Security‚ especially for individuals’ belongings and homes‚ has always been a primary concern for people. Solutions have been available across the ages: from a traditional locksmith’s locks to recent technological solutions‚ such as burglar alarms. Technically‚ though these solutions all work‚ they are unfortunately falling out of sync with technological advancements and changing user requirements. Although traditional methods like locks are still available and extensively used‚ they may become obsolete in a few decades.
The millennials no longer use most of the older means of securing their belongings. Cash is no longer something carried in a wallet or stored in a locker—we now have digital numbers carried from one screen to another via transactions. Most information is digital and made accessible through passwords‚ which are used for various accounts: from communications to banking. There are also more tangible products that users care about. These can vary from a guitar to a car. These items require users to rely on traditional lock and key systems to keep them secure.
New technologies like Bluetooth low energy enable users to change from their older methods of securing tangible devices to newer methods. iBeacon is at the forefront of these new technologies. Release of multiple hardware devices enables users to tag and track their favourite items.
Some of the ways to do this are as follows:
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A small key-chain sized device‚ such as KeyPal Pro allows users to keep track of their mobile phone. If a user’s phone moves away from them‚ KeyPal can activate to indicate that the phone is no longer in the vicinity of the KeyPal Pro.
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Another device called Pally works similarly; however‚ it does lack indications on the device itself. Instead‚ it can be attached to any device like a tag‚ such as on a user’s luggage or back pack. It signals to a user’s device (smartphone or tablet) that their belonging has been moved from its location. There are additional similar devices available in the market‚ such as BiiSafe Buddy.
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Devices like the Bluebulb are lighting mechanisms that currently provide ease of control for users. Little tweaking by the developers could enable users to link it up as a theft or break in warning system. They can be connected to other devices that have been installed on doors and windows; they could be programmed to switch on or blink in a particular format when these doors or windows are opened when the user is not at home. Similarly‚ devices like the L8 Smartlight can be customised to light up if the beacons recognise any forced attempts at gaining access to the house.
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Another security measure is MyQGarage. It currently works with garage doors and lighting controls in a user’s house. These devices can potentially be tweaked to work with other beacon devices‚ such as a lock down of all doors during any attempts at a forced entry into a house. Similarly‚ Kwikset Kevo is a deadlock that can be triggered to lock all internal doors after identifying a break in attempt on the external windows or doors of a house.
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Tracking your bike has become much easier with technology like Helios Smart Bicycle Bars. Currently‚ bike users have the ability to verify the location of their bike using a SIM card‚ but soon developers can potentially enable interactions between the bars and other BLE devices to indicate to users when the bicycle has moved from its location. Also‚ devices like GardSave GS101 enable anti-theft alarms to be used for bikes.
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Children are not considered belongings‚ but they are the most precious thing in a parent’s life. Their security is very important and devices like Wootch aim to provide them with better security by utilising Bluetooth 4.0 technology.
The potential for a completely secure household is close to being realised with iBeacons. Most of the devices are currently marketed towards the basic security of belongings‚ but they can all be tweaked to create even more advanced levels of security.
