ESA Certified Alarm Technician Practice Exam

What feature allows the operator to listen to the alarm site and communicate with the occupant?

1. Two way voice

2. Remote control

3. Intercom system

4. Surveillance

The correct answer is: Two way voice

The feature that allows the operator to listen to the alarm site and communicate with the occupant is two-way voice. This technology enables a direct audio interaction between the monitoring station and the location where the alarm has been triggered. When an alarm goes off, the operator can not only hear what is happening at the site but can also talk to the occupants, providing instruction or assurance depending on the situation. This two-way voice functionality is particularly valuable in emergency scenarios, as it allows for real-time communication, which can help in assessing the situation more effectively than mere monitoring. It enhances the ability of security personnel to respond appropriately, potentially preventing false alarms or providing immediate assistance to the occupants. While options like remote control, intercom systems, and surveillance relate to security measures, they do not encompass the interactive communication feature that two-way voice provides. Remote control is typically about managing systems from a distance, intercom systems usually operate within a localized area without the monitoring aspect, and surveillance focuses on visual monitoring rather than audio communication. Thus, two-way voice is the defining feature that distinguishes the correct answer.