Home security has always been important to prevent burglaries and break-ins, with a burglar striking every 26 seconds in the U.S. in 2020. On top of that, porch piracy is an increasingly large issue. As more and more people order online this isn’t slowing down any time soon, with one survey reporting that 43% of Americans having had a parcel stolen in the past. So it’s no surprise that home security systems are so popular. In fact, it’s expected that the home security system market will be worth $74.75 billion by 2023. The only way to reach those numbers is to keep innovating, which is why video surveillance now has the largest home security market share, with some services allowing users to stream their cameras from their smartphones.
But what will home security look like in the future? Are we any closer to living in the house from The Jetsons? Or does the home security industry have some more unique plans for us?
Robots
Robots are an interesting development in home security, and we have some already. You may already know of the LG Hom-Bot, a vacuum robot that also snaps photos when it detects unauthorized movement and sends them to the owner, making it a very rudimentary home security robot.
This is just the beginning, though. When you see technology like the Boston Dynamics robot dog that has been patrolling the streets of New York City, you’ll understand that perhaps our future pets might be a little different. The robotic dogs currently cost a whopping $74,000 (but no vet bills!), taking us one small step closer to the world of Blade Runner. Certainly, the robot dog is faring better than the security robot from Washington DC that was found face down in a fountain.
Drones
While we’re a long way away from helpful robots to protect our houses, drones are the next best thing. The idea to have a drone home security system isn’t new. For example, there’s Sunflower Labs’ Flying Camera, a drone that patrols your property, but it only works outdoors – no use if you live in an apartment.
But new technology means that could change soon, with indoor flying drones patrolling your home looking for threats. An innovative crowdfunded project called Aire never quite got off the ground and was unfortunately canceled. But that hasn’t stopped companies from looking at the technology. Home security company Ring is working on a model that could one day be commonplace in every home.
Facial Recognition and Artificial Intelligence
If your home security system can recognize your family then you’ll never have to worry about a false alarm. For now, most home security systems use artificial intelligence-based facial recognition to make sure it alerts users about genuine dangers and not just a stray cat passing by. However, systems that learn facial recognition are already under development, and they’ll even be able to tell the difference between friends, residents, delivery drivers, and strangers. It’s pretty remarkable what artificial intelligence can achieve, especially as it develops over time. Indeed, some home security systems, like Deep Sentinel, already utilize AI to detect threats.
If artificial intelligence sounds a bit too much like living in a dystopian future, there are alternatives. One company, Xandar Kardian, is using radar technology to develop a home security system. This way, the software knows where a person is without being intrusive. It even doubles as a medical alert system, checking a person’s breathing by measuring chest movements and their heartbeat by picking up the frequency.
Data Safety
All the data needed to have high-tech robots, drones, and AI running to their maximum efficiency is a little scary to think about. Imagine if someone hacked into your home security system – they’d know almost everything about you and may even be able to access your security cameras. That’s why it’s essential that all home security system companies ensure they use the strongest possible encryption on the data they store. It also can’t be understated just how important using strong passwords is for home security. Of course, there’s an ethical dilemma when it comes to all that data. What does the company do with it? Will it sell the data to advertisers or share it with the police as Ring has done in the past?
Providing data can be used safely and ethically, the future of home security technology looks bright – ensuring we’ll all be safer.
Best Home Security Systems of 2021
| Rank | Company | Info & Review | Visit |
1 | Editor's Choice 2021 | Visit Frontpoint SecurityRisk-Free Trial | |
2 |  | ||
3 |  |
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