Opinion: 5 reasons why a video intercom is a must for safety in the home

Five safety reasons for installing a video intercom in your home

In 2014 a charter school in Arizona took a big step towards bettering the security of their campuses: they implemented a video intercom system to help monitor entryways.

While there have never been any significant threats to AmeriSchool’s campuses, administrators elected to heighten security measures after the horrific events unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

The school brought in engineers to install remote-controlled mag locks on all of the doors and a video intercom system at the entrances of each AmeriSchool. Doors remain locked for 30 minutes after classes begin and the 30 minutes prior to the final bell. 

Thanks to this new system, administrators are now able to monitor the entrances throughout the day and can communicate remotely with individuals trying to enter the building.

Video intercoms like those used by AmeriSchools are also recommended for improving safety measures around the home.

A study from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology found that about 60 per cent of incarcerated burglars would seek an alternative home to rob if their intended target had an alarm or video surveillance system.

If you’re a homeowner looking for ways to improve the safety of your home, consider the following five reasons why you should install a video intercom system.

One: Easy Integration Into Home Automation Systems

Video intercoms can be seamlessly integrated into existing home automation systems, giving you the power to control your video feed with ease.

When paired with smart home technology, intercom systems can be viewed and controlled from the palm of your hand via smartphone apps or from the desktop at your work.

Two: View live security footage

Video intercoms allow you to access live security camera footage no matter where there is internet access. To facilitate remote viewing, most applications prompt you to enter the IP address of your video intercom system into your internet browser just as you would a website.

This configures Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) and port-forwarding capabilities, which allows you to view your security camera system from any remote location.

With live security capabilities, you can make sure your home is safe and secure, no matter if you’re down the street at a neighbor’s house or across the world on vacation.

Three: Control over communication

Having a video intercom system integrated into your home gives you the power to effectively communicate with anyone in or around your house.

Whether you’re ready to call the kids to dinner or inquire about the guest at the front door, the video intercom system lets you communicate in real time without interrupting what you’re doing.

Four: Ultimate front door security

Video intercoms allow you to first speak with front door visitors prior to welcoming them into your home. Just as the administrators at AmeriSchools are able to remotely communicate with outside visitors while the doors are locked, you can inquire with guests about the nature of their visit.

This is particularly advantageous if you receive an unexpected visitor; instead of risking your safety by immediately answering the door you first can see who they are on the intercom video screen and speak with them.

Not having to tend to the door right away means you, your family, and your home can have peace of mind, knowing you’ve got an added layer of protection.

Five: Face-recognition and Movement Tracking

Although still primarily used in a commercial or government context, face-recognition and movement tracking technology, such as in the SentiVeillance SDK video surveillance system, provides an exciting possibility for home video intercom systems.

Most recently, Doorbird introduced facial recognition at this year’s CES 2016, which they hope to begin offering to consumers soon in their own smart doorbells.

Currently, Doorbird utilizes motion tracking and can integrate well with most home automation systems.

With these recent developments, it may not be too long before advanced tech like facial recognition is a standard feature in most video intercom systems.