Richard Brent

Video is widely embraced as an essential element of physical security systems. However, surveillance footage is often recorded without sound, even though many cameras are capable of capturing audio as well as video. Beyond the capabilities of cameras, there is a range of other audio products on the market that can improve system performance and/or expand capabilities (e.g., gunshot detection.) We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does audio enhance the performance of security and/or video systems? 

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

Tools such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists ensure that every factor is considered when installing a physical security system – or do they? Security system installations are detailed projects, and any overlooked detail is a missed opportunity to make the system better. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most overlooked factor when installing physical security systems?

The new school year is a good time to reflect on the role of security in protecting our schools. From video to access control to some newer technologies, our Expert Panel Roundtable found plenty to talk about when we asked this week’s question: How does security technology make our schools safer?

What is a business, or an industry, but a collection of people and the results of their work? People make all the difference in the destiny of a business or industry. And the people involved in a business reflect the impact of demographic changes – and the passage of time. The security industry has been largely built by Baby Boomers, who are getting older and increasingly stepping aside to make way for younger folks. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Is there a “new generation” of employees and managers entering the physical security marketplace, and what will be the impact?

Technology is changing at a break-neck pace, and the security marketplace is currently being bombarded by a wealth of new capabilities and innovations. But what will be the impact? Which of the currently-hyped new innovations will have a major impact, and which will fade over time? And even acknowledging the long-term significance of various technologies, what can we expect to be the more immediate effect? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new security technology is poised to have the greatest impact in the second half of 2017?

Meeting a customer’s expectations is a key component of success for any business, including the physical security market. However, understanding customers’ expectations is a big challenge, which is made even more difficult because those expectations are a moving target. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How are customer expectations changing in the physical security market? Their wide-ranging answers highlight elements from technology expectations to adaptability to change. 

The minutes are counting down to one of the biggest security industry trade shows of the 2017 calendar. Expectations are high going into ISC West 2017 in Las Vegas: Last year’s show was very well attended and highlighted lots of new technologies. Looking ahead to this year’s show, we wanted to get the Expert Panel Roundtable’s take on what news will dominate the show. So we asked our panel: What do you expect to be the big news at ISC West 2017?

Across the country, law enforcement officers are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to the near overwhelming number of calls coming from security alarms. Police departments commonly define a false alarm as a call, which upon investigation, shows no evidence of criminal activity, such as broken windows, forced doors, items missing, or people injured. While false alarms bog down police, they can also negatively impact customers and integrators. End users can expect hefty fines for false alarm responses, and when these customers receive large bills from the city, many turn to installers, dealers, and even manufacturers expecting them to accept the responsibility and pay the check. What First Brought The Issue Of Alarm Verification To Your Attention? It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight I’ve been aware of the problem of false alarms for about 5 years. I believed audio capture, through microphone deployment, could be an active part of the solution when used as a second source for indicating ‘out of the norm’ activity and as an equal component with the video surveillance technology. In 2015, I found similarly minded security professionals when introduced to the Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response. After reading PPVAR’s paper on ‘Audio Verified Alarms Best Practices; [April 2015],’ I knew that the Partnership was on to something important. In our lives, two of the five senses we count on day-in and day-out are sight and sound. It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight. What Is The False Alarm Rate? In 2016, the International Association of Chiefs of Police reported that over 98 percent of all alarm calls in the United States were false. This number is obviously staggering, and something we need to work towards correcting. Why Did This Issue Resonate So Strongly With You? When I first investigated this issue, I was sure that the security industry would have already recognized this and was acting to ensure improved alarm verification, preferably through a combination of audio and video technologies. However, I quickly saw that this was not the case, or even close to the norm. I have questioned the rationale behind the lack of adoption and found the deployment of audio is often hindered by the concern of privacy. I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio As CEO of Louroe Electronics, I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio. I’ve had to reassure many security personnel and customers how the law supports the use of audio in public places as long as there is no expectation of privacy. By dispelling fears with facts around deploying and implementing audio sensors, customers can confidently include audio in their surveillance systems and gain a more effective security solution. Who Is Affected By This? Truth be told, everyone from the end user to the manufacturer is affected by this issue. Not to mention the strain this puts on law enforcement who are tired of ‘wasting time’ and effort out in the field on these nuisance alerts. When an end user receives a check for their false alarm, many of them will immediately blame the integrator and or the monitoring center for a faulty set up and management and expect the integrator to remedy the situation, including carry the burden of paying the fines. The integrator, on the other hand, will turn to the manufacturer, assuming faulty equipment and installation instructions; therefore, looking for reimbursement for the cost. What Is The Average False Alarm Fee? It depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for responseIt depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for response. According to the Urban Institute, fees generally range from $25-$100 for the first offense, rising as high as a few thousand dollars per false alarm if a location has a large number in a single year. What’s worse, in extreme cases, alarm systems may even be blacklisted by the police dispatch center if they have raised too many false alarms in the past. Why Do You Believe Audio Is The Ideal Technology For Secondary Source Verification? Video surveillance has been the main option for security monitoring and alarm validation for decades, however industry professionals are realising that video alone is not enough. Video only tells half of the story, by adding audio capture, the responsible party gains a turnkey solution with the ability to gather additional evidence to verify alerts and expand overall awareness. In reality, audio’s range is greater than the field of view for a camera. Sound pickup is 360 degrees, capturing voices, gunshots, breaking glass, sirens, or other important details that a fixed camera many not see. How Would A Secondary Source Verification System Work With Audio? Using a video monitoring solution equipped with audio, the microphone will pick up the sounds at the time a visual alert or alarm is triggered. If embedded with classification analytics, the microphone will send alerts for specific detected sounds. The captured audio, and any notifications are immediately sent to the monitoring station, where trained personnel can listen to the sound clip, along with live audio and video from their station. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response From here, an informed decision can then be made about the validity of the alarm, along with what the current threat is at the location. If the alarm is in fact valid, the information is then passed along to the law enforcement within minutes. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response. It also provides more information in a forensic evaluation. Are There Any Additional Resources You Would Suggest Looking Into? Yes, we would suggest looking into the following to see a few different perspectives on the matter: NSA Support For 2018 Model Ordinance For Alarm Management and False Alarm Reduction Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response Support for the Term “Verified Alarm” and Prioritising Verified Alarm Responses Urban Institute Opportunities for Police Cost Savings without Sacrificing Service Quality: Reducing False Alarms

