When securing your property, there are various avenues that you can go down. This depends on what it is that you are trying to secure and what your budget may be. In this article, we are going to look at Digital Locks and why you should consider them.
A Brief History of Digital Locks
The digital lock is also known as the electronic lock or the electric lock, sometimes abbreviated to an e-lock. What characterises an electric lock, is the use of electric current as the main means of the locking mechanism the locking device exhibits. The first electronic lock invented is considered to be a mechanical card lock that was invented by Tor Sornes in 1976; a Norwegian engineer, author and politician. He invented this mechanical card lock while working for VingCard.
Since then, the digital lock has developed into various different styles of locks that use electro-magnetism as their locking mechanism.
The Electromagnetic Digital Lock
Almost all electronic locks make use of magnets, motors or solenoids to operate the locking mechanism. This is achieved by these systems either denying or supplying electric current to the locking mechanism.
The electro-magnetic lock is a type of lock that uses magnets. This type of lock can also be called the mag-lock or the magnetic lock and is considered to be the most basic of electronic locking systems. In this system, large magnets are used in both the door chassis and the wall or door frame. The lock operates by the supply of electricity to the magnets, causing them to become magnetic and form an electro-magnetic field. This electro-magnetic field is what causes the mechanism in the lock to seal shut.
Application and Authentication Systems of Digital Locks
This type of lock is usually accompanied by some kind of authentication method. By far the most common type of electronic magnet lock contains a keypad as its authentication method. By typing in the authentication passcode or passphrase, it will cut the power to the door and the magnet; allowing the door to open if the code is correct. There are other methods of authentication systems such as security tokens. Security tokens require you to swipe or scan the token across a reader, that will then authenticate the user’s entry. These security tokens are usually some kind of smart card, however some security token systems use Infrared, Bluetooth or N.F.C data transfer methods utilising a smart phone.
Other forms of authentication systems are more high-end. An RFID chip – standing for radio frequency identification – is one such high end authentication method. These chips are usually installed inside a key ring or a product but can even be implanted inside the human body. They work in a similar fashion to smart cards and can be swiped for entry. With the invention of biometrics, digital biometric locks are considered to be some of the most high end products on the commercial market at the moment. These kinds of locks make use of retina scanning, fingerprint recognition and voice print identification as their authentication systems; for the corporations and organisations that need that level of security.
Digital locks have various applications. The most common application is by far the security door, for access to restricted areas on a property. As digital locks can be mounted to both doors and walls, they make excellent locks for storage rooms or admin offices; to keep personal information safe. The most common places digital locks are used tend to be places like hospitals or schools, however personal use of digital locks are also common.
An electronic locking system can also be found in some car models. With the invention of the electronic lock, remote locks for access to personal vehicles has become almost a standard feature in most modern cars.
Benefits of Digital Locks
Digital locks have various benefits over conventional locks. The simplest type of digital lock, featuring a keypad, has numerous advantages over a lock and key.
The keypad styled digital lock has the advantages of: easy instalment on doors, operate in a self contained system, ideal for individuals who need fairly cheap electronic locking solutions, require no added hardware, they can be re-programmed at any time by the person who installed it and knows the codes, they are robust for external use, can be installed on various types of door from timber to UPVC doors and they eliminate the need for keys among other things.
Digital locks allow for easy use with children. If you are a home owner and are in need of locks that you children can use, a keypad digital lock may be the smart option. Going digital will allow you children safe entry to and from their home without the fear of them getting and potentially losing a key. Almost needless to say, these locks also provide you with keyless entry. This eliminates any attempts to pick the lock by would be thieves. While traditional locks require a locksmith to change the lock, this is a worry of the past with digital locks. The locks themselves can easily be changed by the home owner with no technical skills required.
To conclude, digital locks are an alternative to the traditional lock and key. Digital locking solutions can range from simple keypad combination digital locks to some of the more high end locks. No matter what your need, if you are a corporation or an individual, digital locks can provide a higher level of security for your life. For companies, it can help control employee access to certain areas of a building and for individuals, it can eliminate that need to carry a key around with you all day.