HARDWARE & SECURITY
Getting Smart About Home Security
Steve Williams , sales and marketing director at Kenrick , says now is the time to get smarter .
» WE ’ VE SEEN A SURGE IN SMART home technology over recent years , with more homeowners embracing the benefits of a ‘ connected home ’ than ever before . According to research by Mordor Intelligence , the global smart homes market was valued at $ 64.60 billion in 2019 and is predicted to reach $ 246.42 billion by 2025 . With annual growth of 25 % forecasted between 2020 and 2025 , the need for smart home technology has never been greater .
Take up of smart home products continues to rise in the UK and we are now the fastest-growing and second largest market in Europe for sales of smart technology , says research from GfK Global . Demand has been driven by wider internet usage ( which incidentally went through the roof since Covid-19 ), greater access to smart devices and rising disposable income .
The current pandemic has also led to a growing concern about our safety and security , with more of us willing to invest in technology to protect our homes and loved ones . There are a number of hardware suppliers providing product solutions for the smart home , however the key to achieving a safe and secure home is to ensure that all products are compatible . A system that isn ’ t crosscompatible will always have a limited reach .
Easy and integrated
Some existing smart locks have also led to the belief that they are complicated to fit or cannot be easily retro-fitted and we ’ re busting that myth with our BeeSecure app-based smart home security solution . Launched in the UK during the lockdown , this fully integrated system enables homeowners to monitor their home from anywhere with their smartphone – and it can be retrospectively fitted .
At the heart of the system is the BeeHub – a compact smart home centre device , which is based on both Zigbee and Wi-Fi protocols . It works by connecting all the Zigbee devices to the network and then uses home Wi-Fi to connect the smartphone to the network and cloud . When any device on the network is triggered , a notification is sent to the user ’ s smartphone via the BeeSecure App .
Perhaps more than ever , we need to harness technology to make our lives easier , calmer and safer . With BeeSecure , homeowners can tailor make their own ‘ connected home ’ by handpicking which integrated devices they want to install . These are then simply connected to the BeeHub . Each BeeHub can connect with up to 16 BeeSecure smart devices , with the option to extend to 32 devices with the BeeRepeater .
Hidden benefits
One of the most popular devices is the BeeLock passcode enabled electronic smart lock . This versatile lock allows the user to control exactly who can access their property . It can accommodate up to 200 users , so it ’ s ideal for elderly , disabled or self-isolating people who may have family members and carers visiting to provide care or drop off supplies . It ’ s easy to change passcodes and add and delete users and you can even set time limits so visitors can only gain entry into the property at set times . The BeeLock can also be easily installed in around five minutes , without the need for external tools .
The Bee-DWS door and window sensor detects if a window or door is opened , triggers an alarm and alerts the user via the app on their smartphone . The sensor units are attached to individual windows and doors to allow homeowners to check remotely if they have been properly closed . The sensor unit can be fitted by fabricators onto new windows and doors and it can also be retro-fitted onto any existing doors and windows around the home .
The DB1 smart doorbell lets users see who is at their front door and even talk to them via the built-in microphone and speaker if they ’ re not home . And there ’ s an obvious benefit for those confined to their homes in this current pandemic – they can turn unwanted callers away or instruct delivery drivers to leave parcels outside , without having to open their front door .
These are just some of the devices that can be added to the system , but the range also includes a motion sensor , an object movement sensor , an indoor / outdoor camera , a 360 ° camera and a smoke detector .
www . kenricks . co . uk
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NOV / DEC 2020
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