For the security industry, 2017 was a good year, but not a great year. With political changes coming and greater interest in border control, perimeter security and analytic technologies, we have seen an increase in enquiries from both federal, and state law enforcement agencies and municipalities. The Political Security Landscape The series of unexpected, natural and self-inflicted disasters that swept across the United States over the last few months have also created a greater interest in security and life safety. As a result, we have seen more security projects developing in cities and institutions such as education in the U.S. Another impact on our global business is the fluctuation of currency due to economic uncertainties.There is a high demand for security technologies that interoperate with other systems, to form integrated solutions Some countries have benefitted; however, most have the burden of reduced purchase power. Consequently, integrators have had to work harder to ensure projects abroad are fulfilled and completed with great sensitivity to any shifting economics of the security solutions. Interoperability Of Systems In 2018, we continue to see a high demand for security technologies that interoperate with other systems, to form one integrated solution. More federal funding will be allocated for domestic security projects, particularly for cities and critical infrastructure. Commercial and government applications will continue to seek proactive monitoring technologies embedded with artificial intelligence capabilities, and the companies that can provide these analytic technologies will be rewarded. Threat detection analytics, such as aggression detection and facial recognition, will see greater deployment across all verticals. Manufacturers will have to keep investing in their R&D to keep up with the greater demand for state-of-the-art – yet reliable – applied technology. In 2017, we responded to strong interest in audio-monitoring. More industry leaders spoke about the importance of audio in the overall security solution at seminars and conferences. Customers who haven’t thought of audio in the past are now seeking audio solutions for both traditional and non-traditional applications.

Deploying audio solutions would flag incidents not caught on camera With the increasing number of campus shootings and lockdowns, security is a top priority for schools. Decision-makers are looking to repair the inefficient security measures on campuses by either upgrading their current systems or installing state-of-the-art technologies to enhance situational awareness. Traditionally, security personnel have relied on video as the primary method of monitoring. However, this strategy is outdated, similar to how watching silent movies is now obsolete. A security team who solely uses video to evaluate a situation is left with data that is limited and many times inconclusive. Only with the integration of audio into existing security systems is a security officer able to fully understand the gravity of a situation and be better equipped to respond to the danger. Many leaders in the education sector have begun to emphasize the importance of adopting audio in monitoring programs and security protocols including Guy Grace. Grace is an industry veteran with over 31 years of security experience. He is a Steering Committee Director for PASS, the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, as well as the Director of Security & Emergency Preparedness for Littleton Public Schools. “Sound and sight are the new dynamics in school surveillance so to say,” Grace said. “I look at it as we need both.” The security director also affirmed that audio monitoring, especially when conducted through two-way solutions, is a great tool to provide accountability. “All of your first customer service interaction between your office staff and your visitors starts there at that intercom. Sometimes in very rare situations, it can get volatile,” Grace explained. “So it’s good to have, for those types of situations, the ability to hear and record what’s going on at your key customer service points.” Benefits Of Audio On Campus When audio is paired with video, security needs are met and additional evidence is gained. Integrating microphones with cameras gives staff access to more details about a suspect or scene. Voices, names, languages spoken and directives are just a few examples of what information can be aggregated. This additional data is crucial for first responders as they assess the suspect’s intentions and threat level. When audio is paired with video, security needs are met and additional evidence is gained Video cameras are effective surveillance tools, but they are not able to capture everything. A small school may only have a few cameras installed throughout their grounds, creating surveillance blind spots for select buildings or areas. Meanwhile, a large entity, such as the Los Angeles Unified School District, which has over 900 schools, has hundreds of cameras. These cameras cannot be monitored at all times. In both cases, deploying audio solutions would automatically flag incidents not caught on camera, as well as alert central station guards of what surveillance zones need to be closely monitored. Dissuading Young Offenders Beyond detection, audio monitoring creates opportunities for prevention. In a situation where a rowdy teen walks onto school property after hours, a two-way audio unit allows security to speak to an individual remotely in real-time. Having the ability to communicate in real-time can be a powerful warning that dissuades a trespasser from vandalising the property or committing other offences. Conflict Resolution Conflict resolution is another key benefit of audio monitoring. Bullying is one of the most prevalent issues concerning school communities today. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 22 percent of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school. Installing microphones at a school’s key traffic or interaction points provides accountability by documenting what is said, which can then be used to resolve disputes or placate verbally hostile individuals. Audio Analytics For Aggression Detection In addition to audio monitoring equipment, school administrators should also consider deploying audio analytics solutions. Specifically, aggression and gunshot detection are some of the best security tools in the campus security market when it comes to detection, intervention and deterrence. They are the next generation of monitoring; equipping security teams with critical information and enhancing perimeter security. Aggression detectors are capable of accurately recognizing duress in a person’s voice. The software automatically and objectively detects the presence of rising human aggression, anger or fear, and subsequently warns staff by a visual alert or alarm trigger. As a result, end users can identify high-risk situations in real-time and prevent acts of physical aggression before they happen. "Audio analytics solutions are the next generation of monitoring; equipping security teams with critical information and enhancing perimeter security" A gunshot detector recognises firearm discharge from various firearms in different settings. Within seconds of a gunshot, the software accurately classifies and triggers an immediate notification through a designated VMS. Security staff can then verify the alert, effectively reducing the reaction time of first responders. Audio Monitoring: Privacy Best Practices The benefits of integrating audio monitoring and sound detection into a school security solution are clear, but before any administration implements these systems, they need to understand the correlation between monitoring and privacy. The federal law indicates that when there is no expectation of privacy, such as in a public place, monitoring is supported. What school administrations need to focus on as they deploy surveillance solutions, is removing the expectation of privacy. Here are few best practices. Post clearly visible signage stating that audio and video surveillance are taking place on the premises. Typical places for mounting these signs can include school fences, main entrances and the main office. Notify students that the school is under surveillance by stating it in the student code of conduct. This increases awareness and reduces a school’s liability should an individual claim he or she did not see a sign on campus. Remind school staff of the purpose of the monitoring equipment. Reiterate that security personnel will only use audio to investigate and resolve wrongdoings so as to enhance the safety of staff and students. Conclusion Audio monitoring is quickly gaining attention in the education sector. It is a technology that is a cost-effective add-on to an existing system, making it an affordable solution. Moreover, audio yields a high return on investment, and for that reason, we will likely see schools across the country continue to adopt it.

