Artificial intelligence (AI)

Johnson Controls announced that it has combined its Tyco Access Control and Video Solutions businesses into a single operational unit to more closely align the two disciplines and optimize future technology developments for cyber resiliency, business efficiency and intelligence. The combination of the two units will enable strategic organizational focus on four key technology pillars: cybersecurity, cloud solutions, unification and automation, areas identified as critical for an organization’s security and business operations. Addressing Customers’ Security Challenges The growing demands on security as a critical organizational business function is driving our strategic focus on these core areas"The global realignment of teams in engineering, product management and customer support will provide Tyco Access Control and Video Solutions with a more holistic picture of how best to address customers’ new security and operational challenges while optimizing and expanding on these core pillars throughout the Tyco portfolio. “The growing demands on security as a critical organizational business function is driving our strategic focus on these core areas, enabling us to provide customers with a scalable, secure and intelligent ‘single pane of glass’ approach to system management,” said Eli Gorovici, general manager, Tyco Access Control and Video Solutions for Global Security Products. “Leveraging our leadership positions in cybersecurity, cloud solutions, unification and automation will allow us to continue to innovate and provide to the market solutions that offer the highest levels of efficiency, functionality and ease of use.” Actionable Intelligence For Businesses The Tyco Access Control and Video Solutions unit will focus on growth in areas such as cloud platforms and AI-based automation toolsThe new Tyco Access Control and Video Solutions unit will focus on growth in key technology areas, such as cloud platforms and AI-based automation tools via the company’s investment in Deep Learning technology. This will allow organizations to better utilize resources and produce actionable intelligence for their businesses. Johnson Controls and its Tyco security solutions are also supported by a dedicated Global Product Security Team charged with creating and maintaining cyber resiliency in the Tyco technology portfolio throughout a product’s lifecycle. Within the Tyco brand family exist deep, native integrations between various management platforms and devices, including products that unify access control and video operations, such as the Victor Unified Management System, the Kantech INTEVO Integrated Security Platform and the Tyco Complete Security Solution.

Dahua Technology, a video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, showcases a wide range of competitive product portfolios and smart solutions to top security professionals during the International Security Conference and Expo (ISC West) at booth #14039 from April 10th to 12th. Dahua will also celebrate the fifth anniversary of its USA subsidiary on Wednesday evening, showing strong commitment to the local markets. Running with the theme ‘Empowering through Technology’, the Dahua products and technologies exhibited during ISC West are comprehensive from every aspect covering major surveillance market demands with the most advanced technologies. Competitive Product Portfolios Facial Recognition - Dahua Facial Recognition technology integrates face recognition, blacklist alarm, stranger alarm, VIP recognition, face tracking, face search, metadata search and other functions to offer a series of smart products including the exhibited AI Smart Capture Camera, 4MP Starlight Face Recognition IR Dome AI Network Camera and IVSS series for various scenarios and customer demands. Low - light Technology - Featuring advanced Starlight technology, Dahua starlight+ products are able to provide excellent colorful image and rich details even at night, solving the problem of poor color reproduction of images under low illumination environment with image color reproduction, large aperture, ultra-high sensor, white light and other technologies. Dahua Smart Thermal Series Cameras can be widely used for security monitoring, fire prevention and temperature measurementThermal Technology - Through a new integration of visible-light and thermal-light and a variety of AI-enabled intelligent functions, Dahua Smart Thermal Series Cameras can be widely used for security monitoring, fire prevention and temperature measurement. Combined with the back-end storage NVR and DSS PRO, Dahua Technology can provide an all-in-one system with front-ends, storages, and intelligent analytics to meet the requirements of customers. Smart Tracking - Dahua radar system consists of radar and speed dome camera (PTZ). On the basis of traditional CCTV security system, it combines the accurate target tracking performance of the radar products to provide a complete solution with front-end data acquisition, edge computing and back-end storage for a wide range of applications such as prison perimeter, airport runway, industrial park, energy pipeline and other important protection areas. Wide Area Security - The Dahua Multi-sensor Series Cameras can be used for large scene monitoring, target tracking, simple management and multi-service convergence. The Dahua 4x2MP Multi-sensor Cameras possess ground-breaking flexibility that can simultaneously move each sensor module around the internal track for a 180-, 270-, or 360-degree panorama, minimizing blind spots for an improved situational awareness, which is ideal for parking lots, supermarkets and intersections, etc. HDCVI 5.0 - The recently launched Dahua HDCVI 5.0 brings five core values: Perimeter Protection, Face Recognition, Metadata Search, Active Deterrence and Starlight & Full Color. Perimeter protection can identify humans and vehicles while filtering less important objects, face recognition let authorized persons to pass freely and can do immediate action to strangers, with the latest AI technology we make video surveillance more efficient and easy to use. AI-enabled Intelligent Solutions Featuring the above technologies, Dahua Technology also presented integrated solutions for a variety of vertical markets at the Expo. Intelligent Retail Solution - Dahua Smart Retail Solution applies video intelligence technology to specific retail business scenarios. According to the scenarios of large chain supermarkets, we have developed five smart application scenarios including smart entrance and exit, shelf advertising, cashier loss prevention, operation analysis and remote shop patrol to help retailers optimize store layout and product display, improve storage efficiency as well as attract traffic flow. Intelligent Logistics Solution - Dahua Intelligent Logistics Solution takes Dahua video technology as the cornerstone, combine intelligent analysis technology, machine vision technology, big data technology, etc. to further divide