Security Systems News is a monthly business newspaper that reaches 25,100 security installers, product distributors, central stations, engineers & architects, and security consultants. Our editorial coverage focuses on breaking news in all major se
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Make PERS part of your business and serve the largest segment of the population. As the population grows, PERS demand increases. The 75 and over population is projected to grow to 20 million by 2016. LogicMark's CaretakerSentry helps you by offering a waterproof pendant, 5 year battery life and soon a cellular accessory. This makes it easier for you to target the elderly population. by 1-800-519-2419 sales@logicmark.com www.logicmark.com D escribed as "the global stage for innovation," the Con- sumer Electronics Show (CES) draws more than 170,000 attendees and offers a unique opportunity to see big trends across consumer technology. This year did not disappoint: CES featured new technology in everything from self-driving cars to wear- able tech to 8K televisions with stunning picture clarity. A d e d i c a t e d Smart Home Pavilion fea- t u r e d m o r e companies and more products than ever before, and attracted massive media cov- erage and consumer interest. There was a clear shift this year, from a focus on individual devices to a need for services that connect multiple devices into a single smart home service. Trend 1: Connecting the con- nected home Devices are obviously a key part of smart home technology archi- tecture, and some very big con- sumer brands are committed to connecting all their product lines to the Internet in the near future. Samsung formally announced that, by 2020, every single prod- uct it sells would be part of the Internet of Things. With the proliferation of con- nected devices, there was increased attention to how these connected things can work together in the home. Platforms and hubs that integrate ecosystems of devices were a major focus, and a number of new and established companies introduced new solutions. The more devices you can con- nect into a single solution, the smarter and more efficient the home can become. This puts the security dealer in an ideal position to deliver a fully connected smart home solution, providing the installation, support and profes- sional monitoring that consumers need to adopt this new technol- ogy. Trend 2: Hello Automation Another important trend at CES this year was a new category of home automation. Instead of the user manually adjusting devices through an app, the entire home can now respond automatically to issues or conditions on behalf of the homeowner. To deliver this advanced capa- bility, platforms process real-time data from a multitude of devices and data sources. Combining information like user location, local weather, and the patterns and preferences of the homeowner creates a highly personalized and valued experience. A unique ingredient for enabling this kind of advanced automation is the rich source of data generated by the security system. Door and window sensors, motion detectors and the security system itself pro- vide an ideal foundation for the smart home. This information can be leveraged in the cloud to understand activity patterns in the home so devices can be automati- cally managed around the home- owner's schedule. Trend 3: Security is a smart home essential The other trend that's only grown stronger over the last few years is the importance of home security in the smart home. Smart home technology greatly enhances home security, including proactive alerts when something happens, automatic responses like turning on the lights and alerting the police in case of a potential break-in, and reminders to lock the door and arm the security sys- tem when the user leaves home. While CES included a lot of dazzling technology, a security dealer's ability to deliver services like 24/7 professional monitor- ing, as well as professional instal- lation and ongoing support, pro- vides consumers with unmatched peace of mind. Automated emer- gency response and the comfort of knowing that smart home tech- nology will be installed right (and will continue to deliver value for years to come) offer security deal- ers a huge advantage in reaching a broader consumer market. Jay Kenny is VP of marketing for Alarm.com. Jay Kenny Three big trends at CES 2015 SEcUrITY SYSTEMS NEWS March 2015 www.securitysystemsnews.com NEWS 21 GUEST coMMENTarY