Security managed with the flick of a wrist

When it debuts April 24, the Apple Watch will integrate various apps, including Alarm.com, which shows the status and controls home alarm systems, locks and garage doors.

While this may be no different from using a smartphone app to control security systems, the Apple Watch does have one advantage. It allows for immediate attention and action because the notifications are displayed on the wrist. Users do not have to dig into a purse or pocket to retrieve their smartphone.

"I think the watch itself is more of an extension of the app and there are some cool features like 'Glance' so you can instantly see what's going on in your house," said Jay Kenny, senior vice president of marketing for Alarm.com. "You've got actionable notifications, so if you leave home and forget to arm your system, you get a notification and now that will show up on your watch and you can just hit 'arm' from that notification."

Such ease of use therefore begs the question: In consumer markets at least, can wearables help drive adoption of wireless home security systems? Many home automation and security systems are currently managed by smartphone apps and technologies such as Bluetooth. Should wearables like the Apple Watch take hold of the marketplace? It is not inconceivable that they could soon be the dominant method of interfacing with smart home systems. In residential spaces, cameras and access control systems will need to have a wireless component and the capability to communicate with either home or cloud servers.