into five sub-solutions including machine vision DWS solution, video tracking solution, vehicle entrance solution, park surveillance solution and logistics vehicle solution for different application scenarios. Intelligent Residential Solution - Dahua Intelligent Residential Solution provides an integrated and economic solution with multi-level protection including personal entrance, vehicle entrance, public area, unit security, home protection and control center to make people’s life more convenient, safer and smarter while improving operation efficient and saving energy for property owners. Intelligent Critical Infrastructure Solution - Dahua Intelligent Critical Infrastructure Solution offers an end-to-end solution featuring perimeter protection, thermal measurement, access control, video surveillance and auto-tracking system for electric power stations, oil and gas industries to ensure the safety of their daily operations, timely detection of terrorist threats and fire, quickly and easily viewing station status. Intelligent Education Solution - Dahua Intelligent Education Solution brings a new concept of pre-warning for campus administrators. The solution incorporates important scenario applications empowered by AI technology such as perimeter, entrance, public area, building and classroom to realize threat prediction, effective management of people and vehicles, establishing a secured and smart system for students and teachers while improving operation efficiency. Reliable security solutions Dahua Technology empowers our dealers and integrators to stay at the top of their field by providing the latest security solutions to their end-users" Empowering signifies Dahua Technology’s dedication to promoting customer satisfaction and partner development. While market demands are constantly evolving, Dahua Technology’s offering is also evolving to meet current and future needs, giving partners and end-users the assurance that they’ve selected competitive and reliable security solutions on the market. “Dahua Technology empowers our dealers and integrators to stay at the top of their field by providing the latest security solutions to their end-users,” Tim Shen, Director of Marketing at Dahua Technology USA, explained. “In addition, the resources we make available to our dealers ensure that they are up-to-speed on their knowledge of our technology and fully trained on the products.” To further address Dahua Technology’s social commitment locally, a group of the staff from Dahua Technology USA will participate in The Security 5KRun / 2K Walk organized by charity group Mission 500 on the morning of April 11th. With a mission of ‘Enabling a Safer Society and Smarter Living’, Dahua Technology will continue to focus on ‘Innovation, Quality, and Service’, to serve partners and customers around the world.

RealNetworks, Inc., global provider of digital media software and services, has announced SAFR for Security, a new solution that integrates SAFR, the world’s premier facial recognition platform for live video, with leading video management systems (VMS) to provide enhanced visibility and situational awareness for security professionals. Announced at ISC West in Las Vegas, SAFR for Security is immediately available for worldwide deployment. SAFR For Security Heads of security at hospitals, stadiums, corporate campuses, airports, and other enterprises must maintain high awareness over large areas via a growing number of security cameras. To know whether a familiar person, employee, VIP, perceived threat, concern, or stranger is onsite, security professionals must rely on their ability to focus on key details and then make accurate assessments. SAFR for Security makes it simple to maintain higher security in public and restricted areas in our facility" “It’s been a challenge to maintain awareness of who is present at Shelby American, whether those are specific individuals of concern or aggregate demographics of museum visitors,” said Richard Sparkman, Director of Technology, Fleet & Facilities at Shelby American car museum in Las Vegas. “SAFR for Security makes it simple to maintain higher security in public and restricted areas in our facility and helps us understand who is moving through our museum by age, gender, and time of day – allowing us to better tailor our museum experience." 24/7 Video Monitoring Available as a standalone solution or integrated with market-leading video management systems, SAFR for Security provides vigilant 24/7 monitoring to detect and match millions of faces in real time, delivering a 99.86 percent accuracy rate. In the April 2019 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) test results, the SAFR algorithm tested as both the fastest and most compact amongst algorithms for wild images with less than 0.025 FNMR. When SAFR for Security is paired with a VMS, the integrated experience includes video overlays within the VMS to identify strangers, threats, concerns, unrecognized persons, VIPs, employees, or other tagged individuals in live video. Security teams can customize real-time alerts to automatically notify them when persons of interest appear on a video camera feed or make use of automated bookmarking to conduct forensic analysis. SAFR for Security attaches rich metadata to video footage so security professionals can search by time range, location, category, person type, and registered individual instead of sifting through hours of video to find a specific person. All data passed through SAFR is protected with AES 256 encryption in transit and at rest “Security professionals are inundated with hours of raw footage, much of which must be evaluated in real time by a limited number of human eyes,” said Dan Grimm, Vice President and General Manager of Computer Vision at RealNetworks. “SAFR for Security helps these professionals maintain higher awareness by combining our highly accurate AI-based facial recognition service with the software they currently use.” Facial Recognition Systems The underlying SAFR platform has been optimized to detect and recognize faces in live video based on its industry-leading excellence in accuracy and performance. The SAFR platform can be deployed on a single PC to monitor a handful of IP cameras or scaled to thousands of cameras in a distributed architecture hosted on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid. All data passed through SAFR is protected with AES 256 encryption in transit and at rest. The platform also provides actionable data for live analytics of traffic volumes, demographic composition, dwell times, and data exports for further reporting. “We’re delighted to partner with RealNetworks to extend our intelligent IP video system with SAFR for Security’s highly accurate facial recognition,” said Thomas Lausten, CEO, MOBOTIX AG. “The combination of SAFR and our innovative camera technologies opens up a new set of applications and use cases for MOBOTIX customers around the world, especially in retail, healthcare and education.”

