Technology

Watching Burglars with the iCam App

by Lyndsi

The iPhone has an application for just about anything. Nature lovers can download apps that identify birds and tracks. Harry Potter fans can create spells and challenge friends to a wand duel with their iPhones. Other apps are designed specifically for work outs. With thousands of apps, you can find exactly what you need – including home security. Vince Hunter, from Dallas, Texas, downloaded the iCam application for $4.99. While Hunter and his wife were 1,500 miles away on vacation,…

The Latest in Crime Fighting Technology

by Lyndsi

Fingerprinting, DNA, GPS tracking and Google Earth have all helped solve crimes and catch criminals. Technology continues to evolve and advance, so what are some of the latest hi-tech equipment that brings criminals to justice? Automated License Plate Recognition Cameras Police use automated license plate recognition cameras to find stolen vehicles. The camera snaps a picture of the license plate and runs the photograph through a database of stolen automobiles. These cameras can take pictures from a long distance. Even…

Preventing Interference in Wireless Security Systems

by Carolyn

Wireless technology has revolutionized the way we think about home security. Today, security systems are no longer expensive, bulky devices that require extensive installation procedures. Instead, a security system may be installed in your home in less than an hour, with no need for behind-wall wiring or drilling. A problem that many people worry about is electrical interference that may occur with wireless devices. Since wireless technology is still being refined, its possible that interference could have a small influence…

How Secure is Your Biometric Briefcase?

by Carolyn

In a long hallway, the figure of a suit-clad man approaches. The man looks cautiously from side to side, and slips into a concealed room. After neatly dispatching two security guards (using only his hands), he discovers a hidden safe underneath a desk. Whipping out a complicated gadget, he quickly cracks the safe, and removes an ordinary-looking black briefcase. Taking the briefcase in hand, he slinks out of the door, making a dramatic escape with hundreds of security guards in…

How a Laser Home Security System Works

by Carolyn

In one of the famous scenes of the 1999 movie “Entrapment”, Catherine Zeta Jones navigates through a field of simulated lasers. The scene was featured in the trailer, on television shows, and has even been mimicked in the 2004 movie “Oceans Twelve”. Though the laser scene was criticized by movie reviewers for focusing a lot on Catherine Zeta Jones’ anatomy, it remains to be an element of popular culture even today. While the visible lasers often seen in Hollywood movies…

5 Popular GPS Vehicle Recovery Systems

by Carolyn

In the year 2000, it was estimated that only 53% of stolen cars were ever able to recovered. Today, the recovery rate for stolen vehicles is around 80%. Though a portion of this percent increase could be attributed to more efficient reporting systems for stolen vehicles, it’s possible that the growing popularity of GPS vehicle recovery systems is also a factor. Today’s technology enables us to have a much higher chance of recovering a stolen vehicle, and in a much…

Carbon Monoxide Detector – How It Works

by Carolyn

Two years ago, the city of Denver, Colerado was struck by an unthinkable tragedy. An entire family of four had succumbed to the deadly effects of carbon monoxide poisoning over the Thanksgiving holiday. City officials assume that several components of the residence weren’t working properly, which caused the death of all four family members. Following this tragedy, many people may have asked the question, “How could this happen?”. This tragic event prompted Denver residents to push for stricter and more dedicated guidelines about installing carbon monoxide…

Home Security Worries? There’s an App for That!

by Carolyn

Technology during this generation has undergone some truly amazing changes. However, it could be argued that the iPhone played a huge part in revolutionizing the smartphone industry. The iPhone was first announced in January of 2007 at the MacWorld convention, and has been the subject of extensive media coverage ever since. In June, Apple announced that the iPhone would support third-party applications. Today, there are thousands of different applications for the iPhone, which can do anything from recording song lyrics,…

UPS Backup Battery System

by Carolyn

The first battery was developed in 1800, by an Italian physicist named Alessandro Volta. The device was called a Voltaic Pile, which consisted of layered discs of copper (or silver) and zinc stacked in a pile. The discs were sandwiched between pieces of cloth, which were soaked in brine. It wasn’t until Benjamin Franklin invented a simliar system that used Leyden jars (as capacitors) that the name “battery” was applied to power-storing devices. You may not realize it, but each day, you…

5 Types of Motion Detectors

by Carolyn

In the 1800′s, a German physicist sat at his work table, studying the effect of radio waves on different materials. Suddenly, he had an epiphany. He discovered that some of the waves were able to pass through certain materials, while some materials reflected back the radio waves. He quickly collected data on this research, which led to the development of radio, and eventually became the foundation for radar technology. This physicist was named Heinrich Hertz, and he is the man…