Security Systems Technologies and Innovation: A Comprehensive History of Advances in the Industry examines the past 50 years and the expansion of the security industry, security technologies, and the field as a whole. An overarching theme throughout is that advances in security technology run parallel to developments in computers and telecommunications. The coverage emphasizes that the foundational “nuts and bolts” intent and tactics that preceded today’s electronics don’t change, although the methodologies, challenges, and threats do morph and change over time. This encyclopedic work begins in the 1970s with a foundational background of the monopoly‑controlled industry at the time, which relied on mechanical devices and people. Understanding these precepts not only puts present technology in perspective but also equips readers with the tools to creatively approach unique security problems. This reflects the reality that the true role of any security decision‑maker is to provide situational awareness and decision‑making, since almost every security problem is nuanced and context‑based. Out‑of‑the‑box solutions – including technology – though popular, are rarely the answer. Security is about protecting people and property from highly motivated criminals – a constant chess game in which only one side follows the rules. Rapid technological developments in the last 30 years, in particular, ushered in an unprecedented period of growth. Over this time, the industry developed into a goliath, evolving in step with the transformation of the American criminal justice and law enforcement communities, with almost complete technical revision and advancement every three to five years. Concurrently, countering terror threats began to supersede the industry’s original focus on trespassers and property theft. This book chronicles this ever‑changing corporate, technological, and threat‑based landscape. This book proves fascinating reading, providing insight to those currently in the field and offering a glimpse of future security threats, and those current and emerging technologies that will shape the next 50 years of the industry.