Rajant Corporation, the exclusive provider of Kinetic Meshâ wireless networks, has entered into a strategic partnership with DG World, a Dubai-based company that develops products and solutions using the most advanced form of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and self-driving systems. This partnership formalizes a working relationship the two companies have had for two years and aligns with their co-exhibition at TOC Asia 2019 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on April 9th-10th, 2019 (Booth D4). Industrial Wireless Network DG World evaluated a range of technologies before choosing Rajant’s secure and resilient industrial wireless network DG World evaluated a range of technologies before choosing Rajant’s secure and resilient industrial wireless network as the backbone solution for their self-driving container terminal trucks. Due to the mission-critical nature of their fleet, specific to seaport operations, DG World requires continuous connectivity for never-fail mobility. Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh network is not only mobile but smart, working peer-to-peer to form connections with other nodes as they move in range. The network nodes can hold multiple connections simultaneously over multiple frequencies. Often in port operations, one path can become blocked. Rajant’s technology has machine learning capability to identify and route communications via the next-best available option overcoming any obstruction instantaneously and autonomously without outside intervention. Chris Mason, Rajant’s Director of Sales – EMEA, shared “DG World has been working with Rajant since 2017, incorporating Kinetic Mesh with InstaMesh into their advanced vehicle automation technology. The resiliency, high bandwidth and low latency of Rajant’s Mesh network have enabled them to develop sophisticated control systems ideally suited for use in container ports.” Asset And Vehicle Tracking The set of long-range sensors track high-speed objects, such as oncoming vehicles DG World’s autonomous technologies combine LiDAR and camera data to classify and track objects helping to identify pedestrians, vehicles and roadway details such as lane lines, construction zones, and signage. Their set of long-range sensors track high-speed objects, such as oncoming vehicles, while short-range sensors provide details about moving objects near the vehicle, such as pedestrians and bicycles. Close coordination between hardware and software team evaluations have afforded DG World the ability to pinpoint potential failure modes for all systems and address them throughout the development cycle to ensure a safe, reliable product. According to Gautam Ahuja, DG World’s Business Development & Sales Director: “No one technology makes this 'brain' (autonomous system) work. Instead, the computers use a combination of systems that work safely together, including Mapping, Simulation, Behavioral Control, Machine Learning, Localization, Planning, Safety, Controls, Networking, Dispatch and Routing, Perception, and Remote Assistance. All of these data points need a mission-critical, fail-safe network as Rajant has to offer. Partnering with Rajant, a global leader and sole provider of their Kinetic Mesh wireless network, will strengthen our offering of an end-to-end solution for any port in the world. Showcasing our technologies together at TOC Asia is a one-stop service to any seaport operator looking to automate their ITVs and other port vehicles.”

Where are video surveillance cameras headed? At the core of next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) cameras are advanced chips with artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge, enabling cameras to gather valuable information about an incident: scanning shoppers at a department store, monitoring city streets, or checking on an elderly loved one at home. Thanks to advanced chip technology, complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras —professional to consumer — fueling the democratization of AI in the IP camera market.Complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras Expanding The Global IP Camera Market  The video surveillance equipment market grew to $18.5 billion in 2018 and is expected to increase this year, according to IHS Markit. The latest research points to video everywhere, edge computing, and AI as the top technologies that will have a major impact in both commercial and consumer markets in 2019. Computing at the edge means that the processors inside the camera are powerful enough to run AI processing locally, while still encoding and streaming video, and are able to do it all at the low-power required to fit into the limited thermal budget of an IP camera. New SoC chips will be able to perform all of the processing on camera and provide accurate AI information, with no need to send data to a server or the cloud for processing. Instead, data can be analyzed right in the camera itself, offering high performance, real-time video analytics, and lower latency — all critical aspects of video surveillance. This new AI paradigm is made possible by a new generation of SoCs, a key driver behind the market growth of IP cameras. Complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras to fuel the advent of AI in the IP camera market Micro-Processor-Enabled Video Analytics Next-generation video cameras will be able to create heat maps of stores to see where people spend the most timeMicroprocessor-enabled analytics allow users to more easily extract valuable data from video streams. How about an insider’s view into retail customer behavior? Consider video cameras at a department store, monitoring shoppers’ behavior, traffic patterns, and areas of interest. Next-generation cameras will recognize how long a shopper stays in front of a specific display, if the shopper leaves and returns, and if the shopper ultimately makes a purchase. Next-generation video cameras will be able to create heat maps of stores to see where people spend the most time, so retailers will be able to adjust product placement accordingly. Analytics will also help identify busy/quiet times of the day, so retailers can staff accordingly. By understanding customers’ behavior, retailers can determine the