Video is widely embraced as an essential element of physical security systems. However, surveillance footage is often recorded without sound, even though many cameras are capable of capturing audio as well as video. Beyond the capabilities of cameras, there is a range of other audio products on the market that can improve system performance and/or expand capabilities (e.g., gunshot detection.) We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does audio enhance the performance of security and/or video systems? 

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

Tools such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists ensure that every factor is considered when installing a physical security system – or do they? Security system installations are detailed projects, and any overlooked detail is a missed opportunity to make the system better. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most overlooked factor when installing physical security systems?

Louroe Electronics, globally renowned audio monitoring technology solutions firm, celebrated its 40th anniversary in business with a special visit from US Congressman Tony Cárdenas. Representing the 29th district of California for the last six years, Congressman Cárdenas presented a commemorative certificate to the Louroe team and congratulated them for their achievement. Key partners, customers and representatives from the business and security technology communities attended the ceremony. Audio surveillance firm Congratulations to Richard and the entire Louroe team on this great milestone" Louroe was founded by Louis Weiss and his wife Rose in 1979. With a small staff and a garage space serving as an initial office, the company has grown substantially and now occupies a 15,000 square foot facility. When Weiss passed away in 2009, his nephew, Richard Brent, was named a trustee and took over leadership of the company. “Congratulations to Richard and the entire Louroe team on this great milestone and for setting an example for future business leaders and entrepreneurs,” said Congressman Tony Cárdenas. “For 40 years, Louroe has been an integral part of the San Fernando business community. As a former business owner myself, I understand the challenges of running a successful business. I will continue doing all that I can to cut red tape and unnecessary, duplicative regulation that restricts entrepreneurship and progress.” Audio security and safety solutions “I could not be more proud of the Louroe team,” said Louroe CEO Richard Brent. “Without their hard work and dedication, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Together, we have built a company that is known as a trusted partner who provides American made, best-in-class audio security and safety solutions.” Manufactured in Louroe’s Van Nuys headquarters, Louroe’s suite of audio security solutions capture and classify sounds for added situational awareness and intelligence. Louroe’s products are installed in over 60 countries with over 825,000 Verifact microphones in use in the law enforcement, safe city, retail, healthcare and transportation industries. SIA New Product Showcase Award recipient As a company, Louroe has been recognized for its initiatives to further trade and economic growthCharacterized for their high quality, durability and reliability, Louroe’s products have received numerous awards, including the Security Industry Association’s New Product Showcase Award; this award honors innovative solutions at the International Security Conference (ISC) West, which is the largest security conference in the U.S. Under Brent’s leadership, Louroe has taken a more active role in government relations and has participated in several committees, boards and trade missions. As a company, Louroe has been recognized for its initiatives to further trade and economic growth. Most notably, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker presented Louroe with the President’s “E” Award for Exports in 2015, which is the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. In 2019, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross appointed Louroe’s Richard Brent to his 21-member Trade Finance Advisory Council (TFAC).

The Security Industry Association (SIA) announced its 2019 executive committee and welcomed five new members to the SIA Board of Directors at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership meeting, during ISC West 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. New Voting Members At The Advance – held Tuesday, April 9, at the Sands Expo Center – the SIA Board of Directors ratified the selection of five new voting members of the Board of Directors to serve two-year terms from 2019 to 2021: Greg Hill, director, intrusion architecture, Johnson Controls Kim Loy, chief marketing officer, ACRE Jody Ross, vice president, sales, AMAG Technology James Rothstein, senior vice president, global security solutions, Anixter Brian Wiser, regional president, North America, Bosch Security Systems Following the ratification, the SIA Executive Committee for 2019 includes: Chairman: Scott Schafer, SMS Advisors Chairman Elect: Pierre Trapanese, CEO, Northland Control Systems Vice Chairman: Scott Dunn, director, business development, Axis Communications Secretary: Lynn de Séve, president, GSA Schedules. Inc. Treasurer: Richard Brent, CEO, Louroe Electronics Immediate Past Chairman: Denis Hébert, president, Feenics Global Security Industry I look forward to the work we will do together to advance the global security industry and provide top-quality service" “SIA is thrilled to welcome its newest members to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and leverage the insights of this esteemed group of industry leaders,” said Scott Schafer. “I look forward to the work we will do together to advance the global security industry and provide top-quality service to our members.” The SIA Board of Directors is comprised of industry professionals representing a broad spectrum of interests in the security industry. At The Advance 2019, in addition to announcing the new board members and executive committee, SIA presented its annual membership awards – the Milestone Awards, the Chairman’s Award, the Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award, the Committee Chair of the Year Award and the inaugural Member of the Year Award. Attendees also enjoyed networking, lunch and a high-impact presentation from Sal Mani, security systems manager at Google, on the workforce imperative of developing cross-functional skill sets to stay competitive in the security industry.

