Home Security Systems

Telecoms networks have become an increasingly important component of home security systems with automatic alerts being sent to centralised control centers to manage and minimise false-alarms. There is also however a rising trend for wireless communications to also be used, from anything as simple as an SMS alert through to full management systems with mobile web pages and webcam connectivity.

Some companies have developed DIY systems that can use basic infra-red beams to detect movement and send an SMS to the user – although these systems often lack the necessary sophistication to indentify accidental issues by, for example, family pets disturbing the motion sensors placed around the home. While strategic positioning can minimise these problems, a totally DIY system can never deal with the complexities managed by remote management service providers.

Looking at the video surveillance side of home security, it is now possible to set up basic mobile web pages that can connect to a domestic webcam, which is in turn linked to motion sensors or the main domestic alarm system. With these, users are able to log into their own webcam and check what is happening in their home before notifying the police that it is indeed, not the family pet causing the commotion.

However, in addition to the provision of Home Security Systems, many such companies are moving into the m-health market and starting to offer services that offer reassurance to elderly or disabled customers. Some m-health platforms offer a mixture of services, from direct connection from wearable pendants to the medical services to a range of wireless alerts, which can be filtered through the Home Security platform to minimise false-alerts.

 This area is proving increasingly valuable to Home Security providers as the aging population increases not just in size, but also due to a longer lifespan, often the population will be increasingly frail and worried about their personal protection as they attempt to retain more personal independence from nursing homes.

Closer integration with cell phones is also spreading from not just a passive system where customers are alerted to problems after they occur to a more proactive model where the user is able to log-in to their own home security services and make changes, such as if a network is configured to not expect someone to be home at a set time, this can be overridden due to unexpected changes in plans. Cell phones are also able to interact with physical security networks – such as the example from ControlID that turns the phone into a control unit for security gates and car garage doors.

The future for home security systems is one where there is tighter integration between a home owner’s own mobile services, secured remote monitoring and tie-ins with physical security protecting a house.