best way to interact with them, target specific campaigns, and tailor ads for them. Cue the coupons while the shopper is still onsite! Analytics will also help identify busy/quiet times of the day, so retailers can staff accordingly Fast Processing For Rapid Response At City Level City surveillance and smart cities are depending on advanced video surveillance and intelligence to keep an eye on people and vehicles, identify criminals, flag suspicious behavior, and identify potentially dangerous situations such as loitering, big crowds forming, or cars driving the wrong way.Quick local decisions on the video cameras are also used to help analyze traffic situations Quick local decisions on the video cameras are also used to help analyze traffic situations, adjust traffic lights, identify license plates, automatically charge cars for parking, find a missing car across a city, or create live and accurate traffic maps. Real-Time HD Video Monitoring And Recording When it comes to home monitoring, what will next-generation video surveillance cameras offer? Real-time monitoring and notification can detect if a person is in the back yard or approaching the door, if there’s a suspicious vehicle in the driveway, or if a package is being delivered (or stolen). Advanced video cameras can determine when notifications are and aren’t required, since users don’t want to be notified for false alerts such as rain, tree branches moving, bugs, etc. Next-generation video camera capabilities can also help monitor a loved one, person or pet, helping put families at ease if they are at work or on vacation. For example, helpful analytics may be used to detect if someone has fallen, hasn’t moved for a while, or does not appear for breakfast according to their typical schedule. City surveillance and smart cities are depending on advanced video surveillance and intelligence to keep an eye on people and vehicles, identify criminals, flag suspicious behavior, and identify potentially dangerous situations Next-Gen IP Cameras When evaluating next-generation IP cameras (cameras on the edge), look at the brains. These cameras will likely be powered by next-generation SoCs chips. Here is what this means to you:       Save on network bandwidth, cloud computing and storage costs. There is no need to constantly upload videos to a server for analysis. Analysis can be performed locally on the camera, with only relevant videos being uploaded. Faster reaction time. Decisions are made locally, with no network latency. This is critical if you need to sound an alarm on a specific event. Privacy. In the most extreme cases, no video needs to leave the camera. Only metadata needs to be sent to the cloud or server. For example, the faces of people can be recognized in the camera and acted upon, but the video never reaches the cloud. The cameras can just stream a description of the scene to the server “suspicious person with a red sweater walking in front of the train station, has been loitering for the last 10 minutes, suggest sending an agent to check it out.” This could become a requirement in some EU countries with GDPR rules. Easier search. Instead of having to look through hours of video content, the server can just store/analyze the metadata, and easily perform searches such as “find all people with a red sweater who stayed more than five minutes in front of the train station today.” Flexibility/personalization. Each camera at the edge can be personalized to work better for the specific scene it is looking at, compared to a generic server. For example, “run a heat map algorithm on camera A (retail) as I want to know which sections of my store get the most traffic; and run a license plate recognizer on camera B (parking lot) as I want to be able to track the cars going in/out of my parking lot.” No cloud computing required. For cameras in remote locations or with limited network bandwidth, users have the ability to perform all analytics locally, without relying on uploading video to a server/cloud. Higher resolution/quality. When AI processing is performed locally, the full resolution of the sensor can be used (up to 4K or more), while typically the video streamed to a server will be lower resolution, 1080p or less. This means more pixels are available locally for the AI engine so that you will be able to detect a face from a higher distance than when the video is streamed off camera. AI At The Edge Professional-level IP cameras capable of performing AI at the edge are coming soon with early offerings making their debut at this year’s ISC West. As we enter 2020, we will begin to see the availability of consumer-level cameras enabling real-time video analytics at the edge for home use. With rapid technology advancement and increased customer demand, AI is on the verge of exploding. When it comes to image quality and video analytics, IP cameras now in development will create a next-generation impact at department stores, above city streets, and keeping an eye on our loved ones.

Las Vegas is a city that bombards you with choices: dozens of glitzy hotels and casinos, a plethora of restaurants and eateries to satisfy any craving and an endless variety of entertainment guaranteed to delight and amuse. With so many options, it’s hard to decide where to spend your time. The same goes for ISC West. Like the city in which it’s being hosted, ISC West 2019 is going to bombard you with more options than ever before. Dozens of new technologies and vendors as well as old familiar faces will be vying for your attention. With only three days, it’s nearly impossible to explore every booth and every vendor. Ultimately, you’ll want to focus your limited time on companies whose partnership can lead to your organization’s long-term success. In that context, I’d like to suggest a few things to think about as you wend your way through this year’s tradeshow. The Next Wave In IP Technology  The fact that the whole world is going IP is nothing new. The network-based connectivity trend has been ongoing for more than 25 years. What’s changed is the nomenclature. Today it’s all about the Internet of Things (IoT).  What was once exclusively an analog-based video surveillance market has shifted predominantly over to IP For the security industry, the concept of IoT really began with connecting DVRs through a network. Then in 1996, IP cameras – the first true IoT devices – hit the market. Since then, what was once exclusively an analog-based video surveillance market has shifted predominantly over to IP, providing exceptional growth opportunity for any company wanting to be on the leading edge. Today, however, that market is relatively saturated and growing at a much slower rate. In response, consolidation of the market has started to accelerate. Many vendors are disappearing while a select few are becoming stronger. Though the IP video revolution is now a fait accompli, there are still a few ancillary security technologies that are just beginning to jump on the IP convergence bandwagon. I’m referring to two in particular: IP audio systems and IP intercom solutions.  Like their IP video cousins, these relatively new IP systems are built on open platform standards and provide the same benefits for convergence as happened in the camera space: better scalability and ROI, more functionality, and easy integration with third party systems. The technology is a great complement to a customer’s existing IP surveillance system or an ideal replacement for an antiquated analog audio system. So I’d recommend spending time at booths showcasing this technology. Listen to the crystal clear sound quality. Learn from the various vendors how easy IP audio systems are to custom configure, remotely manage and scale. And discover the different ways the IP technology can be used, from paging, public address and broadcasting background music to augmenting security systems and perimeter protection solutions. The potential markets that can benefit from this latest IP technology are wide and varied, everything from hotels, hospitals and transportation hubs to educational institutions and retail chains. So it’s well worth your time to take a look at this growing opportunity. AI has proven to dramatically improving the accuracy of Traffic Incident Detection analytics. But it’s too early in the game to assume that AI can be applied across the board Artificial Intelligence: Hype Vs. Reality Video intelligence or video analytics was the big trend a decade ago. But it quickly fizzled out when hype crashed into reality. In the ensuing years algorithms have greatly improved, leading to more reliable analytic performance. Now it’s commonplace for video surveillance solutions to include a wide range of analytics from motion detection and people counting to dwell time analysis, object left behind and license plate recognition.    The latest hype to capture the imagination is self-learning systems, often referred to as Deep Learning and Artificial intelligence (AI) With analytics gradually becoming mainstream, the latest hype to capture the imagination is self-learning systems, often referred to as Deep Learning and Artificial intelligence (AI). These self-learning applications parse event data and use what they’ve learned from the experience to make determinations or predictions that can increase the accuracy of future alerts. Before you get swept up in all the big promises that have yet to prove deliverable, take time at ISC West to educate yourself about the current state of the technology. AI works well in some areas.  For instance, AI has proven to dramatically improving the accuracy of Traffic Incident Detection analytics. But it’s too early in the game to assume that AI can be applied across the board. Talk to some of the AI vendors at ISC West to learn when and if AI might be right for your organization’s analytic applications. See who has actual, field-proven solutions and who is just offering ideas that might take many years to prove useful in real applications. Connecting With The Right Partner Think of ISC West as the ultimate meet-and-greet. Look around the tradeshow floor and see who might by likely partners Choosing the right partner is as important in business as it is life. Think of ISC West as the ultimate meet-and-greet. Look around the tradeshow floor and see who might by likely partners. You’re sure to find a number of new companies entering the field this year. Also be sure to notice which companies are absent. Have they left the surveillance industry? Are they struggling financially and can no longer afford to show up? If you partnered with them in the past, where does that leave your business today?  As you explore potential vendor relationships, make sure you not only look at the arc of their technology development, but also their long-term financial stability and the kind of support services they offer. Cybersecurity should be front and center on your radar, along with timely updates, product integration with your existing technology and ongoing training to gain the most benefit from your investment. Look into how eco-friendly the vendor’s products are, what they’re doing to recycle, minimize waste and lower their carbon footprint Think of ISC West as the ultimate meet-and-greet - look around the tradeshow floor and see who might by likely partners Another important thing to find out is whether their business ethics align with yours. Is sustainability important to your company? How about corporate social responsibility, diversity and inclusion? Ultimately you want to do business with healthy, innovative companies that share your core values.   If being green is a fundamental principal of your company, look into how eco-friendly the vendor’s products are, what they’re doing to recycle, minimize waste and lower their carbon footprint. If striving for better global citizenship is your corporate mantra, you need to know how the vendor is assuring their operation complies with environmental laws and regulations. In terms of maintaining social and ethical standards, it’s important to know where the vendor stands on issues such as human rights violations, compulsory child labor, fair wages and sourcing minerals from countries in armed conflict.  Go In With A Plan There’s so much to discover at ISC West this year that four days isn’t nearly enough time to see it all. So you’ll have to strategically pick and choose which booths and vendors to visit. I’d advise that you plan out your days in advance so that you can get the most value from the choices you make.

The industry faces numerous challenges in the coming year. Physical and cyber security threats continue to become more complex, and organizations are struggling to manage both physical and digital credentials as well as a rapidly growing number of connected endpoints in the Internet of Things (IoT). We are witnessing the collision of the enterprise with the IoT, and organizations now must establish trust and validate the identity of people as well as ‘things’ in an environment of increasingly stringent safety and data privacy regulations. Meanwhile, demand grows for smarter and more data-driven workplaces, a risk-based approach to threat protection, improved productivity and seamless, more convenient access to the enterprise and its physical and digital assets and services. Using Smartphone Apps To Open Doors Cloud technologies give people access through their mobile phones and other devices to many new, high-value experiencesEnterprise customers increasingly want to create trusted environments within which they can deliver valuable new user experiences. A major driver is growing demand for the ‘digital cohesion’ of being able to use smartphone apps to open doors, authenticate to enterprise data resources or access a building’s applications and services. Cloud technologies are a key piece of the solution. They give people access through their mobile phones and other devices to many new, high-value experiences. At the same time, they help fuel smarter, more data-driven workplace environments. With the arrival of today’s identity- and location-aware building systems that recognize people and use deep learning analytics to customize their office environment, the workplace is undergoing dramatic change. Improved Fingerprint Solutions Cloud-based platforms and application programming interfaces (APIs) will help bridge biometrics and access control in the enterprise, overcoming previous integration hurdles while providing a trusted platform that meets the concerns of accessibility and data protection in a connected environment. At the same time, the next generation of fingerprint solutions will deliver higher matching speed, better image capture quality and improved performance. The next generation of fingerprint solutions will deliver higher matching speed, better image capture quality and improved performance Liveness detection will ensure that captured data is from a living person. Biometrics authentication will also gain traction beyond access control in immigration and border control, law enforcement, military, defense and other public section use cases where higher security is needed. Flexible Subscription Models Access control solutions based on cloud platforms will also change how solutions are deployed. Siloed security and workplace optimization solutions will be replaced with mobile apps that can be downloaded anywhere across a global ecosystem of millions of compatible and connected physical access control system endpoints. These connections will also facilitate new, more flexible subscription models for access control services. As an example, users will be able to more easily replenish mobile IDs if their smartphones are lost or must be replaced. Generating Valuable Insights With Machine Learning Machine learning analytics will be used to generate valuable insights from today’s access control solutionsEducation, finance, healthcare, enterprise, and other niche markets such as commercial real-estate and enterprises focused on co-working spaces will benefit from a cloud-connected access control hardware foundation. There will be a faster path from design to deployment since developers will no longer have to create an entire vertically integrated solution. They will simply add an app experience to the existing access control infrastructure. New players will be drawn to the market resulting in a richer, more vibrant development community and accelerated innovation. Data analytics will be a rapidly growing area of interest. Machine learning analytics will be used to generate valuable insights from today’s access control solutions. Devices, access control systems, IoT applications, digital certificates and location services solutions, which are all connected to the cloud, will collectively deliver robust data with which to apply advanced analytics and risk-based intelligence. As organizations incorporate this type of analytics engine into their access control systems, they will improve security and personalize the user experience while driving better business decisions. 

There are many new technologies at ISC West this year. There are also some tried-and-true solutions on display. More mature products have the benefit of being fully vetted and battle-tested, which may make them a more comfortable choice for security customers. I had a couple of discussions on Day 2 of the show about the advantages, and possible drawbacks, of new products. “To a security director, when you say ‘new,’ he translates that into ‘risk,’” says Bill Spence, VP of Sales, U.S., Canada and Western Europe for HID Global’s Lumidigm biometrics brand. “Anytime you say new, there is a probability of risk. The key is to educate. Education quantifies risk, and an educated customer can make an intelligent decision about risk versus reward.” “We have to take customers from where they are to help them understand new technologies,” says Spence. “We must give them a bridge to that understanding, and education is the bridge.” Lumidigm Biometrics Integrations An app provides graphics that take installers step-by-step through the installation process HID Global is incorporating Lumidigm biometrics into the new iClass SE RB25F fingerprint reader being highlighted at the show. Two-factor authentication can use either a card or mobile credential along with biometrics; there is no latency; and templates can be stored on a card. Another new offering at the HID Global booth is an augmented reality tool to simplify installation of newer systems that incorporate the more secure OSDP protocol. An app provides graphics that take installers step-by-step through the installation process. Also highlighted at the HID Global booth — and at the booths of turnstile manufacturers throughout the show — are embedded readers that provide tested and certified mobile access control for turnstiles. IClass SE technology is embedded in the iRox-T Turnstile Reader from Essex Electronics. Innovative Security Technologies There’s a delicate balance at any trade show between creating excitement about new products and educating customers to be comfortable with new technologies. There is some of both at ISC West 2019. In the future, hardware will be a delivery device, not the core of systems “We are on the cusp of change in the industry, and it’s closer than ever,” says Jennifer Doctor, Johnson Controls’ Senior Director, Project Management - Intrusion. “We will see the impact of promised technologies that will come from other industries, such as artificial intelligence. The very definition of security is changing. We are an industry that needs to be risk-averse, and we need to prove out the technology. There is innovation, but we just need to make sure technologies are what the market wants and expects.” “In the future, hardware will be a delivery device, not the core of systems, which will come from intelligence in the software and from services,” she adds. “The products we deliver will enable that.” Have 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market jumped into the cloud?  PowerSeries Pro Intrusion Portfolio Johnson Controls is highlighting the commercial PowerSeries Pro intrusion portfolio, which features PowerG encrypted technology that enables wireless systems that are cyber-secure. The cloud is coming on strong, and one company finding success in cloud systems is Eagle Eye Networks, which has seen 93% compounded annual growth over the past three years. Economies of scale have enabled them to lower subscription prices by 35%, with an extra 10% decrease for customers that pay annually. Ken Francis, President of Eagle Eye Networks, says they are signing up 50 new dealers a month for the cloud video offering. Francis estimates that 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market have jumped into the cloud “It’s really heating up,” says Francis. “The general cloud is driving increases in the surveillance cloud.” Jumping To Cloud Embracing the cloud and recurring monthly revenue (RMR) requires that dealers transform their businesses to ensure success. Francis says dealers should dedicate sales resources to cloud offerings rather than expect everyone to sell the cloud, and there should be a base commission plan on RMR services in lieu of upfront project fees. March Networks is also showing integration of video with the Shopify cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system “Talk to professionals about your cash flow and understand how to capitalize on financing partners to ensure cash flow while investing in the RMR stream,” he adds. “And look for ways to reduce your costs to serve the customer base as your RMR increases.” For example, use of remote site diagnostics, configuration and support can avoid the need for expensive “truck rolls” that can undermine profitability. Francis estimates that 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market have jumped into the cloud. Alarm companies, which are accustomed to the RMR model, are generally ahead of the curve, while traditional security integrators are lagging. “It’s a requirement to change or die,” he notes. Insight Hosted Managed Service Also, in the area of managed services, March Networks is highlighting its Insight hosted managed service that can provide instant information on video systems located at remote sites, including visibility into firmware versions, camera warranty information, and cybersecurity status of systems. The ability to dive deeply into system status empowers a new recurring revenue stream for integrators. Color-coded icons summarize system status and show pending issues and clicking on the icons provides detailed workflow information. The system can also be offered for smaller systems such as those at convenience stores and quick-serve restaurants. March Networks is also showing integration of video with the Shopify cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system. The integration enables managers to evaluate POS information, especially anomalies, to determine possible employee theft and other shrinkage issues.

