Hi-Tech Security

The current image of discrepancy between the quality of modern day luxuries and amenities, between the two ends of economic spectrum is disappointing. This is perhaps, one of the strongest social contributors to the increase in crime rate across Indian cities. Most people involved in crimes, are from an economically unstable background. Social media posts revealing family details enhance the scope of public information, while unchanged passwords on house locks allow easy access to previously hired helps. These draw attention and opportunity for theft.

Surveillance systems have been around for some time. What is now common is the ability to view the camera output on the go, on most smart phones. Technology now allows us (with IP cameras) to have constant surveillance of our homes, irrespective of wherever we are in the world.

Video door phones (VDP) provided by many developers in apartments, are old features. What is new is IP video door phones- For many nuclear families where no one is at home when the hired help arrives to do work, a simple press of the bell on the IP VDP allows the homeowner sitting in office to see who is at the door, and also open the door to allow access.

In the case that a glass break sensor turns on alarm signaling intrusion, the security system which is linked to the lighting control system, could start flashing the whole house lights on, thus scaring away a potential burglar. Simultaneously when the alarm turns on a signal to the home owner who is away – in the form of a message or email signals potential trouble at home.

What is also new, is the addition of intelligence to the security systems. For example- A Home owner who was planning to have biometric locks, for entry in the house wanted us to allow access to some house hold helps only at certain times of the day. A normal biometric lock once having read in someone’s thumb print, cannot restrict the access depending upon time of the day. However with a separate intelligent thumbprint reader (removed from the lock) each reading can be sent to a server, where conditional logic would then send the signal to lock and enable opening - depending upon the person and also the time of the day.

Hi tech security systems can take such observations into account to reduce the possibility of theft. By linking security systems in a home to other automation systems, the house can be made more secure.

Something that would soon be available in security systems is the ‘Facial recognition’ feature. Something that is not very far on the horizon of technology is the intelligence in access control systems to make  even thumb print control redundant and upgrade to facial recognition, wherein  locks read your face and provide entry to the owner inside the home.

- Alok Hada, Director, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd

Commercial Automation

The key to smart technology is “Flexibility”. Corporate offices want flexible spaces; Today’s open office space could be tomorrow’s meeting room. Commercial spaces are designed with cubicles and materials that can be easily shifted around. With the increasing speeds and bandwidths available for internet, collaboration of teams across countries is now easy. It is not uncommon in a corporate office such as Intel where a  team of 10 people comprises of 5 people working for 5 different companies on a single project, thus pooling in resources and saving costs.

In that respect, with smart lighting, and smart control of various devices- flexibility is enhanced. Smart Video conferencing within various branches across cities is a necessity today. The personalized use of space that provides right lighting and air conditioning  correspondingly increases the productivity which is the mantra for all corporates. Significantly less energy is used, thus contributing to overall reduction in greenhouse emissions. Cost saving, in terms of running expenses, is also increased with smart technology thus allowing companies to spend more on employees, who are the key to growth.

Now, imagine a big building with more than ten thousand Lighting Fixtures. Lighting ManagementSystem (LMS) is increasingly used for saving energy in “green” buildings as lighting energy consumed, as a percentage of total energy consumed, in a commercial building varies between 25-35%. LMS, which comprises of a software system tying up various components such as occupancy sensors, daylight sensors, manual dimming smartly controlled motorized shades etc. helps combine comfort and energy saving. A significant saving in this energy, contributes to the total energy savings in the building. Measurement of how much energy is saved, and advance warning on life of lamps are the tools used by building utility managers. DALI LED dimming is another increasingly common trend. DALI which stands for “Digital Addressable Lighting Interface” - allows each Lighting fixture to be individually controlled irrespective of load wiring. This gives each user, his own level of comfort lighting thus playing an important part in productivity. Shades in open areas are controlled by software that mimics the path of the sun and thus avoids glare, but at the same time allows useful sunlight to come into the interior space. The sun movement is taken into account and so is the orientation of the building and space to have intelligent shades.

Imagine a system that gives an advance warning to the estate manager on lamp failures for lighting fixtures or, take the example of automatic scheduling of spaces in an available meeting room by automatically detecting presence and turning on various devices in the room or vice versa, where-  if the room is not occupied within minutes of scheduled timing, the room reallocates itself to the next user! Thus, building automation not only enhances user comfort and productivity, but also  improves the ease of serviceability and use of space, coupled by energy efficiency to make building designs informed, responsive and thus, truly sustainable.

-Alok Hada 

Director, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd.