Innovations in home security: new ways to protect what's important

Technology is advancing all facets of our life. Each year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), companies from around the world reveal prototypes of state-of-the-art technology products, including smart phones, vehicle technology and robotics. Some of the most talked-about products have home security applications. Here are a few groundbreaking developments:

Smart locks

At least two lock manufacturers unveiled smart locks at CES this past year. Smart locks could one day replace your deadbolt and allow you to lock and unlock your door from anywhere via an app. They can also unlock automatically when they detect your phone nearby, so you can forego keys entirely.

The virtual guest key feature allows you to grant access to select individuals during a specified time. You can also check the app for a list of people who entered the house and at what time.

Artificial intelligence

After years of use in government and business settings, artificial intelligence (AI) could one day be utilized for home security because it can detect irregular movement and react faster than humans.¹

For example, security programs may someday incorporate geofencing, which creates a virtual, invisible border that triggers alerts if someone crosses it. Geofencing could allow parents to create a boundary around where a child can travel, such as the perimeter of their home and yard. If the child leaves that area, the parents are notified.

To further increase security, AI can be used for facial-recognition programs that read biometrics, such as facial features. A security system that utilizes AI could recognize family, friends and domestic workers and flag unfamiliar faces.²

In addition to recognizing faces, AI can be used to distinguish between normal sounds and those that raise suspicion. It “learns” your voice patterns and responds to your spoken commands, and unfamiliar voices have no power to command it. When it detects abnormal behavior, such a system can begin recording the surrounding events while simultaneously contacting the police — often before you’re aware there’s a problem.³

Next-level security

1. Surveillance cameras that offer high-definition images in extremely low light to provide better views of intruders⁴
2. Windows coated with blast film that make them shatterproof and all but impossible to penetrate⁵
3. Alarm-triggered, ceiling-mounted pepper spray that can disable an intruder temporarily, giving the police time to arrive and increasing the chances of a nonviolent takedown of the criminal⁶

Speak to a Nationwide Private Client agent to find out how to take advantage of discounts for your home security system.

If you have any questions, please contact your agent or Nationwide Private Client Risk Solutions professional. For more information on how you can help prevent losses, visit nationwide.com/solutionseries.