The monitor has a sleek minimalist design with the clean straight edges that now characterise the entire Comelit offering. Focus is on ease of use with the product being unobtrusive and able to blend into any architectural style at apartment complexes. The unit boasts a high acoustic fidelity microphone and speaker while unrivalled brightness and contrast control can assist users in poor lighting conditions.

The Icona door entry monitor has advanced functionality but the ‘Sensitive Touch’ interface is kept simple with the two main buttons – audio-in and lock release – always displayed on white backlit keys.

If required, secondary programme icons are revealed intuitively by finger movement across the screen. Successive levels give extra functions such as sound in/out volume, ringtone melody and volume, display contrast and brightness as well as privacy function. A valuable feature for users in sheltered housing or comparable environments is a setting where the resident can opt temporarily to allow a health worker or similar visitors to grant themselves access automatically without interaction at the monitor.

The main body of the unit is constructed of scratch-resistant polycarbonate with a matt brushed metal finish on the edges. The concave extremities optimise the performance of the hands-free full-duplex audio. The Icona underlines Comelit’s mission to combine minimal visual clutter with maximum functions.

Installers working in various environments will appreciate that the Icona is available in flush-mounted, surface-mounted and desk-based versions. Two eight-position DIP switches allow user code and button programming. A riser distribution terminal model is available.

Integrators use the Simplebus TOP System model with Comelit’s own 2-wire Simplebus wiring. The VIP System model can be used with Power Over Ethernet (PoE). Both options enable rapid problem-free installation. The IP-based VIP System allows additional functions, such as video memory function with an absent message, alarm and panic inputs and a micro SD slot.

Francesca Boeris, Sales Director, Comelit UK, said: “Like every Comelit product, the Icona has been built from the ground up in Italy and is set to be a design classic. We’ve created a sleek product that will set a trend that others will follow. The finger swipe approach and capacitive keyboard are big innovations. This will prove a game-changer in residential access control.”

Francesca continued: The Icona focuses on primary control functions with extra options available if needed. We’ve done field trials at residential blocks and apartment complexes with a variety of users. The Icona will be available for high-end and more modest homes at an affordable price. We’ll be demonstrating the Icona at Ifsec.”