A few years ago, security systems only had one job. Today, though, with all the technological advancements, they’re actually one of the most versatile technologies in the modern home, making them extremely useful in a variety of scenarios.
There was a point where surveillance only meant cameras and a DVR, and nothing else. Today, you have machine learning, app-controlled automation, cloud intelligence, and a vast variety of connected devices. A home security system isn’t just better at deterring burglars today, it’s also the core of a connected, automated home.
It is not the only part of a smart home today, though, so let’s take a look at how it integrates with all the other aspects of a smart home, and how the entire home security industry is becoming a major part of home automation.
A smart thermostat adds safety to your home
Yes, you might be wondering how a thermostat adds safety. However, a smart thermostat and other similar devices can help you with safety aspects you previously completely neglected. For example, you can have it use remote sensors to detect high humidity, which might in turn cause mold in your home. That’s not something you want to have to deal with, trust us. It can also alert you if the temperatures are dangerously low, something that could freeze your water pipes, and burst them. Another thing that’s best avoided.
Smart locks are a simple solution for complex problems
One argument that people often make is that people can remember or find out your pin code and easily unlock your smart lock. And while yes, technically this is true, there are very easy ways to go against this. You can have family members and trusted visitors have their own individual four-digit codes, and you’ll know who entered and at what time.
If, for example, you find that your spouse’s code has been used to unlock your door, while you’re having lunch together at the nearby restaurant, you’ll instantly know something’s off. Or, you could use your smartphone with a connected smart lock, which allows you to unlock or lock the door remotely.
This also solves a major problem – losing your keys. We’ve all been guilty of it at one point or another, but you can’t lose a key if you don’t have a key to lose, right? Also, what happens when you’ve got a delivery but you have to leave home? Well, you just let your delivery person inside, you instruct them to leave the package inside, and lock the door when they leave.
Machine learning will give you early warnings
If you were to install a complete home security system, chances are it’s going to be a smart one. And while most security systems will let you know if something bad happens, a great one will let you know before anything happens.
Modern systems that are completely integrated with the smart home devices you already use can learn patterns of activity within your home. Your kids always come home from school at around 3 PM? If your kid’s door lock code is used at 11 AM, you’ll know. Someone opened the liquor cabinet while you and your spouse are both at work? You’ll know.
You can have these alerts be triggered by motion sensors that are outside your home, for example, or by contact sensors that you place on doors and windows. You could even go as far as to “train” them, in order to have the system learn your behavior faster.
The basics aren’t forgotten
Yes, home security is becoming increasingly smart and is taking over the entire smart home industry. However, with that in mind, smart home security doesn’t ignore the original task of home security in general. Instead, it improves on it, making things even better.
A good example of this would be crash and smash protection. Yes, a conventional alarm will notify your security provider, but it can’t do that if someone smashes it, right? Well, a smart system will do exactly that – alert the appropriate service if it’s damaged.
Let’s say someone is entering your home. When the front door opens, the security system has a countdown. There’s a log that the door was opened, and if the panel goes completely dark, it’s going to report a crash and smash event, and the security provider will know something’s wrong.
As you can see, smart home security is becoming a major part of the smart home tech in general. However, instead of taking over with completely new concepts, it takes preexisting ones, improves on them where possible, and adds technology to places where you wouldn’t expect it, to make your home a better, more secure place for living.
