Home Automation: Security Control
Jason Kisner
Home security systems are increasingly prevalent, and if you're considering installing a new home automation system or improving an existing one, you may want to explore options for home automation security control. Automated security systems allow homeowners to program, monitor and control their home's security setup remotely or via an in-home dashboard, providing both safety and security for the home and a potential deterrent for criminals.
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Many automated home security systems are now capable of operating via the home's wireless network—which means that homeowners can control the security system remotely from within the home, or from virtually anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Increasingly, companies who manufacture and install home security systems also offer apps that allow homeowners to monitor and manipulate their home security system from smart phones or other mobile devices.
Automated home security systems are available in a wide range of pricing tiers and levels of complexity. At their most basic, they often feature battery-operated sensors placed on doors and windows that can detect whether an entryway is open or closed. The sensors communicate wirelessly with a central control hub, which the homeowner can program to be active or inactive at specific times during the day, or for longer stretches during vacations or extended absences from the home. More sophisticated systems are often configured to operate with a whole-home automation scheme, so that the home's lighting and entertainment systems may also be configured to operate in conjunction with the security system when it's active.
Other features of home automation security control include motion detection and video monitoring, as well as notification software to let homeowners know when family members arrive home. For example, many systems feature keypad entry for all doors, with codes for each family member; this way, parents can be notified via email, text or automated phone call when their children return home from school or activities. Motion detectors inside and outside the home can be configured to turn lights on within rooms or along outside pathways—a feature that conserves energy, helps homeowners returning home at night, and may operate as a deterrent for criminals.
Security cameras are an increasingly popular feature of automated home security systems. They help homeowners monitor who is entering and exiting the home at all times, and they also may deter criminals. In the past, closed circuit cameras were widely used, but in recent years many home security system manufacturers have shifted to digital monitoring, which allows homeowners to view any area of the home via webcams from anywhere with an internet connection. The video streams from these digital security cameras often back up onto cloud servers or high capacity hard drives, ensuring that the home's activities are accessible for review at any time.
See Also: How to Plan a Home Control System
