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A History of the Security Industry - The First 150 Years
It is not hard to believe that security has been available for nearly two centuries. From the early inventions and technological advancements that carried over from the industrial age, the history of security is fascinating as it progresses into the 21st century and beyond.
The invention of the McCulloh loop circuit in the late 1800s allowed the ability for several remote code generating switches to be connected in a series. From this a receiving station connected to the loop ends applies the electrical element to the loop. The first alarm companies were regionally limited simply because of the technological limitations. In 1857, Edwin T. Holmes purchased a patent on one of the first examples of an alarm. It was a simple device that would cause a bell to ring when a window or door was opened. Later, Holmes opened its first central monitoring center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Moving forward into 1900, five firms: ADT, AFA, AFP and Grinnell and Holmes were the leaders of the alarm industry. It would take nearly two decades for an alarm industry association to form, the International Electric Protective Association. Underwriters Laboratories published the first edition of the Standard of the Central Station Burglar Alarm Units and Systems, which provided guidelines and certification for the systems. In 1928, Morse Signal Devices is founded in Cleveland, Ohio. Morse not only developed alarm systems, but also installed and serviced the units as well. This company would be integral for the alarm system industry innovations and were responsible for constantly finding new solutions to expand.
Several inventions that were patented would also play important roles in what the alarm industry could offer. In 1948, Sam Bagno filed a patent for the ultrasonic detector. The ultrasonic detector uses frequencies that transmit ultrasonic sound waves that are unheard to humans. The method in which the operation works is that a change of frequency is detected by motion. Moving objects change the frequency of the sound waves around it. In order for the ultrasonic detector to operate correctly, there must be motion of an object either towards or away from the receiver and the motion of the object must cause a change in the ultrasonic frequency different from the transmitting frequency.
In 1956, rudimentary development of a type of microwave sensor would appear. Microwave detectors emit microwaves from a transmitter to a receiver, by either reflection or reduction in the intensity of the beam. Energy generated in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum causes the detector to respond to motion. This causes reduction in received energy, frequency phase shifts or a Doppler frequency change.
A year later another company, Honeywell, would also enter the market of the fire protection and security business. They would manufacture, develop install and service other proprietary fire and security systems.
The 1960s would bring another invention of wireless and radio operated alarm systems. RCA presented closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, which are still used heavily in the industry even today. Stewart Jackson, along with engineer Don Stroh, would develop and invent the first self-contained UL-listed ionization smoke detector which could interface with any existing security control panel.
In 1962, one of the largest innovations in the alarm industry would surface. The advent of the digital dialer was introduced. Information about subscribers could be sent as data across the telephone networks. The digital dialer worked by using a memory preprogrammed to store the number of a central station to be dialed. It automatically transmits to that station when accessed by a code indicating the location having difficulty. This would enable the central monitoring station to send the proper authorities, such as the fire department, police and emergency medical services.
In the 1970s, UL would continue to certify and release documentation on security and alarm systems. In 1972, they published the first standard for the manufacture and performance of residential alarm systems. Not long after in 1977, the first digital transmitter was presented to the security industry. In 1979, the invention of the passive infrared detector by Dr. Herb Berman of Linear Laboratories would find its way into security systems.
The first integrated control panel with a built-in communicator arrived towards the end of the decade with the first digital keypads introduced by Napco. The FCC started pushing for use of radio frequencies (RF). This would lessen the dependency on the telephone networks and instead move to long-range radio for the central station alarm monitoring and signaling.
The year 1982 was pivotal to the future of not only the telephone company but also for the alarm industry. The breakup of the AT&T monopoly was ordered by Judge Harold Greene. It would be carried out two years later, and thus allowing the creation of the seven Bell operating companies. During 1982 C&K systems would develop a dual-technology motion sensor using passive infrared and microwave technology.
An alternative signaling process would present itself in 1983, again to ease reliance on traditional telephone lines. Derived channel, which is a supervisory signal for a derived channel data reporting system, is implemented as a tone having a frequency capable of transmission using a telephone signal communicating network, including networks incorporating digital equipment. In March of the year, the UL announces it will issue certificates for residential alarm installations. The industry’s first microprocessor based integrated control panel would be introduced in 1986 by Digital Security Controls Inc.
More interest in security would continue to grow following the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. The realism of a terrorist attack caused the nation to react by demanding electronic security products. The 1990s would also bring about several acquisitions of a number of the largest alarm firms. In 1995, ADT was acquired Alert Central. President Clinton would sign a bill into law for a massive rewrite of the telecommunications code our nation had been operating under and congress would pass the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996. This was an attempt to promote a fair playing field between the alarm companies and the Regional Bell Operating Companies. One of the more important parts of the act was to prohibit the companies from engaging in alarm monitoring for five years after the bill was enacted. Even UL was overhauled in 1996. The first revision of the alarm system certification in 70 years was implemented. The new system merged seven types of commercial certificates into four: central station, mercantile, bank and proprietary.
Tyco International, Ltd., completed it’s acquisition of ADT Ltd., in July 1997. A year later, Tyco International Ltd., announced the intention to purchase Holmes Protection Group Inc. for $105 million. Wells Fargo announced its merger to ADT Security Services, a subsidiary of Tyco International Ltd., in May 1998.
What would expand the security and alarm industry even more was advanced computers, the explosion of high-speed data transfers over cable and phone networks. Home computers would work in conjunction with security systems to allow real-time remote monitoring on screen.
What started as systems to operate and protect commercial and financial institutions has found its way affordably into the home market. Alarm systems for residential use offer almost as many options, technologies and protection as those used by banks and office buildings. As the world becomes ever more fearful of their safety, the technological boom in alarm systems and monitoring protection services will continue to provide the security and safety that residents of the world require to continue moving ahead with comfortable peace of mind.
