The 8 Most Innovative Security Products Unveiled at CES 2015

Every January the world’s technology manufacturers head to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to unveil their latest innovations to the media.

This year’s event has witnessed an unpredecented number of ‘smart’ technologies showcased as the ‘internet of things’ revolution gathers pace.

And the security industry, whose presence in the residential market was hitherto focused around alarms, gates and locks,  is at the forefront of the trend in smart technologies, building advanced video surveillance and biometric security capabilities into everyday objects.

Here is our round-up of some of the most interesting security technologies from year’s CES 2015, which all illustrate the growing consumerisation of security technology, a market which the IHS recently estimated to have reached $1bn in 2014.

1. Honeywell introduce ‘professional grade’ home security automation

Honeywell’s Lyric security system promises to be a big step forward in home security automation.
The Lyric controls motion sensors, security cameras, smoke detectors via a touchscreen or by voice commands.

Various scenarios can be setup by the user, such as locking up the house and turning off the lights with a simple voice command or monitoring the outside of your home to raise an alarm if there is a problem. Price and availability still to be confirmed.

2. 1080p Video surveillance in a lightbulb

Sengled, the smart lighting company, has unveiled a lightbulb that combines WiFi connectivity with LED light and a 1080p security camera into one innovative product.

Usable both indoors or outdoors the Sengled Snap is a 2015 CES Best of Innovation Award winner. The Snap will cost $199 when it becomes available later this spring.

3. Sony SmartEye turning any glasses into CCTV camera.

Sony’s SmartEye, their answer to Google Glass, has been described as like wearing a CCTV camera on your head and like Google Glass it comes with a head-up display to show information in front of your eyes.
More interesting is their CES 2015 unveiling of the SmartEyeglass Attach!, a small module which can make regular glasses smart. While currently only a prototype, it’s easy to imagine how technologies like the Attach! could be used by security guards, police and lone workers to improve video surveillance.

4. No more memorising passwords with Intel True Key

Intel True Key is a new facial recognition tool which allows you to use your face to open secured files and programmes – so no more memorising passwords.

True Key uses your laptop or smartphone’s existing camera to scan your face for traits unique to you, such as the distance between your eyes or ears.

Last month Intel recently acquired PasswordBox, the company behind this technology.

The current preview works with Windows computers and Android phones for facial recognition, but not on Apple devices.

5. Facial recognition of any strangers in your home

Netatmo’s Welcome is a smart security camera that learns to recognise friendly faces – and alert you when it detects a stranger.

The Welcome’s 1080p Full HD camera features a 130 degree viewing arc and an infrared sensor so it can still operate at night to identify intruders.

With a sleek tube design and integration that should appeal to the consumer market and connectivity to both iOS and Android smartphones, the Welcome is a CES 2015 Innovation Award winner.

The Welcome will be on sale by the summer of 2015. Price TBC.

6. Biometric vests for children

The Hexoskin Junior is a range of child-sized vests with biometric sensors that enable parents to keep tabs on their children via their smartphone.
The Hexoskin tracks a number of fitness and location-based metrics including heart rate recovery, step count, sleep duration, breathing volume and calories burned.

7. Unlock doors with voice-activated smart lock

Using Apple’s Siri technology, the Schlage Sense is touch-pad-enabled smart lock for homeowners.
The company’s first Bluetooth-enabled lock, the Schlage Sense allows users to simply enter a code to gain access to their house using the back-lit touchpad or a smartphone with a free-to-download app.

8. The smart bike pedal that combats cycle theft

Connected Cycle, a French startup, launched a smart bike pedal which can track the bike’s exact location along with fitness information. The aluminium pedal is tracked via an app (currently only for Apple products) which can show the owner where the bike is located at any time and notify the user if the bike is moved.

The smart pedal even generates its own power. Currently no release date or price tag have been announced.

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It will be interesting to see what impact DIY security technologies aimed at the mass market will have on the professional security industry.

Will it mean that small to medium-sized businesses find it more cost-effective to do their own installations? Or will the climate, where consumers and businesses alike take security seriously, prove beneficial to the industry at all levels? Let us know your views.