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.
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