The invention of the McCulloh loop circuit in the late 1800s allowed the ability for several remote code generating switches to be connected in a series. From this a receiving station connected to the loop ends applies the electrical element to the loop. The first alarm companies were regionally limited simply because of the technological limitations. In 1857, Edwin T. Holmes purchased a patent on one of the first examples of an alarm. It was a simple device that would cause a bell to ring when a window or door was opened. Later, Holmes opened its first central monitoring center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Moving forward into 1900, five firms: ADT, AFA, AFP and Grinnell and Holmes were the leaders of the alarm industry. It would take nearly two decades for an alarm industry association to form, the International Electric Protective Association. Underwriters Laboratories published the first edition of the Standard of the Central Station Burglar Alarm Units and Systems, which provided guidelines and certification for the systems. In 1928, Morse Signal Devices is founded in Cleveland, Ohio. Morse not only developed alarm systems, but also installed and serviced the units as well. This company would be integral for the alarm system industry innovations and were responsible for constantly finding new solutions to expand.
Several inventions that were patented would also play important roles in what the alarm industry could offer. In 1948, Sam Bagno filed a patent for the ultrasonic detector. The ultrasonic detector uses frequencies that transmit ultrasonic sound waves that are unheard to humans. The method in which the operation works is that a change of frequency is detected by motion. Moving objects change the frequency of the sound waves around it. In order for the ultrasonic detector to operate correctly, there must be motion of an object either towards or away from the receiver and the motion of the object must cause a change in the ultrasonic frequency different from the transmitting frequency.
In 1956, rudimentary development of a type of microwave sensor would appear. Microwave detectors emit microwaves from a transmitter to a receiver, by either reflection or reduction in the intensity of the beam. Energy generated in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum causes the detector to respond to motion. This causes reduction in received energy, frequency phase shifts or a Doppler frequency change.
A year later another company, Honeywell, would also enter the market of the fire protection and security business. They would manufacture, develop install and service other proprietary fire and security systems.
The 1960s would bring another invention of wireless and radio operated alarm systems. RCA presented closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, which are still used heavily in the industry even today. Stewart Jackson, along with engineer Don Stroh, would develop and invent the first self-contained UL-listed ionization smoke detector which could interface with any existing security control panel.
In 1962, one of the largest innovations in the alarm industry would surface. The advent of the digital dialer was introduced. Information about subscribers could be sent as data across the telephone networks. The digital dialer worked by using a memory preprogrammed to store the number of a central station to be dialed. It automatically transmits to that station when accessed by a code indicating the location having difficulty. This would enable the central monitoring station to send the proper authorities, such as the fire department, police and emergency medical services.
In the 1970s, UL would continue to certify and release documentation on security and alarm systems. In 1972, they published the first standard for the manufacture and performance of residential alarm systems. Not long after in 1977, the first digital transmitter was presented to the security industry. In 1979, the invention of the passive infrared detector by Dr. Herb Berman of Linear Laboratories would find its way into security systems.
The first integrated control panel with a built-in communicator arrived towards the end of the decade with the first digital keypads introduced by Napco. The FCC started pushing for use of radio frequencies (RF). This would lessen the dependency on the telephone networks and instead move to long-range radio for the central station alarm monitoring and signaling.
The year 1982 was pivotal to the future of not only the telephone company but also for the alarm industry. The breakup of the AT&T monopoly was ordered by Judge Harold Greene. It would be carried out two years later, and thus allowing the creation of the seven Bell operating companies. During 1982 C&K systems would develop a dual-technology motion sensor using passive infrared and microwave technology.
An alternative signaling process would present itself in 1983, again to ease reliance on traditional telephone lines. Derived channel, which is a supervisory signal for a derived channel data reporting system, is implemented as a tone having a frequency capable of transmission using a telephone signal communicating network, including networks incorporating digital equipment. In March of the year, the UL announces it will issue certificates for residential alarm installations. The industry’s first microprocessor based integrated control panel would be introduced in 1986 by Digital Security Controls Inc.
More interest in security would continue to grow following the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. The realism of a terrorist attack caused the nation to react by demanding electronic security products. The 1990s would also bring about several acquisitions of a number of the largest alarm firms. In 1995, ADT was acquired Alert Central. President Clinton would sign a bill into law for a massive rewrite of the telecommunications code our nation had been operating under and congress would pass the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996. This was an attempt to promote a fair playing field between the alarm companies and the Regional Bell Operating Companies. One of the more important parts of the act was to prohibit the companies from engaging in alarm monitoring for five years after the bill was enacted. Even UL was overhauled in 1996. The first revision of the alarm system certification in 70 years was implemented. The new system merged seven types of commercial certificates into four: central station, mercantile, bank and proprietary.
Tyco International, Ltd., completed it’s acquisition of ADT Ltd., in July 1997. A year later, Tyco International Ltd., announced the intention to purchase Holmes Protection Group Inc. for $105 million. Wells Fargo announced its merger to ADT Security Services, a subsidiary of Tyco International Ltd., in May 1998.
What would expand the security and alarm industry even more was advanced computers, the explosion of high-speed data transfers over cable and phone networks. Home computers would work in conjunction with security systems to allow real-time remote monitoring on screen.
What started as systems to operate and protect commercial and financial institutions has found its way affordably into the home market. Alarm systems for residential use offer almost as many options, technologies and protection as those used by banks and office buildings. As the world becomes ever more fearful of their safety, the technological boom in alarm systems and monitoring protection services will continue to provide the security and safety that residents of the world require to continue moving ahead with comfortable peace of mind.
By Leah Worthen
Edited by Marcus Pan