HomeTech- Latest in Home Security
Home security, once contained in a plain and simple wall unit, has taken a futuristic turn with new technologies. From systems run by key-faubs to biometric fingerprint identification, there are numerous possibilities available to homeowners today. While they may seem like something out of The Matrix or Gattaca, they are real and ready to use.
New Technology
Biometric fingerprint technology is something homeowners are just beginning to utilize. It involves placing one's finger on a scanner and having it read before gaining access to a building. Previously, the technology was only used in high-security or corporate settings, but now with its lower cost and easy installation, it is available for home use, according to Joe Gordon, president of Leading Edge Residential System Integration in Severn, Maryland.
Like biometric fingerprinting, iris scanning is also available for the home. It involves the installation of front door cameras that scan a person's iris before they can gain clearance to enter a home.
Card readers, also previously reserved for corporate settings, are now available for home-based security systems. Like the other technologies, they have also decreased in price, making them more accessible to homeowners, Gordon said.
Another new technology is key-faubs, similar to the devices used with cars to automatically lock, unlock, open the trunk and issue panic signals. Sherman Eisner, president of A&E Home Security in Silver Spring, Maryland, said key-faubs are an ideal choice for families. They can be used to open and close the garage door, engage or disarm the security system and also have a panic button. When a busy parent is transporting children, groceries and the like, he or she can just press the key-faub and enter the house, rather than worry about opening the garage and turning off the security system manually, Eisner said.
Most of these access-control technologies can be remotely programmed over the phone and the Internet. For example, if a homeowner is at work and a cleaning service is coming to the house, he or she can program a code online, give it to the service person and it will expire the next day.
Sherman Eisner, president of A&E Home Security in Silver Spring, Maryland, said key-faubs are an ideal choice for families. They can be used to open and close the garage door, engage or disarm the security system and also have a panic button.
Wireless Security Technology
Wireless security is another big trend, since it eliminates the need to hard-wire a home. When it first became available, said Eisner, wireless systems had a bad reputation, but today they are very reliable. Wireless sensors are installed on doors and windows; system control pads can be wireless as well. The wireless technology is run on batteries, which last much longer than they once did. Additionally, the systems notify the user well in advance when the battery needs to be replaced.
Integrated Security Systems
Today's security systems are often integrated into other "smart home" technology, Gordon said. Experts can set up an integrated home system that controls lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), audio and video. With an integrated system, for example, if a security alarm goes off, the external lights will go on and start flashing to scare off intruders and attract attention to the home. "We design everything around the notion of a control system—the security system becomes a component," Gordon said.
Security cameras are one component of this system. Cameras are placed around the home and integrated with televisions. Views around the home are shown on the TVs at designated times or occurrences. For example, when someone rings the door bell, the camera is activated and the selected TV shows who is at the door. According to Gordon, the system can also be integrated into the phone system so that when someone rings the doorbell, the phone rings and the resident can speak to the person at the front door through an intercom. Once the resident answers, they can let the guest in through a keypad or touch panel.
Touchpads are an important part of an integrated system—they control everything in the home from security to climate to lighting. They can be located on the walls, in handheld devices, or sit on a counter or desktop. Most touchpads range in size from 3.5 inches to 17 inches, Gordon said. The pads are available as wireless, wired or a combination of the two. Some also include graphics and have video input to show activity at the exterior doors.
Installing Home Security
As security systems become more prevalent, more homes are being pre-wired to accommodate them, Eisner said. Leading Edge Residential System Integration does a mix of retrofit and new home work. The amount of time to install these integrated systems depends on the size of the home.
With new construction, home-security experts like to start at the beginning and work with the homeowner's architect orgeneral contractor. They install components as the house is being built. "If the house takes a year to build, we're there for a year," Gordon said.
Installing a system in a pre-existing home is much more compressed. A simple system takes a couple of weeks while a more complicated system takes longer, Gordon said. Of course, it's easier to install a new wireless system in an existing home, as opposed to retrofitting a conventional system that would require hard wiring.
Home security has come a long way over the past decade. Whether you opt for a new futuristic solution or a more traditional system, the new products on the market today can help secure your family and your home in an effective and easy-to-use way.
Courtesy: Futuristic technology and wireless capabilities hit the home-security market
Written by Rachel Azaroff