Louroe Electronics, global provider of audio monitoring technology and solutions in the security industry, has announced a change to its core leadership team. Cameron Javdani, previously the Director of Sales and Marketing, has been named President of Louroe effective July 1, 2019. Audio Security Solutions Firm Javdani is actively involved with trade associations such as the Security Industry Association and sits on the SIA Government Relations Committee Javdani joined Louroe in 2011, after holding marketing positions with AT&T and Target. Throughout his seven-year tenure at Louroe, Javdani has focused on Louroe’s long-term growth, building strategic partnerships with key distributors, integrators, and end users globally. Under Javdani’s leadership and work with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Louroe’s products are now used in more than 60 countries. In 2015, both Javdani and Louroe CEO Richard Brent received the President’s E Award for Export Achievement in recognition of Louroe’s growth in international markets. Javdani is actively involved with trade associations such as the Security Industry Association and sits on the SIA Government Relations Committee. “Louroe Electronics is an exemplary organization to work for, as demonstrated by its best-in-class audio security solutions and more importantly, the incredible people that are the driving force behind the company,” said Cameron Javdani. “I am honored to be named the president of Louroe, and I look forward to working with the entire team to further Louroe’s success.” Audio Analytics And Surveillance Expert “Cameron Javdani is a smart, dynamic leader with deep expertise in business strategy and development,” said Richard Brent. “His appointment as president is another important move to put Louroe on the path toward continued growth and success.”

In the physical security space, video analytics have historically over-promised and under-delivered, often leaving end users sceptical about their capabilities. However, increased integration with security solutions and other business systems, as well as developments in deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI), have given video analytics a significant boost in recent years. Here, we take a look at the key trends putting video analytics in the spotlight, and how this opens up new opportunities for increased security and business intelligence. Deep Learning And AI Will Enhance Video Analytics Capabilities At the start of 2018, our security industry experts commented on how deep learning technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) would extend to the video surveillance industry, allowing security professionals to gain very specific insights into human behaviour. Our experts predicted that this would permit organizations to reduce risk, enable efficiencies, reduce costs, ensure compliance and provide faster access to stored video. With AI-enables video systems, video analytics are set to perform more complex applications at a higher level of accuracy. Image Processing Developments Allow Intelligent Analytics  According to Ambarella’s Chris Day, advancing chip technology combined with the neural network approach to computer vision is game changing for video analytics. Since the problem of higher resolution has already been solved, the key differentior for video surveillance systems will be the ability to add computer vision in parallel with image processing and high-resolution encoding – ideally in a chip that is low-power. Integration With Security Systems Increases Video Analytics Value Video systems produce an immense amount of data that is often wasted, says Bosch Security Systems’ Sean Murphy. When video analytics alerts are integrated with other security systems, video events can trigger responses from other parts of the security solution. For example, cameras with video analytics can initiate intrusion detection system events initiate intrusion detection system events, prompting the panel to take action by alerting the central station or sending video to security personnel.   Video Analytics Add Value With Actionable Business Intelligence Adding network video to the current generation of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provides actional value beyond situational intelligence for security purposes. With increasingly intelligent sensors, interactions between business systems are becoming more sophisticated, providing a value greater than the sum of the parts. Organizations can use smart applications to reduce energy consumption, allocate workspace, and reduce operating costs. In a retail environment, analytics are now capable of assessing a scene for occupancy and crowd control, even generating reports of trends over time. Video Analytics Detect Abnormalities To Predict Incidents Camera-based video analytics can go beyond assessing a current scene to predicting potential risks before they occur, explains Pelco’s Jonathan Lewitt. Based on predetermined factors or analysis of prior events, systems can collect all available information to determine the level of severity of a situation and whether an action needs to be taken. At the same time, systems can correlate data from video and other sources to help analyse similar occurrences in the future. Video Analytics Increasingly Supplemented With Audio Analytics Audio analytics are often overlooked, notes Hanwha Techwin’s Paul Kong, perhaps due to differing privacy laws from video surveillance. However, audio analytics processed in a camera can help provide a secondary layer of verification for events, as well as identifying gunshots, screams, or other sounds indicating an incident is taking place. This makes audio analytics ideal for dealing with active shooter events at schools and campuses. As Louroe Electronics’ Richard Brent explains, audio analytics software can detect rising levels of human aggression, as well as recognising firearm discharge. This can trigger alerts to ensure incidents are dealt with swiftly.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) will recognize Richard Brent, CEO, Louroe Electronics with the prestigious 2017 SIA Chairman’s Award for his work to support leading the SIA International Relations Committee and supporting key government relations initiatives. With his service on the SIA Board of Directors and as Chair of the SIA International Relations Committee, Brent has forged relationships between SIA and agencies like the U.S. Commercial Service. A longtime advocate for government engagement generally and exports specifically, Brent’s efforts resulted in the publication of the SIA Export Assistance Guide last year as a tool to assist SIA member companies exploring export opportunities or expanding their participation in trade. SIA Chairman Denis Hébert will present the SIA Chairman’s award to Brent at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership meeting, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at ISC West.SIA bring together distinct companies to share expertise across vertical markets in a collaborative fashion" Sharing Security Expertise “As the leader of an American manufacturing company, I have seen great business opportunities in foreign sales,” said Brent. “Through SIA, I have been pleased to extend my knowledge and experience to other companies that can benefit from exporting. And that is the power of SIA: To bring together distinct companies to share expertise across vertical markets in a collaborative fashion. I’m pleased to contribute, and I thank the Chairman for his recognition.” “As a member of the SIA Board of Directors, Richard Brent is consistently engaged on a variety of issues of importance to the security industry, particularly related to export assistance programs that will help SIA members to grow their businesses,” said Hébert. “His contributions in all areas of SIA programming have been formidable, but we owe him a particular debt in sharing his experiences in exporting. Thank you for your leadership, Richard.” Hébert will present SIA award recipients, including the SIA Chairman’s Award, SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award and Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award, at The Advance, held during ISC West in Rooms 505/506 of the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, April 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

