Future Security

A new report published by the security company ADT and future trends expert Futurizon promises a glimpse into the future of home security.

According to their predictions, your future home security system might include a burglar alarm which could identify intruders, tell them they’re being recorded and address them by name, an indelible chemical marker that will spray them as they break in, and low-flying drones which could be controlled remotely by home security companies and which will follow burglars and video them until the police catch up with them.

The report also predicts that tiny, hidden cameras soon to be commonplace around homes and residential streets could even stop burglaries before they happen, by using face recognition software to spot known criminals and sound the alarm.

Video doorbells linking to smartphones could allow owners to talk to visitors and let them in, even if they are not at home, and the new generation of intelligent alarm systems installed in homes will communicate with each other, collecting details of the behaviour of a suspicious stranger on the street or alerting others to danger.

Face recognition will also feature prominently in tomorrow’s security systems, with cameras able to recognise friends and family and inform owners of their arrival through smartphone alerts.

Meanwhile, smart “polymers” on fences would trigger alarms by detecting pressure from anyone trying to climb over, while smart water pistols in gardens could mark any intruders with hard-to-remove chemical markers, easily enabling police to later identify the culprits.

ADT also published results of a survey of homeowners to reinforce their predictions.

35.6% of homeowners said having a burglar alarm would make them feel safer in their homes, while 18.7% said they would get peace of mind by having a system which monitors their home around-the-clock even when the house is empty.

Another 27% said having outdoor lights with sensors would deter burglars, while 19.6% said they would feel safer if they were part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

42.1% feel safe being home alone, while 10.3% believe that their home is at greater risk today than it was only five years ago.

15% of respondents said that cuts to their local police force had made them worry more about being a victim of a break-in themselves.

Gail Hunter, a spokesperson for ADT, said:

“People today feel more uneasy in their own homes than ever before. Technology is already evolving to help give homeowners peace of mind and more control of their home security, and over the next few decades this will continue to advance.”

“Recent technology has already provided homeowners with ways to control and monitor their home security from wherever they are in the world to help reduce the risk of burglary. As technology continues to develop and become available, everyone will be able to make their homes almost impenetrable, without feeling like they’re living in a fortress.”