Home and commercial security technology sure has come a long way over the last decade. Modern security systems are leaps and bounds ahead of those first-generation security systems that were so popular back in the 1970s. You could go so far as to say that modern security systems are better than ever.
Comparing a modern system with a 1970s system is actually no comparison at all. Differences between the technologies are like night and day. As proof, consider the following five reasons modern security systems are so much better than the systems of old:
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1. New and Better Sensors
The oldest home and commercial security systems came equipped with sensors for windows and doors. These were contact sensors comprised of two pieces. One piece was installed on the window or door while the other was affixed to the frame. Both pieces made contact. In the event contact was broken, an alarm was sounded.
Contact sensors are still utilized today. But they are better in terms of quality and performance. Moreover, modern home and commercial security systems also utilize broken glass sensors and motion sensors. The addition of these extra sensors increases the likelihood of detecting intrusion as early as possible.
2. Wireless Cameras
The introduction of wireless cameras has changed both residential and commercial security. Wireless cameras are easily installed without any major construction. They are portable. They are cheap enough that the average property owner can afford to install a full battery of cameras around their property. Consumers are no longer limited to just one or two expensive CCTV cameras.
3. Smoke and CO Monitoring
Some 50 years ago, home and commercial security systems didn’t typically integrate with smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Smoke and CO systems were separate entities designed to make noise in a home or trigger suppression response on a commercial property. Today though monitored home and commercial security systems integrate smoke and CO monitoring.
Imagine installing monitored CO detectors in a home. CO is considered a silent killer because it is odorless and invisible. People can be overcome without even knowing it. Installing a monitored CO alarm guarantees that a trained professional at a remote monitoring center will be made aware of dangerous levels of CO even if occupants remain clueless.
4. The DIY Element
Although some would argue against DIY commercial and home security as a good idea, just giving consumers the option has made things better. Vivint Smart Home, a nationwide leader in commercial and home security systems, says that there are those consumers who just prefer to do things themselves. That’s okay. The choice is good. Fifty years ago, consumers didn’t have the DIY choice.
5. Smart Security Systems
The biggest change in commercial and home security over the last 50 years is the introduction of smart systems. Today’s security systems are smart in the sense that they can be accessed remotely, they can be fully programmed and integrated, and they can even artificially learn so as to increase efficiency.
A good example is integrating a home security system with geofencing. A property owner can build a digital geo-fence around their property, then program their home security system to take certain actions based on their location. Combining geofencing with security system programming adds a new level of automation that wasn’t possible even a decade ago.
If you’re not familiar with the state of modern home and commercial security, you might want to take a look. Today’s security systems are better than ever. They are keeping homes and businesses safer by leveraging the latest digital and wireless technologies that just weren’t available back in the 1970s.