SourceSecurity.com’s Expert Panel covered a lot of ground in 2017 about a variety of topics resonating in the security market.   The most-read Roundtable discussion in 2017 was about a familiar and ongoing debate: What is an open system? Other hot topics that made the Top-10 list of Roundtable discussions included smartphones, buzzwords, standards and product life cycles. Here is a listing of our Top 10 Expert Panel Roundtable discussions posted in 2017, along with a “sound bite” from each discussion, and links back to the full articles. Thanks to everyone who contributed to Expert Panel Roundtable in 2017 (including the quotable panelists named below). 1. What is an open system? Is there a consensus in the marketplace on the definition of “open?” "Being truly ‘open’ means going above and beyond when designing your product line, keeping in mind the ability for end-users to easily interface your product with other open-platform solutions. That's why offering an open-platform design must be coupled with the ability to provide exceptional support through training, follow-up and innovation as they are brought to market.” [Mitchell Kane] 2. How are smartphones impacting the physical security market? "The security protocols on phones (such as fingerprint readers and encryption) have become some of the strongest available to consumers and are regularly used to access essential services such as banking. With this level of trust and user convenience from mobile device security, it makes sense to produce physical security systems that also take advantage of it." [John Davies] TDSi's John Davies says it makes sense to produce physical security systems that take advantage of trust and user convenience on mobile devices 3. What is the biggest missed opportunity of security systems integration? "Integrators need to be more savvy on how they can meet their customers’ IT and surveillance goals, from both a technology and services perspective. Being knowledgeable about new innovations can help integrators sell infrastructure, keeping that piece of business rather than losing server sales to a customer’s internal IT department. Integrators are tasked with ensuring surveillance customers can benefit from best practices, and solutions proven in the world of IT offer significant benefit." [Brandon Reich] 4. What are the security industry’s newest buzzwords? "End-to-End Security is a buzzword reflecting how cyber threats are increasing and the importance of ‘the security of security systems,’ especially for companies operating in the critical national infrastructure. Convergence has been a ‘hot topic’ for years, but has it really happened? In order to create true end-to-end security solutions, IT and physical security best practices need to be combined." [Arjan Bouter] End-to-End Security is a buzzword reflecting how cyber threats are increasing, says Arjan Bouter 5. What technology will have the greatest impact in the second half of 2017? "Cloud-hosted access control is poised to have the biggest impact in the second half of 2017. Organisations are looking to decentralise IT management and eliminate the need for overhead costs in hardware infrastructure and ongoing maintenance costs. This decentralisation is driving them to migrate their day-to-day systems to the cloud, and access control is no exception." [Melissa Stenger] 6. Are mergers and acquisitions good or bad for the security industry? “On the ‘pro’ side, consolidation is good for pulling together a fractured market, as vendors try to gain market share by acquiring solutions they may not otherwise have in their portfolio. On the ‘con’ side, however, consolidation restricts or limits innovation as the merged vendors strive to develop end-to-end solutions that reduce customer choices" [Reinier Tuinzing] 7. What new standards are needed in the security marketplace? "Do we need that many new standards, or do we need the industry to embrace the standards that are already in place? I believe that current standards like ONVIF and OSDP are sufficient in what they offer the industry. Members of the security industry just need to start thinking outside the box and realise that it is with standards in place that real industry growth can occur." [Per Björkdahl] 8. What will be the big news at ISC West 2017? "Security solutions that capture greater data and utilise analytics to transform the data into useful information, or business intelligence, will be the talk of the industry at ISC West this year. It’s not just about surveillance or access control anymore, but about who can best assess the end user’s interests and deliver an end-to-end solution that provides a value beyond the technology and a service beyond security.” [Richard Brent] When buying cameras, customers are often lured by lower upfront costs, but may end up paying more in the medium- to long-term because of lower quality, says Oncam's Jumbi Edulbehram 9. Why should a customer continue to buy “premium” surveillance cameras? "When buying cameras, customers are often lured by lower upfront costs, but may end up paying more in the medium- to long-term because of lower quality (requiring costly site visits and replacements), susceptibility to cyber-attacks, or lower quality of integrations with video management systems. Customers should certainly be prudent buyers and make sure that they’re paying for actual reliability/features/functionality rather than simply paying a premium for a brand-name product. When functionality and reliability are important, it always makes sense to ‘buy nice, not twice.’ [Jumbi Edulbehram] 10. What is an acceptable life cycle for a physical security system? "The answer to this question clearly depends on the seat you sit in. Manufacturers, integrators, distributors, consultants and engineers all have extremely different perspectives on this question. As a manufacturer, we design systems to have a lifecycle between 5 and 7 years." [Robert Lydic]

Louroe Electronics, a manufacturer of audio surveillance and audio monitoring systems within the security industry, will host a live demonstration of its gunshot and aggression detection technologies for law enforcement and security professionals at DFW Gun Range and Training Center in Dallas, Texas on September 27th. Security executives traveling to Dallas for ASIS 2017, a security trade show that is expected to attract 22,000 attendees between September 25th-28th, will also attend the event. Responding To High-risk Situations During the demonstration, Louroe executives will demonstrate Louroe’s gunshot detector as rounds of ammunition are fired. Afterward, attendees will be given range time to experience the gunshot detection first-hand. There will also be a demonstration of Louroe’s aggression detection solution, which recognises verbal hostility. “Sound detection can make a critical difference when identifying and responding to high-risk situations,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. “We look forward to meeting with the industry’s leading security executives and Dallas law enforcement to discuss how this technology can assist their teams in protecting their schools, hospitals, government facilities and cities.” Integration With Network Security Systems Louroe’s gunshot detector, upon recognition of a firearm, sends an immediate alert to law enforcement. The automatic notification shortens response time in high-risk situations when every second counts. The aggression detector analyses anger, fear and duress in the human voice, and upon identification, and sends an alert to staff. The solution enables law enforcement to intervene before a conflict escalates to physical aggression and acts as a preventative system that is optimal for assault reduction. A key advantage of the gunshot and aggression detectors is that they integrate with existing network security systems, minimizing initial setup and installation costs. Additionally, Louroe’s gunshot and aggression detectors can run simultaneously, empowering security staff to ascertain a greater number of hazards at once and giving them a true multi-threat detection solution.

