Insights and Inspiration from
the World of Access
Door closers usually don't get as much attention as the locks or a handle. However, they're still crucial tools for safety and security. Door closers are inexpensive enhancers of energy efficiency — and they can even stop fires from spreading and save lives.
The security industry has traditionally been a hands-on one, characterized by physical precautions such as security guards and mechanical keys and locks. The image of a guard patrolling a place with a torch in one hand and a ring with many mechanical keys attached to their belts has long been the picture associated with on-site security.
A smart city is an urban settlement that uses technology to solve problems and optimize city life. This idea can come to fruition in two ways: Some cities, such as Singapore or Dubai, are working on becoming "smart cities" via infrastructural updates and investments.
The pharmaceutical industry, which brings new drugs to improve the lives of billions worldwide every year, is a crucial asset to human life and the global economy. Thanks to globalization, technological advancements, and supply chain innovations, the pharmaceutical industry can now serve more people than ever.
Construction remains one of the least digitized industries globally. Construction's limited digitization contributes to ill-informed decisions and inefficient industry processes, accelerating financial and environmental costs
Gone are the days of partitioned offices or work schedules set in stone. It's time for open-space, Flex Office, and coworking. Our working methods are changing irrevocably. These changes ricochet into the commercial real estate market, which has reinvented itself for the past decades.
Dozens of buildings crumpled when a deadly earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017, but its gleaming Torre Reforma survived with just a few cracks. It's often said 'Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do'.
While most of the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) may seem new, the concept has been around for more than 60 years. American computer scientist John McCarthy, known as the "Father of AI," coined the term "artificial intelligence" in the 1950s, leading researchers across the United States to dig into the computer learning for processing equations and theorems.
Access control is what allows premises to choose who is authorized to enter when they are permitted entry, and even which zones they are allowed to visit. Dependent on the number of authorized persons, and the number of zones, there are a wide variety of options available to suit any set of security requirements.
While buildings fulfill the most basic human needs like shelter and security, architecture impacts the emotional state of any person who interacts with it. Whether it's intended or not, a building can provoke a range of emotions such as belonging, awe, fear, or hope.
Despite the growing appetite towards digital and high-tech entrance solutions, mechanical keys and locks remain the most popular market solutions due to their durability and affordability. Especially in residential settings, they're the most ubiquitous entrance methods and continue to record stable growth.
Even though construction remains one of the least digitized industries, the rising adaptation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) shows how easily the right technologies are included in existing processes. From early prototypes in the 1970s to mature models of the 2010s, BIM has experienced a huge development.
The first automobile in history hit the roads on New Year's Eve of 1879. Developed by the German engineer Carl Benz, they sported details like an automatic intake slide, a controlled exhaust valve, and a high-voltage electrical vibrator ignition with a spark plug. However, they lacked an essential element that many modern automobiles have: Car keys.
Architecture is among the most imposing and ubiquitous forms of art. It's impossible to avoid getting in contact with physical structures, which are often designed to appeal to multiple senses. However, despite being surrounded by buildings and living in them, how often do we touch architecture?
In facilities with high people flow such as restaurants, offices, or care homes, a closed door can be a hindrance in daily life. Especially following a hectic schedule, one might not always have a free hand to control a door. Even if they did, especially at a time when hand hygiene is a bigger priority than ever, people might be reluctant to touch a door.
Security and access control came a long way from the wooden sticks used as keys in Ancient Egypt and Babylon some 6,000 years ago. Modern access control systems are no longer just keys and locks, but sophisticated ecosystems with high-tech components that interact with each other.
From retirement homes to shopping centers, facility management during the COVID-19 outbreak has had central importance in managing this public health crisis. There's no doubt that it's an overwhelming and demanding time to execute excellent facility management during the COVID-19 challenge.
"Have you tried turning it off and on again?" suggests the customer service agent in the hit British TV series, The IT Crowd. As the frustrated laptop user struggles to understand the agent over the phone, her issue remains unsolved.