Burglar alarms have been designed and manufactured in exactly the same way for decades. It’s almost like alarm panel manufacturers are detached from the effects of progress and technology. Many alarm panels are still designed today for use with telephone landlines, even though the rest of the world outside of the security industry knows that the public switched telephone network, PSTN or POTS, will not be around for too much longer.
Luckily for all of us, there are a few manufacturers that have listened to what consumers want from today’s appliances and have started to Internet-enable their equipment. Although this is a step in the right direction, the mindset regarding the “brains” of the system is still firmly fixed on keeping the logic “client-side”. This means that all programming and “decisions” that an alarm panel has to make when it detects an intruder is all contained within the electronic circuit board that is installed in the home or business. We will not see real progress until this logic is moved server-side.
Almost everything is moving toward the Cloud, so Burglar, Medical and Fire Alarm panels should be no different. Instead of standing and making single key presses into an alarm panel remote keypad, a technician should be able to log into a web site with a web browser and fully program the system via a graphical user interface. All that is required of the client-side electronics is that they detect an open or closed circuit and forward that information into the Cloud where a controlling application will decide what action should be taken, if any.
When an existing Customer moves away from the protected home or business and another Person or Company moves in, it will be simple for the Alarm Company to change the system parameters to suit the new Customer. This will remove the requirement for a technician to roll a truck to the premises just to make a simple change or two to the alarm system programming. This has to be a far greener way for Alarm Companies to work.
It is sometimes the case where an alarm panel or wiring is attacked by an intruder and oftentimes the equipment is damaged beyond repair. In such cases, all of the system programming that can take up to an hour to complete will be lost for good. Add to that the damage caused by lightning strikes, electrical power surges, home repairs, general accidents and natural disasters, it becomes clear that as much as possible should be handled on the server side where it is safe from harm.
The arming and disarming of alarm systems also needs to be reviewed as consumers look at their alarm keypads like antiquated relics from decades past. Modern consumers have a keypad on their smart phone and they want to use it everything. Alarm panel manufacturers need to realise that this includes alarm panels too!
AUTOPOST by BEDEWY VISIT GAHZLY
