Modern security systems look a lot different than the systems we were installing 20 and 30 years ago, but advances in the last five years have brought the security system industry into an entirely new age, the digital age. Interactive smartphone control is putting home security systems at the fingertips of homeowners and giving them the ability to lock and unlock doors, arm and unarm alarm systems, turn on and turn off lights, adjust the thermostat, and even check in through video cameras from hundreds of miles away from any computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection.
A “Brain” is at the Heart of Every Butler Durrell Security System
The central control panel still serves as the brain for security systems designed in the digital age, but now people have the ability to communicate with the control panel from anywhere. Over the years, alarm systems have changed drastically. Did you know the first electric burglar alarm predated the telephone? Here is a look back to the last 150 years of alarm history:
In 1858, Edwin T. Holmes began selling the first electric burglar alarms in Boston. If a window was opened, an electric current triggered an alarm to ring, alerting homeowners of the intrusion. Edward A. Calahan began connecting these electric alarm systems to neighboring houses, which alerted nearby homes to potential burglary threats, and by 1875 conjured up the brilliant idea to send those alerts to a central monitoring facility that notified authorities when break-ins occurred. In the 1970’s central monitoring stations began using computers and security systems began morphing into the control panel based systems we see today.
Security Systems that Evolve with Technology
Have you ever bought something only to find it completely obsolete in a matter of years? With continued advancements in smartphone control and remote video capabilities, you might wonder where we are going next. Fortunately, the alarm systems being installed today are designed to advance and adapt with technology. Once you have a basic alarm system installed in a home, the control panel can be updated as needed and new features can be added without having to overhaul the entire system.
Security system technology has certainly come a long way in the last 150 years, but if you’re interested to learn where the industry is headed, stay tuned for Part Two: The Future of Security System Technology. Butler Durrell is the best alarm company in St. Louis, because we care about the safety of your family and our city as much as you do. Follow us on Facebook for more safety tips and security advice.