Effective access control can be achieved without the use of cards using a new generation of secure facial authentication enabled by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Alcatraz AI is introducing a system that deploys a sensing device, about the size of a badge reader, with multiple color and infrared cameras that can detect facial features and confirm an identity. Real-time 3-D facial mapping avoids anyone using a photograph, video or mask to spoof the system and confirms there is a real person that matches the stored facial image. System Helps In Tailgating Mitigation Deep neural networks, powered by NVIDIA, enable the system to achieve new levels of frictionless access control, says Vince Gaydarzhiev, CEO of Alcatraz AI. Computer processing is achieved at the edge to ensure speedy and secure access control. We saw an opportunity to create a system that solves issues of tailgating and addresses the need for security without increasing friction"“We saw an opportunity to create a system that solves issues of tailgating and addresses the need for security without increasing friction,” says Gaydarzhiev. The accuracy of the system lessens the need for security guards, he says. The Silicon Valley startup, currently with 20 employees, was founded in early 2016 by a team from Apple, NVIDIA and Lily Robotics with a goal of targeting mid- to large-sized corporations that currently have deployed badging systems. The company has raised close to $6M from venture capital firms and individuals, and Johnson Controls/Tyco has invested in the startup. Alcatraz AI’s sensor device, mounted near a door, confirms a user’s identity and communicates the user’s badge number to the existing access control infrastructure. “The system improves the facial profile every time, using the neural network to be even more accurate in the future,” says Gaydarzhiev. He says it is the industry’s first “instant one-factor authentication for multi-person in-the-flow sensing.”   The system is less expensive than previous facial authentication systems and does not require users to be very close to the reader Easy Enrollment And Deployment Enrollment in the system is easy. Companies can deploy a separate enrollment station, or any reader can be used for enrollment. After badging in a couple of times, the face matching system “enrols” the face with the associated badge number, thus allowing the user to dispense with the badge altogether. In the future, the frictionless system simply recognises the user and opens the door. A user company can quickly deploy the system at locations where thousands of employees have access, without requiring employees to go to HR for enrollment. Gaydarzhiev says accuracy of the system is no less than that of iris scanning, and the accuracy is configurable for specific needs. He says the system is less expensive than previous facial authentication systems and does not require users to be very close to the reader. Facial authentication is also more flexible than iris scanning or fingerprinting. Detecting Intent From Positioning Of Eyes The system detects intent from the positioning of the eyes and body to avoid opening a door unintentionallyIn contrast to near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth systems, the technology does not require a compatible smart phone or have issues of communication range. There is no need for users to stop and perform an action or gesture to signal intent. The system detects intent from the positioning of the eyes and body to avoid opening a door unintentionally, says Gaydarzhiev.  Alcatraz AI is targeting high-tech enterprises, including healthcare, government and eventually banks. Currently they have three pilot installations among large global software companies and are undergoing trials with some government agencies. Today, they sell direct to end users, but the intent is to develop a dealer channel that will account for most of the sales.

MIPS (Milestone Integration Platform Symposium) Copenhagen 2019 saw Milestone Systems double down on the ‘creating an intelligent world’ theme from 2018 and expand it to ‘exploring an intelligent world.’ “The intelligent world theme was bigger than we could cover in one year!” said Malou Toft, VP of EMEA at Milestone Systems. Isolate Important Events With 865+ registered attendees and more than 47 exhibiting partners in Denmark, this is the largest Community Days event Milestone have hosted, even larger than the very well-attended Nashville event in February. The company took the opportunity to present Marketplace, their new Amazon-style online company directory, where end-users can identify Milestone Verified and Certified companies to supply a security solution. There was also a demo of Milestone’s XProtect software updates, able to adjust a video feed in real time to show number plates, to de-blur video and to filter out irrelevant clips to isolate important events, identified by artificial intelligence (AI). Self-Learning Mechanism We’re seeing advances on a small scale and are now going to see it becoming an inherent part of XProtect moving forward"“We’re seeing advances on a small scale and are now going to see it becoming an inherent part of XProtect moving forward,” said Malou Toft. “[One example is] the way we can ask a camera with the right type of integration to dynamically adjust to the environment.” And Malou says the best is yet to come. Of today’s technology on show at MIPS, and indeed at 2019’s trade shows, she said: “Is it super intelligent? No, not now. But it’s mostly solving the simple tasks now, that are replicable. But it is optimising the process, and to become a self-learning mechanism, we are going to see much more of that moving forward.” Exploring The Intelligent World The talks of the symposium reflected these thoughts as well. Altimeter’s Brian Solis commented about AI: “We can automate the daily things we do today, or we could use the technology to automate our innovations.” This is clear in Milestone’s theme of ‘exploring the intelligent world’ – the industry has created the foundations of the intelligent, and now companies such as Milestone and their 110 (and growing) new Marketplace partners are exploring them. MIPS EMEA 2020’s location is yet to be determined, but MIPS Bali 2019 will be Tuesday April 2 – Thursday April 4. Milestone will be back in Copenhagen for their Developer Conference October 1 and October 2.

