VTech is making easier for any home to have an advanced security system. They have launched the world’s first home phone with security monitoring integrated, in Australia. The VTech VS150 works as a base station to a number of sensors located around the home, if triggered the phone will call the homeowner or any designated number to alert them of the incident.
Time Warner Cable (TWC) is now offering an enhanced monitoring option for its security and smart home management service, IntelligentHome. This new capability enables customers to capture and playback continuously recorded video from their IntelligentHome security cameras. Known as 24/7 Playback, the feature lets customers go back in time and see what happened while they were away from home at work, or even on a week-long vacation.
Security devices and solutions are expected to more than double over the next six years are according to study by WinterGreen Research. The continuation of 2014 trends, combined with low market awareness of the value of home automation, will force many connected home vendors to pivot and offer more than simple apps for device monitoring and control.
Earlier this month the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a warning about the risks of having our connected devices being hacked. They have also made some suggestions on how we can protect our privacy, home and business from hackers. Google also recently released one of these recommendations on how to secure our home wireless network. The FBI suggested nine things we can do, which I think are easy for anyone to do.
Next generation home security devices achieve a complete replacement of existing security systems, 3D video cameras, automated connected thermostats, access sensors, and intrusion detection devices can alert a person on the smart phone. Devices are wireless, are more energy efficient, last longer and have a significantly lower cost of operation.
The connected life style should have a market potential of US $731 billion by 2020, this is according to Frost and Sullivan. This figure includes revenue from all sectors that touches the connected home. Cloud computing, mobility, low cost sensors, big data are driving the Internet of Things (IoT) and connected industries.
It seems the Energy Service Network Association (ESNA); the body that developed the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) will have to go back to the drawing board with the Open Smart Grid Protocol. Researchers, Phillip Jovanovic from the University of Passau in Germany and Samuel Neves from the University of Coimbra in Portugal have identified weaknesses in the authenticated encryption of the protocol.
Traditional home automation devices were designed to control systems within a house and within a limited range of connectivity; however, with recent developments across different areas of connectivity of appliances and devices, these systems enable users to monitor and control them even when they are on the move. This includes mobile connectivity features, an integral component of smart homes provided by device manufacturers; and compatible communication protocol and technology based products offered by Internet Service Providers.
Poly-Control has taken advantage of the new features in the Z-Wave Plus certification program in a new range of smart clocks for the connected home market. The next generation of smart lock are due out in spring this year and will offer Z-Wave Plus' richer feature sets such as 250 percent higher data rate.
I think security poses the greatest risk to the growth of the connected home market. The many reports of hacking and vulnerabilities in connected home solutions throughout 2014 caused many to raised concerns about the readiness of these solutions for consumers. I see these issues as signs saying the sector has more work to do to improve security. The good thing is we are still at a stage where we can fix these issues and build better solutions to gain public trust.