From the first evidence of locks and keys in ancient Egypt
through the various improvements over the ages, the metal key has certainly stood
the test of time but is its reign coming to an end? Around 80% of vehicles now use a keyless fob,
card or keyless ignition and hotels ditched the humble key years ago so what
does the future hold for homeowners, car owners and the people who provide the
emergency locksmith services when one of these keys goes missing or gets broken?
As long as there are doors, we will need ways to secure
them. Perhaps the metal key will be superseded
by more modern devices but with this sidestep from what has so long been the
norm is sure to come a lot of teething troubles.
Take for instance car theft.
There has been a lot of press recently about keyless ignition cars being
targeted for theft – with the revelation that it is possible to copy the
ignition codes using devices bought on the internet. With this new type of key ‘replacement’ it
seems the vehicle is less secure than if it featured a traditional metal lock
and key. Though this would not sit well
aesthetically with a new gadget-filled car, would it at least offer more
security and peace of mind for the car owner?
Some are saying that the next step would be an app on a
mobile phone that can unlock your vehicle, thus eliminating the need to carry a
separate keycard or fob and ensuring as long as you have your phone with you
(which most people always do) you can lock and unlock your vehicle. How this will meet with the consumer’s
approval has yet to be decided. There is already a great deal of distrust in
smartphone payment apps that simply allow you to swipe your phone and make a payment
and perhaps this same scepticism will tinge the arrival of the key app.
Whatever happens with keys one thing is for certain. Locksmiths will be advancing their own
services. Already accustomed to dealing
with many different kinds of locks and keys – for residential and commercial
premises, cars and other vehicles – locksmiths are used to developing their
services to meet the needs of the modern vehicle and property owner. Many auto locksmiths, for instance will be familiar
with transponder keys and will have the necessary equipment to access the Pin
numbers needed for replacement car key programming.
So what is next for the humble lock and key?
Some schools and hospitals use biometric cards which can be
swiped across wall mounted devices for safe and easy access to various parts of
the building, however it will be a long time before any of this technology is
rolled out at a domestic level, if at all.
The key is safe for now as there are still so many different doors and
windows that we need to lock and unlock every day and if we feel safer using a
metal lock and key, it only signals that this age old pairing will be around
for a long time to come.
If you want to find out more why not visit Advanced Locksmiths who offer auto locksmith services in Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex.
