Security Sales & Integration October 2022 - 56

EXECUTIVE DECISIONS
Monitoring Matters by Peter Giacalone
The Case for
Presence Detection
Some of the
key benefi ts
of the various
platforms
include the
sensing,
monitoring and
notifi cation
of lifestyles
and behavior,
individual
device
identifi cation,
and enhanced
aging in place
and medical
alert systems.
▶ IN MY PREVIOUS column, I mentioned
some of the world-class technologies highlighted
at Parks Associates' CONNECTIONS Conference
held in Frisco, Texas, in May. One of the
presentations that caught my attention outlined
and detailed the great benefi ts of presence detection
technologies. Presence detection and the attributed
AI associated with the various platforms
has progressed signifi cantly in the past few years.
Th e variety of approaches along with the list of
benefi ts is something that deserves serious attention.
Over the few months leading to the CONNECTIONS
Conference, I spent some time
investigating some technology organizations that
were deploying presence detection platforms to a
variety of market channels.
Presence detection is defi nitely not " one size fi ts
all. " Although the platforms developed and introduced
may appear to be similar at fi rst glance,
the diff erences are signifi cant. Th e diff erences I
refer to are not good versus bad, they are diff erences
of the core technology and in the benefi ts
the platforms deliver. Although the platforms all
have some overlap in features and benefi ts, the
additional diff erences and markets they serve are
important to consider.
Some of the key benefi ts of the various platPeter
Giacalone
is President of
Giacalone Associates,
an independent
security consulting
fi rm serving
central stations,
manufacturers and
dealers.
forms include the sensing, monitoring and notifi -
cation of lifestyles and behavior, individual device
identifi cation and enhanced aging in place and
medical alert systems. Although activity and type
of activity are typically primary elements of monitoring,
in some scenarios the lack of activity and
the type of activity are equally important. Th ese
platforms bring additional value when augmented
with other traditional systems such as a comprehensive
intrusion or nonintrusion alarm system
and aging in place or medical alert platform.
Th e market leaders and pioneers that are focused
on their respective markets have embarked
on various technological approaches in delivering
their value proposition. It's not just simply the
matter of diff erent market focus with similar technologies.
Although all are considered presence detection,
the technology and/or AI leveraged is very
56
Security Sales & Integration OCTOBER 2022
peter@giacaloneassociates.com
diff erent to better serve each market.
For example, some may utilize WiFi sensing,
wireless AI sensing and ambient sensing, which allows
for the analyzing of a variety of metrics when
monitoring the behavior and well-being of subscribers
in addition to all activity within a premise.
Others that are focused more on the presence and
specifi cs of the people in the home by identifying
the wireless devices people carry with them every
day provides even greater detail that is utilized on
many levels. Platforms such as this monitor the
personal wireless devices that transmit radio signals
and standardized languages, like WiFi, Bluetooth
and cellular. Th ey emit these signals to transmit
information or periodically look for and inform
other devices and networks they are present.
Th e understanding of the presence of individuals,
behavior and identity is of tremendous value
when monitoring for safety and security. Utilizing
cutting-edge AI to detect and identify the
known and unknown people entering and leaving
a premise provides endless value both for fundamental
monitoring of premise activity - especially
for the central station monitoring center when
required to handle, verify, dispatch and notify on
any event transmitted by a premise system.
Th ink back a few years when the smart home
and automation was adopted as mainstream. It
was an initial step to take the industry from analog
to a true digital space supported by portals and
mobile apps. Although this was meaningful and
defi nitely boosted the value proposition for greater
system and monitoring adoption, the actual detection
element really didn't change much. Bolting
on presence detection to any mainstream intrusion
or medical system takes this path to where it
needs to be. Everything from nonintrusion monitoring
to traditional intrusion monitoring.
Additionally, presence detection aff ords the great
ability to deliver a more effi cient and eff ective method
of alarm verifi cation for false alarm reduction, as
well accelerated dispatches when the alarms are real.
From the aging in place and medical alert and lifestyle
monitoring aspect to intrusion detection and
monitoring, these technologies provide much needed
information for caregivers or monitoring centers.
Although the technologies behind these platforms
take diff erent approaches in providing these
services, they are all able to monitor, analyze and
report the various points without compromising
security or personal data of any individual detected
or monitored.
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Security Sales & Integration October 2022

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