Are people really likely to rely more on a secure identity than a physical key?
Despite the rapid pace of technology that has renovated many consumer goods, the front door lock and key has hardly changed since the 1800s. But this is about to change…..
Assa Abloy, which makes one in ten locks worldwide, is behind brands such as Yale. But the lock technology it is now developing means consumers will be able to open doors with a tap of their mobile phones, visitors will be able to download a key online and business owners will be able to lock and unlock their premises remotely.
Are people really likely to rely more on a secure identity than a physical key?
Electro-mechanical locks like key cards in hotels now account for almost half of Assa Abloy’s sales and the company believes this is just the start of growing demand from consumers for more flexible, high-tech locking mechanisms.
At the Assa Abloy HQ staff are trialling different versions of virtual keys downloaded to mobile phones that open a lock simply with a swipe of the phone. The company is also working up versions where phones with bluetooth or wireless links could automatically open doors when within a certain distance. Other keys can be set to switch on at a certain date and expire on another date, meaning for examples someone renting a flat, would no longer need to hand over physical keys at the end of their stay.
The digital keys can be embedded in SIM cards, within software or inside the phone itself, thanks to Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, or short range wireless that within a few years may be standard in most mobile devices.
It has been suggested that people will have the same kind of relationship to their lock that they have to their computer in that they will want to have the latest features and designs. As mentioned in our previous blog just last week Apple launched its new iPhone 5S, with a fingerprint scanner, replacing the need for passwords and PIN numbers with biometric security.
However, we question with the many worries surrounding cyber security, whether consumers will readily trust this new technology. Additionally a digital Yale lock is about 30% more expensive than a traditional one.
Would you trust this new technology and would you be prepared to spend the money? Let us know your thoughts at sales@paralogic.uk.net