Burglar alarms have been designed and manufactured in exactly the same way for decades. It’s almost as if alarm panel manufacturers are cut off from the effects of progress and technology. Many alarm panels are still designed for use with landline telephone lines, although the rest of the world outside of the security industry knows that the public switched telephone network, PSTN or POTS, won’t be around for much longer.
Fortunately for all of us, there are a few manufacturers that have listened to what consumers want from today’s home appliances and have begun 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 set on maintaining “client-side” logic. This means that all of the programming and “decisions” that an alarm panel must make when it detects an intruder are contained within the electronic circuit board that is installed in the home or business. We won’t see real progress until this logic moves server-side.
Almost everything is moving to the cloud, so burglar, medical, and fire alarm panels should be no different. Instead of standing up and pressing a single key on a remote alarm panel keypad, a technician should be able to log into a website with a web browser and fully program the system through a graphical user interface. All that is required of the client-side electronics is for them to detect an open or closed circuit and send that information to the cloud, where a control application will decide what action, if any, should be taken.
When an existing Customer moves out of the protected home or business and another Person or Company moves, it will be easy for the Alarm Company to change the system settings to suit the new Customer. This will eliminate the requirement for a technician to drive a truck onto the premises just to make one or two simple changes to the alarm system’s programming. This has to be a much greener way for alarm companies to work.
Sometimes it happens that an intruder attacks an alarm panel or wiring, and often the equipment is damaged beyond repair. In such cases, all system programming that may take up to an hour to complete will be permanently lost. Add to that the damage from lightning strikes, 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’s safe from harm.
Arming and disarming of alarm systems should also be reviewed as consumers view their alarm keypads as antiquated relics from decades past. Modern consumers have a keyboard on their smartphone and want to use it all. Alarm panel manufacturers need to realize that this also includes alarm panels!