I was on the scene at the giant Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, and while it was impossible to take in every possible security-related technology, I was on the lookout for anything that might have a direct or indirect impact on our industry.
My biggest take-away from the show was the ascension of the connected home. It felt like every giant company I visited — with equally massive booths — featured a section or a full pavilion for connected home products. It’s true that CES is showcasing the “future” of technology, but for the smart home, it is obvious that the future is now. And perhaps the most interesting part is that the connected home is not being limited only to residential applications, as many of these forward-thinking vendors project these same innovations in small and medium-sized businesses as well.
Honeywell Security, making its first-ever appearance on the CES show floor, introduced a full connected home platform, Lyric, which company officials said can also extend to SMBs. Read more about the new Lyric platform here.
The connected home is transforming technology as we know it. Beyond security, homeowners can look forward to controlling every single appliance in their homes with their mobile devices — we have gone beyond lights and shades and thermostats to washer/dryers, ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators, you name it, there’s an app to control it. And cameras are going to be everywhere as well. I saw a Panasonic official demo an app for your oven that included an in-appliance camera that enables users to check on the status and temperature of their cooking turkey from the comfort of their sofa. And the list just goes on and on.
Samsung President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Boo-Keun Yoon explored the implications of a fully connected world powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) during his preshow keynote. He highlighted several scenarios of life made easier, healthier and more efficient because of IoT connectivity, including TVs that automatically pause when you leave the room, wearables that monitor brain waves to track biometric data and music systems that seamlessly transition from your home speakers to your headphones. “The Internet of Things is about people, not things,” he said.
A couple years ago, Axis Communications’ Steve Surfaro reported the splash that UltraHD made at CES 2013. Less than two years later, the security industry saw its first 4K cameras and monitoring solutions. Indeed, many of the innovations we see on the floor of CES one year make their way to the floor of ISC West in the next. With that in mind, here’s a roundup of some of the many security-related announcements made on the CES show floor.
ADT: The latest ADT innovations at CES 2015 included: ADT Pulse Total Security with wireless technology; the ADT Pulse Voice app, a mobile app that enables users to arm and disarm their ADT Pulse security panel, control their home’s lighting, adjust thermostats, lock and unlock doors, and check the overall status of their home; and demos of ADT’s integration into the IFTTT (If This Then That) platform. IFTTT and ADT have been working together to create a channel that will connect a customer’s ADT Pulse-enabled home with more than 100 existing IFTTT channel partners.
Nortek Security & Control: I met with Nortek Marketing Manager Larry North, who took me through the company’s array of new smart home technologies and products. One standout was the first Z-Wave light bulb; another was a new family of GoControl communicating programmable thermostats. Its security panel and garage door opener controller were also highlighted.
Interlogix: ZeroWire, a self-contained, wireless security and lifestyle enhancement system from Interlogix, was featured on the CES floor. The system is designed to support a variety of devices to heighten security and enhance user convenience, including integrated support for IP cameras, with the ability to view live video and replay captured alarm or action-triggered video.
Telguard: As part of the popular Z-Wave pavilion at the show, Telguard showcased its universal Z-Wave garage door controller.
Kwikset: Kwikset introduced an industry-first SecureScreen technology to prevent the problem of “smudge” attacks associated with popular touchscreen and touchpad locks. The technology is included in the SmartCode 916 Touchscreen Deadbolt.
Fibaro: Also part of the Z-Wave Pavilion, I was treated to a demo of 2015 CES Innovation Award-winning motion sensor from Fibaro — the world's smallest wireless motion sensor, which is shaped like a cat's eye. The tiny device also measures a room’s current ambient temperature and includes a built-in accelerometer to measure vibration.
ICRealtech: I spoke with someone at ICRealtech about its just-released Allie camera line — which was kept secret from even company officials until it launched at CES. With models ranging from DIY to professional commercial, the 360-degree 4K cameras can be controlled with a finger on a tablet much like using a PTZ joystick.
Yale: Yale Locks & Hardware introduced the first NFC residential door lock designed for the U.S. market, operated with the tap of a smartphone app, the Yale Real Living NFC Deadbolt for NFC-equipped Android mobile devices. The Yale app allows homeowners to unlock doors, send keys to others, control when others have access, get a message when someone enters, and revoke a digital key at any time. Homeowners can also unlock the deadbolt using its capacitive touchscreen and a four- to eight-digit code.
Alarm.com: The new Alarm.com Smart Thermostat is designed to tightly integrate with the growing ecosystem of connected devices and sophisticated cloud services in the smart home.
Vera Control: The company announced new services, including Central Security Monitoring and Advanced Camera Management. “We are responding to market demand for an alternative service offering at lower monthly fees and no long term contracts,” the company said of its monitoring service. “We will be charging $19.95 per month without a contract, and will make this service available for any of our Vera users. Our national monitoring service will be integrated into our current user interface so that all of the devices in a user’s home can be monitored by our central service for safety and security concerns. In addition, our Advanced Camera Management Service will not only allow users to identify specific zones within their home that will be recorded and stored, but will also allow Vera users to connect to many popular cloud storage.”
Vision Security: The ZL-7261-Power Monitor is designed to control/monitor home appliances remotely using Z-Wave. It can control appliances for turning on and off, and also detect power consumption and report real-time energy usage to the user.
Panasonic: We may have seen it at ISC West, but Panasonic was pleased to get its 360-degree 4K camera line in front of consumers as well.
Bosch: Bosch's Home Connect app and Z-Wave Home Control Gateway (to be announced later this month) will act as the central control centers for appliances via built-in wireless communication modules.
Pella: I was surprised to learn that Pella, renowned maker of door and windows, announced it is now making a family of smart products for windows and doors designed to deliver security, comfort and convenience. Insynctive technology enables users to monitor and control windows, doors and garage doors via app. A company official told me that while Pella will never be confused with a “security company,” they are still looking at potential partnerships with more traditional security alarm manufacturers.
Lutron: The company showcased Caseta Wireless, its affordable, easy-to-install connected home collection of wireless dimmers, as well as its compatible motorized shading collection, Serena Shades.
SecuGen: The company showcased its two newest low-cost, high-quality OEM fingerprint sensors, the ultra-compact U20 and the serial interface SDA04PX. The U20 USB fingerprint sensor is both FAP 20 Mobile ID and PIV certified by the FBI and has been added to the FIPS 201/PIV Approved Products List (APL). The SDA04PX fingerprint sensor is intended for situations where a host USB port is not available. It has a high storage capacity of up to 10,000 fingerprint templates.
UniKey: UniKey displayed its keyless entry Touch-to-Open technology. Highlighted solutions included Inside/Outside positioning technology integrated with hospitality door locks from MIWA Lock Co., as well as the residential smart lock, Kwikset Kevo.
VieVu: VieVu displayed its wearable cameras, both for the commercial/law enforcement market; and for the consumer market.
EchoStar: EchoStar, the satellite service provider affiliated with Dish Network, introduced the SAGE security and home automation solution that integrates home control right into a user’s TV-viewing experience. They can manage, monitor and control home security and automation devices conveniently from a television or remotely through a mobile app.
Impecca: Worried about driver fatigue among your techs? Impecca’s Alert Band is a wearable early-warning Bluetooth fatigue detector that attaches to a driver’s forehead to sense fatigue and help prevent accidents. It monitors and analyzes brainwaves, sending real-time notifications and alarms to the driver’s smartphone, family and friends, as well as social networks, 3-5 minutes before the driver begins to doze off and fall asleep.
Paul Rothman is Editor-in-Chief of Security Dealer & Integrator (SD&I) magazine. Visit the publication's homepage at www.secdealer.com.