The AOP530 is a two-way speaker microphone with echo cancellation and full-duplex communication Louroe Electronics, a provider of audio monitoring within the security industry, will introduce next generation advanced audio technology at ISC West 2017 with two new products, the Verifact A USB microphone and AOP530 speaker microphone. Both products boast new features that improve network device integration, installation time and sound clarity. The official release date for the Verifact A USB and AOP530 is April 3, 2017, and both will be showcased at Louroe’s booth, number 8038. Verifact A USB Microphone The all-new Verifact A USB microphone features a USB connection. The architecture enables direct connection to USB hubs or computers, simplifying installation and creating plug-and-play audio for almost any application. The microphone is self-powered from the USB hub, eliminating the need for any external power source, and includes a gain adjustment switch for sensitivity control. Additionally, the microphone incorporates Louroe’s new Smart Tube design that enables a wider frequency response capture for improved analytics performance. AOP530 Two-Way Speaker Microphone The AOP530 is a two-way speaker microphone with echo cancellation and full-duplex communication. The AOP530 connects directly to IP cameras and encoders that support two-way, line level audio. The vandal-resistant housing makes it ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications, and its blue illuminated pushbutton makes it easily identifiable in low-lit areas. Minimal Installation “Our new Verifact A USB and AOP530 products improve audio monitoring while keeping current with 21st century technology,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. “They require minimal installation, increasing the cost-savings. The overall value of the technology for both the integrator and end user is higher given its performance benefits.” Both products are optimal for the law enforcement, commercial, education, banking, and healthcare sectors.

Brent will speak on the conference panel entitled, "A Snapshot into the Evolution of Security Technology" Louroe Electronics, provider of audio monitoring technology in the security industry, is proud to announce that its CEO, Richard Brent, has been selected to present at Securing New Ground (SNG) 2016. SNG, presented by the Security Industry Association (SIA), is the industry's top executive conference and will be held Oct. 19-20 at the Grand Hyatt New York.  Security Technology Panelists Brent will be speaking on the conference panel entitled, "A Snapshot into the Evolution of Security Technology" on Wednesday, October 19. Joining him on the panel will be Pierre Racz, president of Genetec, Martin Huddart, division president of access and egress hardware at ASSA ABLOY, and Tim Purpura, group publisher and vice president of United Publications Inc. Together, they will discuss the challenges manufacturers, developers and security practitioners face in a market where commoditisation, competition and risk constantly redefine security technology. "I am honored to be given the opportunity to address the stakeholders in the industry that attend Securing New Ground 2016," said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. Brent will also be a featured presenter on SIA's Oct. 4 webinar called, "The Evolution of Security Technology." The webcast will preview some of the topics that Brent, Racz and Huddart will discuss on their panel at SNG.

Audio has been slower to catch on in the security market because of lingering concerns about privacy laws related to audio surveillance. But audio analytics capabilities are increasing right alongside the more commonly used video analytics. Integrators who ignore audio are missing an opportunity to create better systems.  Privacy is generally not a concern. U.S. law is clear that audio monitoring is legal as long as there is no expectation of privacy among those being monitored. Public signs must be posted to provide clear indication that audio communication is being monitored. Missed Opportunity For Smaller Integrators Audio has especially not yet been embraced by integrators that typically do residential and light industrial type applications, says Richard Brent, CEO of audio monitoring provider Louroe Electronics. Larger integrators doing bigger jobs are more likely to incorporate audio into the mix. For the smaller integrators, especially, it’s a missed opportunity. “More integrators today are offering audio as a component, and more and more end users will say that video alone isn’t giving me all the answers,” says Brent. “It continues to grow.” Video without audio is like living in a silent movie, according to Louroe. In many instances, the sound element can make all the difference and identify a threat before it’s too late. Audio monitoring also helps combat false alarms by providing secondary verification in case of an emergency, robbery, security threat or other intrusion. Audio monitoring also helps combat false alarms byproviding secondaryverification in case of anemergency, robbery, security threat or other intrusion Louroe Electronics works closely with customers to ensure their audio products are used overtly and in compliance with the law. International laws vary greatly in terms of permitted applications of audio; in any case, legal concerns should be addressed by an attorney. Louroe has been in the audio monitoring business for more than 38 years; some 800,000 of its Verifact microphones are installed all over the world. For the last year and a half, Louroe has partnered with Dutch company Sound Intelligence to bring the LE-802 Intelligent Audio Analytics System to market, in effect analysing sound and turning it into useful information. Threat Assessment System The LE-802, which will be exhibited at ASIS 2016 in Orlando, combines four different types of audio analytics, running simultaneously, into a “threat assessment” system that provides alerts of a dangerous situation, sometimes before it becomes deadly, says Brent. The audio analytics can detect gunshots, aggression, glass breaking and a car alarm. Audio software analyzes factors such as volume, duration, frequencies and intensity, and the resulting sound profiles are associated with various events, whether a gunshot or glass breaking. The system’s ability to detect aggression is based on contrasting the sound of someone suddenly yelling with typical ambient sounds. The software identifies fear, anger and duress and immediately notifies security staff so they can intervene before a conflict escalates. Brent estimates that 90 percent of physical aggressions are preceded by verbal aggression. Gunshot detection is anespecially useful tool in theeducation market, given thatthere have been 191 U.S. school shootings since 2013 Vertical Markets For Audio Analytics Applications of intelligent audio analytics cut across multiple vertical markets. In education, audio analytics could detect an escalating conflict between students. In a hospital, it could provide an alarm in case of a disruptive patient. It could identify when a bar patron has had too much to drink and becomes belligerent. It could be useful in a factory, or at a postal facility, or in a check-cashing facility – anywhere that aggressive behavior could be a precursor to violence. Audio analytics can integrate directly with video cameras and/or video management systems (VMSs). Gunshot detection is an especially useful tool in the education market, given that there have been 191 U.S. school shootings since 2013, or about one per week since Sandy Hook. Gunshot detection has also found a lot of interest in Safe Cities applications. Based on an audio analytics alarm, nearby cameras could be triggered to capture video as a situation unfolds. Two-way audio integrated with a nearby speaker could communicate with an aggressive individual and let them know that authorities have been notified. Security staff could remotely interact with suspicious persons in real time, rather than needing to send a guard physically to an area. Audio is also finding a role in the broader market of building management, where a large building systems integrator might use audio as a component to monitor the sounds of an HVAC system, or machinery in an oil-and-gas application. “There are so many ways that audio gets used to complement our visual experiences,” says Brent.

