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Security geeks: Web-based home security products are catching on, but until the cable companies start mass-marketing monitoring services over the Web, only the most tech-savvy builders will care.

Article Excerpt
ONE DAY, COMPUTER GEEKS WILL rule home security. For the past few years, home security hardware companies have released Web-based products that let homeowners turn the security system on and off, view a photo taken by a security camera, and turn the lights on and off. Some of the products also offer details on the daily status of a homeowner's basement, medicine cabinet, hunting closet, liquor cabinet, and jewelry boxes.

GE has a partnership with Alarm.com, a Web-based service that offers home-monitoring and data services via wireless connections from the home. Home Automation Inc. (HAI) offers WebLink, a Web-based remote-access feature, with its integrated home automation and security system. And Honeywell has its Symphony-i touch pads that let homeowners access sports scores, business news highlights, and short e-mail headers over the security system. Honeywell is also planning to add a feature that will let homeowners view security cameras over the Web. Video images will be viewable at home on Symphony-i, on a local PC, and remotely via Honeywell's AlarmNet monitoring service through a personal computer over the Web.

Access to this level of information puts homeowners in an unprecedented position, one that enables them to self-manage home security and potentially cut down on false alarms, a development that would please many local police departments.

But is self-management desirable?

What should builders tell prospective home buyers looking for guidance? Only use the Internet-based tools that let homeowners self-monitor? Or should builders offer Web-based...