As interactive services permeate the home, many of the more basic household services such as home security follow the trend toward more sophisticated owner and device interaction. Household devices like alarm systems evolve from stand-alone warning appliances to being networked into frontline sensing devices for interactive services. These networked devices provide owners with the ability to monitor homes remotely. The latest advances in monitoring feature manufacturers networking household sensing devices and tying them into a service center. Monitoring solutions increase safety and security and are evolving into platforms for enhanced productivity. As people have come to adopt and rely on these systems, the reliability and predictability of such systems become increasingly important. Interactive monitoring systems for the home require a high level of reliability, as owners will not tolerate downtime from a device as important as a security system.

This chapter explores three ways that interactive technologies are being deployed as monitoring solutions. These advanced monitoring solutions combine the power of location-determining technologies, sensors, and networked service centers. First, we explore how telematics make the automobile safer and easier to maintain. Second, we describe personal safety solutions ranging from personal emergency response systems to embedded monitoring health systems. And finally, we examine how the home is becoming safer through networked security systems.

After reading this chapter, you should have a good understanding of the following topics:

• What enabling technologies are powering interactive monitoring systems

• How consumers are using these new monitoring systems to be safer, healthier, and more productive

• How telematics, embedded health monitoring systems, and home security systems have moved alarm systems into the realm of interactive services