In addition to the technology demo, Louroe’s presentation will highlight its Gunshot Detector’s ease-of-use Louroe Electronics, a provider of audio monitoring, announced today that it will host a live demonstration of its gunshot detection technology for school district officials, law enforcement agencies and other top institutions at the Colonial Shooting Academy in Richmond, Va, on June 23, 2016. Public Safety TechnologiesOver 100 end users and decision makers from many different organizations are expected to attend the event including, Henrico County Schools, Virginia Commonwealth University, Chesterfield County Police Department, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and CarMax. The gathering will be an opportunity for end users to learn about the latest public safety technologies like audio analytics that can enhance their security solution. Gunshot Detector Best Practices and IntegrationIn addition to the technology demo, Louroe’s presentation will highlight its Gunshot Detector’s ease-of-use, as well as best practices on how to integrate the product into an existing security system.“Security is top-of-mind for our nation right now,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. “We want to do all that we can to make sure our schools and law enforcement are equipped with the tools that can detect, deter and prevent incidents.”

The Gunshot Detector integrates Louroe’s microphones, select cameras and leading VMS Louroe Electronics, the world leader in audio monitoring within the security industry, in partnership with audio classification developer Sound Intelligence, announced today the launch of its new Gunshot Detector. This is the second solution to be added to Louroe’s advanced audio analytic suite. The Gunshot Detector integrates Louroe’s microphones, select cameras and leading video management software (VMS). The solution has an excellent detection range, recognizing gun discharge up to 3,000 feet away in quiet environments, and accurately analyses gunshots from a variety of weapons including handguns, shotguns, rifles and automatic rifles. Showcasing At ASIS 2015 The key value of the software is that it gives staff an early warning sign in high-risk situations. Within seconds of a gunshot discharge, the Gunshot Detector identifies it and triggers an immediate notification to police or first responders, reducing reaction time for security personnel. Louroe will be exhibiting the Gunshot Detector, along with its entire audio analytic suite, at ASIS 2015, booth number 2031. “We have been eager to tap into analytic technology and incorporate it into our audio solutions,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. “We are thrilled to be introducing the Gunshot Detector, which is our second major software product to be released in 2015.” Today, the audio manufacturer’s portfolio of analytic software includes Aggression, Gunshot, Glass Break and Car Alarm.

Brent brings deep experience in security and government relations to SIA Government Summit planning committee Richard Brent, Louroe Electronics CEO and recently elected member to the Security Industry Association's (SIA) Board of Directors, is chairing the 2015 SIA Government Summit, taking place in Washington, D.C. from June 8-10, 2015. Over the last several months, Brent has overseen the SIA Government Summit Planning Committee and has worked tirelessly with SIA staff to ensure this year’s conference would be on of SIA’s best. “We are truly looking forward to this year’s Government Summit, which is expected to have record-breaking attendance,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. “To see change and growth in our industry, it is vital that security leaders learn from and develop great relationships with policy makers. I’m so appreciative of SIA for providing an opportunity for us to do that this week and for giving me the opportunity to spearhead the planning for this conference.” Brent’s Experience In Security & Government Relations Brent brings deep experience in security and government relations to the SIA Government Summit Planning Committee. He has led Louroe Electronics, world leader in audio monitoring technologies within the security industry, for the past six years. During that time, Louroe Electronics has grown to export its durable audio solutions to more than 50 countries and today has more than 800,000 signature Verifact® microphones in use. Before joining Louroe Electronics, Brent worked for Solar Turbines, A Caterpillar Company, in which he spent 12 years as director of government affairs based in Washington, D.C. influencing multiple energy policies. The SIA Government Summit brings together all facets of the security industry: executives, integrators, sales and marketing, and government relations professionals. Panels are geared towards doing business with government and gaining a better understanding of the trends facing the industry, and the event provides one-on-one networking time with government and private sector insiders. The Fourth Annual U.S. Mexico CEO Dialogue Louroe Electronics CEO Richard Brent has been invited to attend the fourth annual U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue in Washington, D.C. from June 10-11, 2015. The U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue is a mechanism for working toward the goals of increased economic participation between the United States and Mexico that Presidents Barack Obama and Enrique Peña Nieto set when they announced the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue. The June seminar, which will be the third U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue meeting that Brent has joined, will bring together business leaders to discuss how the two countries can work together to strengthen North American ties– particularly in the areas of trade, energy independence and energy competitiveness. The forum will discuss initiatives designed to improve border efficiency while maintaining border security. Government officials including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will also address the Dialogue on key issues in their fields of expertise. At the end of the meeting and after the group has agreed on a list of core recommendations, the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue leadership will present these ideas to the public.

