Advances in home security technology
Not that many years ago, a home security system was limited to a beep when the door opened.
An alarm would sound if the proper code wasn’t punched in quickly enough.
There were a few magnetic sensors, tons of wires concealed in the walls and a control panel with complicated codes. The top-of-the-line system had the ability to send a basic signal via the phone lines in the event of an emergency. Even to this day, sensors, door chimes and alarms are still the basics of home security. There’s still a control panel linked to a remote alarm monitoring service. However, innovations in technology have led to sophisticated features that have greatly expanded the capabilities of home security systems. Wireless technology has made the biggest difference. Home security installations are now completed without drilling. Remote monitoring no longer depends on telephone lines. Wireless sensors and cameras are more powerful and dependable. Not only are all of the sensors wireless, but so is the connection between the home and the central monitoring station. The most valuable part of an alarm system was once the telephone line. If someone cut the wire, the system was useless. Modern security systems feature a secure cellular backup. The role of security cameras has changed from grainy black-and-white images to full-color HD camera feeds. Surveillance cameras are now small enough to blend into the home’s decor and disappear from view. It’s possible to record and playback footage and remote control allows zoom of individual cameras. We can now see and control what’s going on in and outside the home from virtually anywhere. We can monitor real-time information about the security system from the smartphone and view the feed from the cameras right on the same device. The phone can be used to lock and unlock doors and arm and disarm the security system.