While almost every other piece of the consumer electronics business has gotten wired and then wireless over the last 10 years, home security systems have remained stubbornly low-tech.

"The security industry is looking toward high-tech," said Tricia Parks, chief executive of Dallas-based research firm Parks Associates.

Parks Associates found in a report earlier this year that the percentage of U.S. households with security monitoring has declined from nearly 19 percent in 2007 to 17.5 percent now.

"One of the things that slows down a retail purchase is a sense of incompetence on the part of the retail consumer, saying 'Oh my gosh, can I put this in myself?' " Parks said.

In the Parks report, 21 percent of security dealers said they "certainly will" start offering Internet-connected home security products this year.

From the article, "Home security is going high-tech to counter housing bust" by Victor Godinez

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