Richard Brent’s nomination was ratified at the Advance meeting during ISC West 2015 Louroe Electronics, the world leader in audio monitoring within the security industry, is pleased to announce that CEO Richard Brent, has been elected to the Security Industry Association’s (SIA) Board of Directors. Brent brings a wealth of knowledge in audio security and over a decade of experience in government affairs to SIA’s leadership. As a board member, his responsibilities will include voting on key initiatives for the security industry. His two-year term begins on Apr. 14, 2015. SIA’s Board Of Directors “The security industry would not be what it is today without the guidance, leadership and resources provided by SIA,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. “SIA is a remarkable organization that truly affects change and legislation to benefit the entire industry. I am honored to serve as one of SIA’s Board of Directors and look forward to working toward growth and development in emerging security sectors like audio monitoring.” “Richard’s passion for the success of the electronic physical security industry is infectious. He is also keenly aware of the major trends within the industry and the challenges and opportunities facing SIA members,” said Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association. “His insights into our dynamic and ever-changing industry will undoubtedly strengthen SIA’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of our members and help the industry to grow.” Ratification At ISC West 2015 The SIA Nominations committee submitted Brent for consideration in February 2015. His nomination was later ratified at The Advance meeting during the 2015 International Security Conference & Expo (ISC West) in Las Vegas.

Louroe announces Aggression Detector software using advanced audio analytics with Sound Intelligence Louroe Electronics, the world leader in audio monitoring within the security industry announces Aggression Detector software using advanced audio analytics with Sound Intelligence, an audio classification software developer based in the Netherlands. Over the next several months, Louroe will introduce two additional products with analytic capability: a Gunshot Detector and a Glass Break Detector. Advanced Audio Analytics: Together, Louroe and Sound Intelligence will deliver the most sophisticated audio solutions on the market. The Aggression Detector integrates Louroe’s microphones, select Axis IP cameras, and leading video management software. Similar to how the human ear processes audio, the program analyses noises through advanced algorithms and detects specific sounds such as verbal aggression. As a result, end users can identify high-risk situations in real-time and prevent acts of physical aggression before they happen. The software is simple to install, easy to configure, and currently compatible with select Axis IP cameras. Louroe and Sound Intelligence will showcase the advanced audio security system at ISC West in booth number 8038. The companies will be working jointly on advancing the value and technology of software and hardware products through a technology development program. “For the past 36 years Louroe has been manufacturing sophisticated hardware within the security industry. Introducing software to our lineup of products strengthens Louroe’s presence in the industry for years to come,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics. “We are excited to bring analytics to our microphones and in turn introduce a smarter, sound solution to the security marketplace. “We are so proud of the innovation and deep impact our technology has had on the audio sector. A number of popular microphones have been qualified by SI to provide the level of audio quality required to optimize the result of the SI audio algorithms such as detection of aggression.” said Daan van Kootwijk, Managing Director of Sound Intelligence. “We are thrilled to partner with industry leader, Louroe Electronics.”

John Stroia, SIA chairman of the board of directors will present Brent with the award at ‘The Advance’ Louroe Electronics, world leader in audio monitoring within the security industry, is proud to announce that its CEO, Richard Brent, has been named the 2014 Security Industry Association (SIA) Committee Chair of the Year. SIA is honoring Brent for his extraordinary work as the chair of the SIA Government Summit Planning Committee. "To be named SIA 2014 Committee Chairman of the Year is a genuine honor. The commitment of the SIA Members and Staff to make a difference for our industry association is top shelf,” said Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics and SIA honoree. “To be selected for this award is incredible because it recognises my commitment to the continuing relationship with SIA and our combined mission to strengthen the security industry. Thank you." John Stroia, SIA chairman of the board of directors, will present Brent with the SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award at The Advance– SIA’s annual meeting at ISC West. All SIA members and other SIA award recipients can attend the program, which will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., on Tuesday, April 14 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

The Advance will include awards for distinguished SIA Members in recognition of their accomplishments For the first time this year, the Security Industry Association (SIA) will hold its annual meeting The Advance at ISC West, produced by ISC Events in Las Vegas. On Tuesday, April 14, the program for The Advance will include awards for distinguished SIA Members in recognition of their accomplishments in the previous year, announced V. John Stroia, SIA chairman of the board. For 2014, SIA has identified two key honorees: Scott Schafer, executive vice president of Arecont Vision, 2014 Chairman’s Award for his championing of SIA Membership recruitment and SIA promotion efforts Richard Brent, CEO of Louroe Electronics, 2014 Committee Chair of the Year Award for his extraordinary work as the chair of the SIA Government Summit PRicharlanning Committee Of the Chairman’s Award, Schafer said, “It is rewarding to be able to contribute to the growth of the security industry with the SIA Board of Directors and the employees of the association. The Security Industry Association delivers important value to our members every day. The Membership Team at SIA has done an excellent job of describing how security companies benefit from membership and how they can contribute to the association. It has been great to see so many new members take advantage of what SIA can deliver to their companies.” Of the Committee Chair of the Year Award, Brent said, “To be named SIA 2014 Committee Chairman of the Year is a genuine honor. The commitment of the SIA Members and Staff to make a difference for our industry association is top shelf. To be selected for this award is incredible because it recognises my commitment to the continuing relationship with SIA and our combined mission to strengthen the security industry. Thank you.” Stroia will present recipients with the SIA Chairman’s Award and SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award, along with SIA Volunteer of the Year Awards (to be announced in a separate statement), at The Advance, held during ISC West at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., on Tuesday, April 14. Honorees and all SIA Members are welcome to gather for the program from 10:30-11:30 a.m., followed by a free buffet lunch, where members and honorees can network with each other and the SIA Board. The Advance is co-located with ISC West, and individuals can register to attend the ISC West exhibit hall, which opens April 15-17.