The Locksmith Journal Jan-Feb 2016 - Issue 42 | Page 52

52 • ACCESSCONTROL PROUD SPONSORS OF THIS PAGE Looking at new technology Look to take over the traditional lock and key For centuries, civilisation has put its trust in the lock and key system for protection and security. »»THE RELIABLE MECHANISM has been used to effectively secure houses, cars, offices and valuables – but new advancements in security technology could overtake the lock and key in popularity. Security companies are attempting to develop hi-tech alternatives to the old mechanisms that are all together more reliable and secure. With this in mind, Martin Smith, product manager at IronmongeryDirect, discusses the new technology being developed and the benefits it can bring to customers looking to increase the security of a property. ‘One new type of access control considered to be an all-round more secure alternative to the traditional lock and key is biometrics’ New technology is constantly being developed to help keep properties secure and the market is now seeing a range of innovative products that rely on a whole new set of mechanics for access to buildings. New forms of access control are being deployed across offices and residential buildings and manual systems are being made obsolete to make room for more sophisticated and reliable digital upgrades. BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY One new type of access control considered to be an all-round more secure alternative to the traditional lock and key is biometrics. Biometrics have the ability to almost entirely eliminate unauthorised access to a building and are a formidable alternative to more traditional security systems that relied on passwords and physical keys. Biometrics is a form of access control, which relies on an individual’s distinguishing personal traits such as fingerprints or retina and iris patterns. Biometric technology has the ability to control access points and identify record and track all employees, contractors, visitors and vendors th ]X^H]