From Mobile Apps to Machine Learning: The New Era of Home Security

Home security has changed a lot over the last three decades. Like so many other technologies, the acceleration of home security tech has only increased with time. Some of the most exciting changes in that technology have occurred just in the last few years. Mobile apps and machine learning are evidence of that.

Home Security in the Old Days

Commercially available home security systems have been accessible to the masses since the 1970s. Granted, only the wealthy could afford them way back when, but they were available, nonetheless. A typical system offered contact sensors for first-floor windows and doors along with CCTV cameras and recording systems.

Everything was hard-wired back in the day. That is one of the reasons home security was so expensive. Running the wires required costly labor. The equipment wasn’t so cheap, either. It is incredible how things have changed since then.

Home Security and Mobile Apps

Back in the 1970s, home security systems were monitored remotely. They can still be remotely monitored today. But here’s the difference: a homeowner didn’t have much access to his system 50 years ago. Today’s homeowners have 100% access thanks to mobile apps and smart home hubs.

The mobile app has literally changed how people think about home security. As a consumer, you can buy a selection of video cameras from the same manufacturer and control them all with your smartphone. No matter where you are in the world, you can surveil your own home effortlessly.

Even brand name systems like those from Vivint Home Security can be monitored with mobile apps. Vivint has its own smart home hub for centralized control at home, but it also offers users access through a mobile app. It is clear that consumers have more control than ever before.

Machine Learning Makes Things Smarter

The other important innovation in home security is machine learning. Scientists have been working on machine learning for decades. Now that it has made its way into home security, consumers have a lot more options.

Machine learning is the ability of a computer to gather data, analyze it, and then trigger certain actions based on its analysis. The learning aspect comes into play as the computer gathers larger volumes of data. More data allows for a more comprehensive analysis and better decision making.

In case you wondered, artificial intelligence (AI) is a combination of many different technologies, machine learning being among them. AI systems are constantly gathering and analyzing data to artificially learn.

It’s All Over Home Security

Vivint points out that machine learning is all over home security these days. Machine learning is largely responsible for video surveillance cameras that have facial recognition capabilities. It powers intelligent lighting systems capable of self-modifying programming to enhance security based on a homeowner’s normal routine.

Machine learning is resource-hungry, which is why home security and automation software resides mainly in the cloud. But even that is changing as technology evolves. Today’s home automation platforms can do more with fewer resources. As a result, we’ve seen the rise of several open-source home automation and security platforms that do not require a cloud host.

Doing More With Our Homes

Mobile apps and deep learning integration have us all doing more with our homes from a security perspective. From wireless video cameras to motion sensors to remote monitoring, the rapid pace at which technology has evolved has completely changed home security in the last five years.

Personally, I couldn’t be happier about it. I am a tech geek and a firm believer in smart home security and automation.