Curious to learn about the modernization of home security system? You’ve come to the right place. Believe it or not, the mighty wireless digital home security alarm has only been around for a short time, but in that time, it has totally revolutionized the industry. Here’s a quick look at where we’ve been, the modernization of home security system, and what we can expect from a wireless digital home security alarm system in the future.

Exploring the Past: How Home Protection Began

Homeowners as far back as the 1970s were able to have protection systems installed, but they looked much different back then. Bear in mind, this was around the time that the video game Pong first emerged. People didn’t have computers in their homes. Many didn’t have TVs. Phones were still landlines. At this time, the only way to have a system installed was to work with a major company.

They’d come out to your home, map out what you needed, then come back at a later date with an electrician and maybe a drywaller. Each component of the setup was linked together with wires and then hooked into the house’s power and main telephone line. It was an expensive and lengthy process, but for homeowners with things of value to protect, it was a worthwhile venture.

Eventually, a newcomer joined the scene and made systems available for a broader audience by charging less up front. The company may have even lost money on installs, but they charged a bit more for monthly monitoring and made up the difference. In doing so, they were able to open up the market and grab more business, but they also set the foundation for others to join in.

The Modernization of Home Security System

Over the years, setups got smarter. Motion detectors were added and CCTVs were put within reach for the masses as well. Of course, the technology remained crude for decades. The first motion detectors on the market would signal alarms if someone left a helium balloon in the room or if they had a pet.

Video surveillance cameras produced grainy black-and-white images as well. Although you couldn’t often tell who someone was on film, you might be able to tell what they were doing or how they got in.

Enter: The Wireless Digital Home Security Alarm System

The early 2000s brought forth a whole bunch of new technology. As a point of reference, it was 2001 when the first iPod was released. For you youngsters, this was the precursor to the iPhone. It was a digital device created purely to play music.

The screen only displayed black text, much like a cheap digital watch does now. Wi-Fi wasn’t even in homes until 1999, but worked incredibly slowly until 2003.  Similar tech started to become incorporated in home security systems shortly thereafter, and the wireless digital age was born.

Present: “Smart” Devices

The modernization of home security systems has not only brought us wireless digital home security alarm systems, but ones that connect to our phones as well. Companies like Life Shield offer DIY kits that you can install on your own, then control with an app if you like. This makes it easy to arm or disarm a system while you’re away and even view your security cameras from anywhere in the world.

Homeowners can also set up custom alerts, so they’ll always know what’s going on at home. Reliability of systems has also greatly improved. Special features included in systems now cut down on the number of false alerts, while service can be run through a number of channels, not just a cellular network or landline.

Future: “Intelligent” and Connected

Technology is still developing. Right now, scientists are working on making “intelligent” programs more reliable and affordable. For example, some cameras can give alerts if sounds like screams or broken glass are heard, whereas others watch for missing objects or make sure employees are behaving safely. The tech is so new that it’s not readily used at this point, but it will be in the coming years.

We’re also seeing more systems starting to connect with other devices throughout the home. For example, some control panels also give homeowners the option to turn lights on and off or lock and unlock doors. Again, the technology is still emerging, and companies that offer these solutions are still looking for ways to keep hackers out of their products and ensure homes stay safe. In the coming years, you’ll likely be able to control your whole house in a similar way.