Intercoms have evolved in the post-pandemic era. This note explores how.
Intercoms have evolved in the post-pandemic era. This note explores how.
Needless to say, security has evolved with the pandemic. Video surveillance, for example, now has
fever detection, mask detection and social distancing functions. Access control, meanwhile, now allows
contact tracing if an infected individual has visited an end user entity.
In a similar vein, intercoms are also seeing new innovations in the wake of the pandemic. “Covid has unquestionably led to increased demand for intelligent access control solutions, including smart intercoms, because architects, planners and property managers are looking for ways to help occupiers maintain physical distancing and hygiene practices. The value of technology to manage access to buildings or floor levels for colleagues, invited guests and deliveries is becoming more widely recognized now,” said Tomas Vystavel, CPO of 2N.
That said, below we take a look at some of the new trends in intercoms that suit end user needs during and post-pandemic.
1. They are going contactless: Intercoms, like other security devices, are increasingly going
contactless amid the pandemic. “In multi-tenant commercial buildings and residential spaces, there are major concerns of potential hotspots developing and spreading illness throughout the facility. This has prompted a migration to more touchless devices and sensors to help control resident and visitor traffic,” said Brad Kamcheff, Marketing Manager of Aiphone. “By installing an intercom equipped with a sensor, an individual can request access by simply gesturing in front of the device to initiate communication with the person inside. For a truly touchless experience, an electric hinge integrated into the door system eliminates the need to touch a door handle.”
2. They enable occupancy management: Limiting the number of people who can occupy an end user entity has become quite common amid the pandemic. Already, many security devices have occupancy management functions. Now intercoms can play a role in this regard, too.
“Video intercoms can be used to manage the number of people gathering in one space. For example, in an educational setting, it’s critical for campus staff to see how many people are requesting access at the door – as well as who is at the door. If a person is requesting access into a science laboratory where only limited occupancy is allowed, a video intercom provides a safe way to confirm there are not too many people entering at once,” Kamcheff said.
He added: “Through a video intercom, staff will be able to determine how many visitors might be accompanying a student requesting dormitory access, for example. Or a visitor to a medical center can be appropriately screened. For communal areas where employees and visitors might gather, such as lobbies, gyms and other recreational facilities, additional social distancing and occupancy management might be necessary—enabling staff to further leverage the capabilities of an IP intercom system.”
3. There is increased demand for audio intercoms between glass germ barriers: This is because people need the ability to be face-to-face on either side of the glass and properly hear each other. “Such barriers used to be fairly exclusive to ticket taking windows, but now we’re seeing glass germ barriers being installed in doctor’s offices, coffee houses, ski resorts and anywhere people need to be able to communicate safely through a barrier, without reducing the effectiveness of the barrier itself,” Kamcheff said.
Catering to users’ needs
There has also been a trend where intercoms are more and more designed to the specific needs of certain users. “Driving this change is a greater sensitivity and awareness that all systems are not the same and they do need to be tailored for individual customer needs. As such, we’re seeing architects and engineers request new solutions and technologies. This includes technologies, such as video intercoms that integrate with T-Coil features for the Deaf and hearing impaired. Additionally, a two-way video solution for those who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate and request access, as well as updating stations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),” Kamcheff said.
Installation tips
Features aside, quality installation of intercoms isi also necessary to guarantee a good user experience. That said, there are certain things systems integrators should know when installing intercoms.
According to Vystavel, SIs should focus on security, flexibility and convenience.
“On security, system integrators should look for excellent security standards, not just a good user experience. We have our own 2N operating system to provide users with the highest levels of security and personal data protection. By flexibility, I mean integration options, for example with VMS or home automation. We are seeing growing customer demand for this,” Vystavel said.
“And on convenience, integrators obviously favour solutions which make their life easier. 2N, for example, has introduced services to facilitate the easy integration and administration of our devices via the internet. We have also introduced a project configuration tool, 2N Project Designer, which is a step-by-step guide for our partners to help them put together a complete door communication and access control solution very simply. This can save significant amounts of their time when planning both commercial and residential projects,” Vystavel added.
Also, the SI should also keep the future in mind. “Working with the end user to determine their possible expansion needs gives them the ability to recommend a system with room to grow. We often see intercom systems installed from the beginning at full capacity, then after a few months, we receive a request for additional locations. This is frustrating for both the end user, who has a new system that’s no longer meeting needs, and the integrator who wants to serve their customer but can’t. When implementing an intercom, an integrator should fully understand the system capabilities and limitations so they don’t run into any issues that can be avoided,” Kamcheff said.