What significant improvement did George Milliken's patent bring to burglar alarm systems?

George Milliken's patent made a notable contribution to burglar alarm systems by introducing the first zoned alarm system. This innovation allowed alarms to be divided into separate zones, which increased the overall effectiveness of security systems. With zoned alarms, an operator could pinpoint the exact location of the intrusion, providing a more precise response to security breaches. This added level of detail helped both security personnel and homeowners respond appropriately to threats, offering a significant advancement over previous alarm systems which may not have had the capacity to identify specific areas of alarm activation. This innovation fundamentally changed how alarm systems were designed and implemented, focusing on an organized response framework rather than a general alert.