SSN News Poll: Security is increasingly interested in CES

YARMOUTH, Maine—Several companies in the security industry used CES 2018 as a platform to launch new products and offerings, including ADT, Alarm.com, Vivint and Medical Guardian to name a few. Security Systems News asked its readers if they attended the show and what they thought about it.

“The lines between physical security and IT/technology are blurring and the end user of today is more and more tech savvy and tech hungry. A show that offers to float high-tech security offerings on the rising tide of technology in general is a boon,” Dan Gelinas, business development representative for Norris Inc., said in a response.

Fifty-three percent of poll respondents said they attended the show. Thirty-seven percent said that they didn't attend CES this year, but were following reports coming out of the show. Eleven percent said they are not interested in CES.

Attendance from the security industry could be going up. A few years ago, in early 2015, SSN asked its readers about CES, and 28 percent attended the show, while 69 percent chose to follow reports. Three percent didn't show interest in the show.

A first-time attendee said they were impressed. “I'd heard how big that show is but you can't truly appreciate that unless you see it first hand. We weren't looking just for home gadgets, of which there were plenty, also we were interested in wearables (mPERS and other) and potential new sources for RMR in general. We weren't disappointed!”

When it comes to technologies at CES, 47 percent said that they were most interested by the home automation gadgets being displayed. Thirty-seven percent were focused on AI and machine learning. Drones and robotics caught the eye of 16 percent.

“Home automation and AI were both of major interest,” Thom Meyer, COO of Secure Global Solutions, said.

How does CES benefit the industry? Most respondents—53 percent—said that the show generates buzz around smart home products and offerings. Thirty-seven percent said that more security companies are using the show to launch new products. Eleven percent said the show doesn't benefit the industry.