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When it comes to technology, we don\u2019t tend to notice its incremental expansion into our everyday life, then one day we realise, the world has changed beyond recognition partly because of it. Voice recognition has been around in the mainstream since the 1990\u2019s, although back then it tended to be mainly a disability aid for those who couldn\u2019t type, whereas nowadays it\u2019s become a part of our everyday world. The same goes for smart locks, they\u2019ve been around for decades, more obviously as a means of opening hotel rooms and even as far back as 1998, keyless cars were available, but now, the age of domestic smart locks is upon us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As with most technologies, there tends to be a period where only early adopters and specialised users know of it, then at a certain \u2018tipping\u2019 point, the public gets introduced to it, often perceiving then to be the moment it was \u2018invented\u2019. For instance, microwave ovens became popular during the \u201970s, however, they were first patented in the late \u201940s. Likewise, the Internet became a part of our lives in the 1990s but its first incarnations date as far back as the early ’60s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the last 5 years, the role of smart devices in our lives has become more commonplace and the latest section of our homes to become smart are our doors, or more accurately, the locks that open them. There are big developments on their way in relation to the integration of technology into our lives, the smart era has already begun, and smart locks are just one small part of what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now, though, the various lock types and methods of opening doors make choosing a smart lock somewhat complicated and dictate what kind of smart locks can be manufactured, but, in time it\u2019ll likely be the other way around. Smart lock technology will become a key determinant behind the locking mechanisms used in future door design. It\u2019s hard to imagine that such a small component of the door, the lock, will change its appearance so profoundly, but it will. If a door can recognise your approach and intention to open it, who needs handles and locks, and without them, a door starts to look very different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As with any multi-format, multi-platform marketplace, eventually, just a few product types come to dominate. While on one hand, this limits the options available to customers, on the other, it makes life far simpler when it comes to deciding what to buy. Likewise, in the future, the same will go for smart locks, once choices are no longer centred on technical matters, consumers will decide what to buy a door or lock based on their individual needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, though, choosing a smart lock can often be a complicated matter, so for end-users, getting advice from a specialised locksmith or helpful sales representative is probably the best way forward. Having now experienced using smart locks I can certainly say the difficulty of choosing a smart lock is far outweighed by the convenience they offer. No more getting locked out or worrying about lost keys. I don\u2019t even have to go to the door to let people in, nor do I have to wait in for parcel deliveries as I can unlock the door from anywhere in the world. I can also set temporary PIN numbers for tradespeople or friends who need to get in when I\u2019m not there, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, for the sake of balance, let\u2019s take a look at the initial difficulties. The main problem most of us will face when it comes to choosing which smart lock to buy revolves around the multitude of lock types used in doors. For those of us not involved in the trade, even we can probably recognise a few different types of locks. There are some where we must push the handle up before we turn the key, then there are those that lock as soon as the door closes and older ones that use chunky Chubb keys, and so on. To those in the know, of course, there are hundreds more to consider. So, it shouldn\u2019t be surprising that most consumers are likely to feel overwhelmed when initially looking at which smart locks to purchase. However, don\u2019t despair, if the thought of all that leaves you feeling baffled too, read on, there is hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to Consider when Choosing a Smart Lock for Your Home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When choosing which of the many smart locks on offer to buy, it\u2019s best to narrow down the options by considering certain factors. The first, and probably most beguiling issue for many is, as just mentioned, what type of lock is it we\u2019re going to replace. The main kinds commonly used in the UK are Euro Cylinder, Mortice, Chubb (a lever tumbler lock), and Yale. Still feeling lost, don\u2019t worry, so was I when I first set out to find a smart lock. The easiest way to deal with this issue is to take photos or videos of your lock and door working, then show them to a locksmith or lock retailer, (by email or in real life). Hopefully, they will then help you narrow down your selection. Remember if you\u2019re emailing a video, keep it as short as possible due to file attachment limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next thing to consider is where the door will be situated. Will it be an internal or external one? If it\u2019s the latter and exposed to the elements, you\u2019ll need a lock with an IP rating of at least IP54, preferably IP68. You can look up what IP ratings mean, however, as a rule, the higher the rating the more weather resistant it will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To narrow down your shortlist further think about what you want the lock to do. Do you want it to be connected to the internet so you can unlock it remotely, say to let a friend or delivery in? Alternatively, you may prefer not to be connected to the Internet at all, as besides, all the manufacturer\u2019s reassurances, some people would still rather not risk being hacked, in which case, they\u2019d probably opt for one that doesn\u2019t use a Wi-Fi bridge. Wi-Fi Bridges connect Bluetooth devices, such as smart locks, to the Internet. The problem with Wi-Fi bridges is they need to be close to the lock, have a power source and be within range of your Wi-Fi network. If the door