If there’s one thing every driver in the world has experienced, it’s the frustration of trying to find a parking space. Drivers waste time, fuel and energy searching for parking, whether it be on city streets or in parking lots. This not only creates extra traffic but also results in increased pollution in the air and enraged drivers on the roads. Latin America and APAC are projected to drive the smart parking management systems market in the coming years, according to a re

Incorporating smart technology, such as sensors and cameras, into parking management is not only reducing time spent by drivers searching for a parking spot, it’s also increasing operational efficiency and revenue for parking lot owners. According to Navigant Research, sensor networks that detect vehicle occupancy are what provide the basic intelligence behind smart parking systems. In fact, its recent report found the installed base of sensor-enabled on-street smart parkin

A new study has found that smart home customers prefer professionally installed solutions to DIY, but solution providers should do more to educate users on the possibilities of their systems. In a survey conducted by icontrol Networks across seven branded smart-home solutions customers, those with professionally installed solutions said they feel the costs are worth it. About 96 percent respondents said they are very satisfied or satisfied with their systems. An equal numb

The intercom technology has gone through an evolution over the decades, changing from simple voice communication between the resident and the visitor to video systems where the resident can get a visual of who is on the outside. With the intercom migrating to IP, the user can do even more with it, for example seeing who is at the door and opening the door for them, all remotely via their mobile app. One company that has leveraged this trend is ButterflyMX, a U.S.-based startu

The increased popularity of devices like smartphones and affordability are helping “connected” and “smart home” security devices replace traditional residential security, suggests a report from IHS. The market for traditional residential security equipment was valued at US$2.3 billion in 2015. Despite its size, growth remains flat at best. The term traditional security refers to systems installed by a professional which have local management capabilities alone. “Connect

Most traditional security companies are still not completely at home with DIY products. Daniel Wan, UK Channel Marketing Manager at Honeywell Security & Fire - Security said that despite the increased prevalence of DIY products, the importance of professional installation cannot be dismissed. First of all, installers have a more comprehensive knowledge of the industry and products, which means they would be in a better position to understand a customer’s requirements and s

Home automation systems that take advantage of a whole range of technologies, some of which are included under the umbrella term Internet of Things (IoT), are expected to be one of the key markets in the coming years. A visit to any of the technology trade shows these days will give a glimpse of the products that are coming up in this segment. Interestingly, most of what is seen now is considered to be just the tip of the iceberg, as the possibilities of connected devices are

Mobile apps that can provide access to security solutions have become a standard facility for most solution providers. Such ‘on-the-go’ access does raise some concerns, however, especially with regard to protecting surveillance data from unwanted, third-party access. Solution providers, on their part, are looking at various options to make mobile access as secure as possible. There are several variables to be considered, ranging from the kind of data that is being accessed

The second installment in asmag.com's 2015 top 10 security products focuses on access control products. Once again, the top 10 products have been chosen based on click rate from asmag.com. To qualify for the top 10, the products on this list all adhere to the following guidelines: The product must have been uploaded to the asmag.com database between Dec. 2014 and Dec. 2015. The product may fall under the category of reader, controller, software, or lock; however, the main pur

Plan for stress and confusion as smoke detectors, power meters, security cameras, fridges and more gain brains and then try to interact Light bulbs, refrigerators, sprinklers and door locks soon will be a lot smarter. Too bad they'll have trouble talking to each other. Welcome to the chaotic underside of the smart-home vision, once all those humble devices start trying to communicate over a hodgepodge of wireless network standards. Some you've heard of, like the Wi-Fi that li