EVOLUTIONS OF SECURITY TECHNOLOGY

Jason hill, Co-Founder of Device Smart and former Group Vice President of CCTV specialist Lilin, offers some thoughts on the evolution of security systems and technology.

Technology in the security industry isn’t entirely stagnant, but perhaps has not enjoyed the accelerated growth we’ve seen in other sectors of the CI industry. In the surveillance sector we’ve seen CCTV cameras successfully migrate from analogue PAL signals run over coax to IP HD cameras running on PoE power over networks (don’t get me started on Time-lapse VCRs and multiplexers…). There has also been a huge boom in wireless cameras and doorbells from Ring and Arlo who paid no attention to the surveillance industry and simply considered the needs of the home-owner, leveraging the cloud and the desire of owners to see what their dog has been up to.

In the Intruder alarm industry we have seen a gradual migration to wireless, battery powered sensors, a process slightly stymied by the speed the relevant standards could be updated. More recently some new entrants like Ukranian based Ajax have re-imagined the installation and operation of intruder systems with blistering success, having entered the market in 2015 they recently announced their one millionth user. Installers love the ease of installation and home-owners love the ease of use of the app, the design of the sensors and the enhanced level of functionality.

Access control technology was impacted by the pandemic in several ways; contactless biometrics and card readers benefitted

greatly, whereas fingerprint reader and keypad based systems were eschewed by system owners across the world as paranoia of transmissibility through contact grew. Locking systems have also benefitted from wireless connectivity and keypad entry, reacting to an opportunity from the Air BNB boom amongst many other drivers.

Behind Every Genuine Security Installer There Is

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE MOBILE APP

35-37 Whitton Dene, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 2JN, UK P: +44 (0)20 8898 9500 | E: sales@gtecsecurity.co.uk

www.gtecsecurity.co.uk

Prevention should be the aim of every security system

Significant advances in face detection and number plate recognition from CCTV manufacturers like LILIN are integrating with access control to finally automate entry consistently and reliably, something that the manufacturers have been striving to achieve for many years.

The security lighting market went through a minor step change with the adoption of LEDs rather than incandescent bulbs but interestingly missed a trick; rather than develop luminaries around LED technology manufacturers simply placed the LEDs where the bulb used to go, leaving us with the same ugly fixtures we’ve seen for decades. There are now some smarter solutions available, Amazon (Ring) acquired US company Mr. Beams to bring in a radio linked garden lighting system that turned on all the lights when any one motion trigger was activated, reliant on battery power meant no cabling and a nice DIY solution. My new venture (Device Smart) has developed the concept of linear LED security lighting, allowing the units to be installed discreetly under window-sills or eaves, avoiding the push back from owners of high end properties that fret over anything affixed to their property. The new models of Night Sabre lights also offer Wi-Fi connectivity for full control and integration with other smart devices, or PoE power with external control inputs.

EVOLUTION OF INTENT

Combining multiple forms of detection and effective deterrent technologies, then automating them in a way that prevents threats from turning into incursions is a realistic and achievable objective for the Custom Integrator, delivering this capability without the home-owner even being aware that the system did it’s job; reduces anxiety and exemplifies how an intelligent, integrated security solution should operate. A simple example is creating a moccupancy scene that creates the impression of occupants reacting to external events - the security light turns on when someone walks up the driveway at night, but then a hall light automatically turns on 20 seconds later. Alexa also offers a Burglar Deterrent skill that simulates ambient noise in the home. Additionally security technology can be leveraged to deliver welcome home scenes through geofencing - turning on the driveway floodlights as the owner returns home.

Security isn’t usually regarded as the sexy part of our industry, but it has always been a key driver for smart home adoption worldwide, building the optimum protection for your clients requires layering of multiple technologies inside and outside to increase target hardening - effectively deterring intruders and displacing their efforts elsewhere.

Placing security at the heart of an automated home delivers many advantages

WHERE GREAT QUALITY MEETS GREAT PRICES DOWNLOAD OUR FREE MOBILE APP

35-37 Whitton Dene, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 2JN, UK P: +44 (0)20 8898 9500 sales@gtecsecurity.co.uk

www.gtecsecurity.co.uk