been proven that direct contact to the emergency services results in quicker handling of the situation. As we become increasingly dependent upon our cell phones; however, we have now found a way to integrate cell phone usage in to our home security systems. There are already quite a few alarm system options that utilize cell phone access technology. There are quite a few reasons why this advancement is so beneficial for homeowners, it provides access to setting a security system while away from the home, it allows for remote monitoring of cameras placed throughout the home, it allows for remote control over lighting, music and other electronics within the home and many other options to boot. It may seem like the dependence upon technology is becoming a little tiresome, but looking at the big picture each of these things are ones which will indicate to a potential intruder that there is someone home. Cell phone access to a security system also allows for even the most compulsive individual to ensure that they did not forget to set the home alarm before leaving for a business trip. Such peace of mind and immediate access to a status update on the security of our homes is a priceless technological advancement.
Wireless home security systems are another new advancement in the world of home security. These alarm systems allow for any do it yourselfer to install a home security alarm fairly easily without having to trail complex systems of wires throughout the home. Wireless systems offer individuals the opportunity of installing protection of their home without having to be an electrician and without having to be an IT specialist. Many people worry about the complexity of installing alarm systems and programming them effectively; however, many of the new wireless systems on the market currently are built with usability in mind. There is a wide variety of wireless security systems already available on the market that run the pricing scale from one hundred to six hundred dollars depending upon the degree of technological advancement you want to incorporate in to your system. Wireless systems are not only the perfect choice for individuals that do not want to allow a stranger in to the home to install a security system, but they are also perfect for individuals that live in homes where they are not able to run wiring behind walls or tiling. Another benefit of utilizing this type of system is the inability to “cut wires”. Wire cutting is not, contrary to media portrayal, something that happens often, but the movie industry has succeeded in scaring enough individuals for this to become a legitimate concern.
Two-way communication systems are not a new invention; however, they are becoming a tool that is increasingly relied upon by alarm system companies. For an agent at the alarm monitoring company or a dispatch agent at 911 to be able to communicate directly with you through your alarm system during a time of crisis has become a service that more and more families are demanding from their monitoring services. Two-way communication allows not only for quicker dispatch of the authorities to your home but it also allows for communication during an emergency when you are unable to reach the phone as is the case when an intruder is in the home and the telephone is not in the room where you or your family are located.
Biometrics is an area of study that has resulted in some amazing technologies and while this is certainly not a new study, the application of biometrics in to home security for residential areas is. Big companies and federal buildings have relied upon biometric technology for years but as these advances begin to seep in to the mainstream market increasing numbers of the general population are demanding these high grade technologies. One of the concepts that is becoming increasingly popular in home security is the use of biometric, in particular: locks, locks to doors and safes that work on the basis of fingerprint analysis. These types of technologies may seem like overkill but they sell. In addition to biometric locks, another popular item seems to be iris identification programs which are able to be installed on access points of the home as well as on personal computers, laptops and electronic storage units. While biometric technology seems far in the future of many home owners contemplating security systems, the EyeSwipe-Nano TM iris-biometrics system from Hoyos Corporation is already inching in to the market and is believed to make its mass appearance at the beginning of 2011.
Child Location Systems do not necessarily fall in to the category of home security; however, they seem worthy of a mention regardless. These new gadgets have already begun popping up all over the market and even on television commercials that perhaps prey just a little too much on a parent’s insecurities. These new gadgets seem to be gaining popularity regardless of whether paranoid parents are driving up the sales or whether the product really is an amazing piece of technology. Child location systems such as the “Kidspotter” utilize both wireless networks and satellite networks and communicate with GPS transmitters that are strapped to the small and unassuming child. The location of any child wearing a transmitter device can be determined through a handheld receiver that is programmed to receive the particular signal from the child’s receiver. The “Kidspotter” is a mass version of these smaller “handheld” technologies being sold to parents worldwide. This larger super kid finding system will be implemented in large amusement parks and areas where children are commonly lost, with each child being programmed in to one transmitter and all signals being transmitted to a main server. Child location services and technologies do not have much of a place in the home, because hopefully if you have a child they cannot become lost in your own home; however, they may serve to play an important part in the future of reducing cases of missing children. Many advocates for this type of system claim that cases of missing and exploited children will be drastically reduced if only every parent implemented this new technology. Opponents of the system, though, claim that tagging children with GPS locators is much like tagging cattle and wildlife…but in the long run one has to ask, which is the lesser of the two evils?
Personal Emergency Response Systems have been in play in the technology market for some time now with systems like the Life Line system being publicized on late night infomercials nationwide. Systems such as these began with a buzzer system that was implemented for the most part in hospices, hospitals, group homes, retirement condos and other assisted living communities. Each home would be installed with a pull cord which, when pulled, would alert the warden of the building to an emergency via buzzer. In an age where more elderly and developmentally challenged individuals are attempting to assert their independence many are foregoing the option of assisted living facilities and opting to live in their own homes or in shared homes. Gaining independence can be an extremely empowering process for these groups of individuals; however, for many of their families there is the constant worry of their loved one falling when staying home alone. The pull cord systems that seem to work rather effectively within monitored living situations are less effective in these situations because there is no warden to rush to their assistance. Rather, personal emergency response systems have come to the forefront that allow for a small key pad that is carried on the person, to be used as an alert system that directly alerts the authorities to an emergency at the registered location of the registrant. As these systems become increasingly popular they are also becoming an alert system for the medical community to monitor individuals with certain medical conditions. More of the newer systems that are making their way on to the market starting in the beginning of 2011 are attempting to beef up these systems by implementing the two way communication as mentioned above.
We are still quite a way from the home of the Jetson’s that many of us imagined the twenty first century would bring; however, in comparison to the years that saw the debut of the first in home security system we are approaching space aged advances. From sirens and bells that alerted neighborhoods to a home that has been burglarized to direct two way communication systems that are able to dispatch emergency officials immediately. From unattended technology free systems to systems that are monitored remotely by cell phones, we have certainly come a long way and with newer advances on the horizon there is no limit on how Jetson-like we can become. Certainly there are those who worry about our dependence upon technology going too far and the resulting “robot revolution” and as conspiracy theorist as that sounds it could happen; however, personal emergency response systems and home security systems that allow you to turn on your lights and television via your cell phone are a long way from machete wielding robots.
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