in question doesn\u2019t meet all those requirements, it can\u2019t be connected to the Internet so will lack remote functionality. To some that\u2019s not a problem, to others it will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The smart thing about smart locks is how they let you unlock them. Ironically, some methods are not much more convenient than getting a key out in the first place, for instance using a key card or a mobile phone app. Even so, if you\u2019ve got an Airbnb place and are sharing physical keys with people who might lose, steal, or copy them, virtual keys will make life easier even if they do have to be accessed every time. Other methods include entering a PIN number, using a fingerprint, face recognition, or having a mobile phone app tell the lock you are close by. Lastly, having a physical key that can be used in the event of a software error or the battery running out, will, for many, be an essential backup safety feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the process of fitting locks varies considerably. Some can be done by even the most inexperienced of DIY\u2019ers, whilst others may push expert locksmiths to their limits. Of course, if you\u2019re going to employ someone to fit your lock, you ought to factor in the extra cost of their fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So now you\u2019ve got some idea of what\u2019s involved when choosing a smart lock, let\u2019s have a look at the main options currently available and why I\u2019ve chosen to focus on the two locks I have for this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are hundreds of smart locks on the market, however, the playing field is dominated by the following companies: Yale, Waferlock, Smartlock\/Prolock, Ruveno, Simpled, Borg, and Nuvi. I\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be others I\u2019ve missed, but that should give you some idea. All the above make good locks, but only one makes them with an IP rating of 68, so for that reason, coupled with the fact that I live in the UK, which is very wet and cold at times, I\u2019ve opted to focus on Waferlock\u2019s L701 and C760, both of which are rated at IP68. Before I do so, though, I just want to touch on a couple of related but lateral points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kodak Moment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When digital photography started to become popular Kodak was one of the major players when it came to conventional film products. Instead of embracing this new technology and using its dominance in the traditional market to lead the way and maintain its standing, it didn\u2019t. Now, 30 years down the line it\u2019s a minor player in the digital photography world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, in terms of the lock world, Yale has been THE household name associated with security, however, just like Kodak, instead of leading the way, they’ve dipped their toe into the smart lock world with less than impressive products. Then, faced with calls to improve these products they have not. Consequently, they\u2019ve started to lose their previously enviable reputation, especially in the ever-emerging smart lock arena. Meanwhile, other companies are making headway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Waferlock is one such company that, as mentioned earlier, caught my eye recently. While it has been big in the East for decades, it\u2019s only recently started to make in-roads in the UK\u2019s public marketplace. Founded in 1992, not only do they have a history of innovation behind their durable hardware, but they also have a firm grounding in user-centred software solutions. Their focus for the last three decades has been security systems for offices and hotels but recently, they\u2019ve also ventured into the domestic smart lock market. Waferlock\u2019s latest domestic smart locks come in the form of the L701 and C760 which are both rated at IP68, thus setting them ahead of many far more expensive locks with lower ratings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The L701 is designed to work on most locks that use the push-up handle locking system typically found on many UPVC doors in the UK, while the C760 can replace Euro Cylinder locks often associated with composite doors. For those of us who live in the UK, where the consistent cold and wet winters mean we need durable products, both of these locks are worth considering when it comes to short-listing which smart locks to purchase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For Waferlock the environment isn\u2019t just an issue regarding product durability, it also lies at the heart of their own structural development, recently winning the highest-level LEED certification for their R&D manufacturing centre. The reason I mention this is these things matter to British consumers as there tends to be a fear that manufacturers from the East may not be concerned with quality or their own company\u2019s longevity. On both counts, Waferlock have already proved themselves to be trustworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several doorways into my house, the main one is a composite model with a Euro cylinder lock which when turned moves the lock in or out of the lock position. My other doors also use Euro Cylinders, but with them, I have to push the door handle up which causes the hooks and bolts to take position in the frame. In those types of doors, the Euro cylinder lock simply allows the handle to work or not but has no direct effect on the locking mechanism. The reason this is significant is because when smart locks replace these \u2018handle up\u2019 type locks, they completely negate the need for the Euro cylinder lock. This is because the smart lock\u2019s own mechanism will either allow or prevent the handle from moving the locking mechanism. So, to recap, some doors use Euro cylinder locks to move the hooks and bolts while in others the cylinder lock merely inhibits or allows the handles to work, and in that case, it is the handles which move the hooks and bolts not the Euro Cylinder lock. If that bit confused you, sorry, don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s not essential to understand that right now, I just put it in for those who might be interested as to how the two locks we\u2019re going to look at differ even though they both use Euro cylinder locks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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