The retail industry is constantly looking to find new ways to be relevant in the ever-increasing shadow of online shopping. Researchers have predicted a 17.5 percent growth in the ecommerce share of global retail sales in 2021, rising from 13.7% in 2019. When designer brand Miniso opened new shops in Poland, they used Hikvision technology to give them the edge. The management team at Miniso had a number of specific questions they needed answers to in order to make the stores successful in the cut-throat high street environment. Best-Selling Products They resorted to sending people to individual stores to manually count the people – a very time-consuming and costly exercise How do we know if our marketing strategy is working? What is the conversion rate of purchases? What are the ‘hot areas’ of the store, and do these actually represent best-selling products? Originally, with no access to significant information, they relied on experience and conversation with staff. But there was no way to verify these findings. They also needed to be able to get this information remotely – i.e. management in their HQ in Warsaw wanted to be able to see the situation in the other four stores without having to visit them separately. Sometimes, they resorted to sending people to individual stores to manually count the people – a very time-consuming and costly exercise. Tailor-Made Solution Miniso turned to Hikvision AI products, with a solution built by Polish reseller Volta, including people counting cameras, fisheye cameras and NVRs. These were all coordinated using the HikCentral software platform. A people counting camera in each store counts people passing by, while another counts people entering and leaving. With this tailor-made solution management could calculate how many people were passing by to see a purchasing conversion rate. This also helps them to know whether marketing strategy is working. They can analyze the information further to see whether the rate of people entering the store is dropping, and whether that relates to the number of those passing outside. Miniso’s management can then look into the causes of these numbers, along with sales figures, to form a picture. For example, whether there is an external factor affecting shoppers either to pass by, or to enter. Video Management Platform The professional video management platform allows managers to access the information from different offices and mobile applications anywhere Because Miniso have the same technology set up in all the stores in Poland, they can compare different locations. This also comes in useful when it’s time to negotiate rent with shopping malls. Using ceiling installation of several fisheye cameras, the system can generate heat maps. This helps managers to see where ‘hot areas’ are, helping them to allocate products in the optimal place for promotion. Hot areas can also be compared with sales figures to provide further insights into shopping patterns. All the information provided by the system is coordinated, and business information on both layout and original image can be overlaid in Miniso’s HQ in Warsaw. The professional video management platform allows managers to access the information from different offices and mobile applications anywhere. This makes life a lot easier for the operations team as they need to check the situation in all stores. Fiercely Competitive Environment It also means that everything can be viewed simultaneously, so they can identify trends throughout the network of stores. Byron Zeng, Vice President of Miniso Poland, says: “The high accuracy of conversion rate the solutions provides really solves a number of our management issues. We can now easily see what’s going on in the other stores, including heat mapping, which makes management of the whole networks so much more efficient.” This is a great example of how AI surveillance products can change the landscape of business decision-making. In a fiercely competitive environment, like a shopping mall or high street, shopping trend data can help a retailer to survive. In fact, this worked so well for Miniso, they decided to use the solution in their stores across the whole of Europe – potentially about 200 stores in the next year.

Exabeam, the next-gen SIEM company, announces that NTT DATA Corporation (NTT DATA), its partner and one of the providers of technology and services for government and business, has chosen to secure its global operations using Exabeam’s Security Management Platform (SMP), which provides unlimited data collection, machine learning and analytics for modern cyber threat detection and response. NTT DATA’s internal system is used throughout more than 50 countries and regions, 210 cities and by 34,500 employees in Japan and 75,500 employees overseas. It is a fast-moving company that has acquired many businesses over the last five to 10 years, resulting in the inheritance of a number of different legacy SIEM platforms. However, these solutions were lacking, and NTT Data wasn’t obtaining the visibility it needed to keep pace with modern cyberthreats.   Disparate Legacy Systems Exabeam was already our valued partner, and we were so confident in the company’s security solution" “Exabeam was already our valued partner, and we were so confident in the company’s security solution, we decided to use it ourselves, to remove complexity and unify our disparate legacy systems that were ineffective at protecting against modern threats,” said Hiroshi Honjo, head of Cyber Security and Governance at NTT DATA. “Having Exabeam’s unlimited data lake and attractive pricing model made the difference for our large organization.” Exabeam’s SMP provides NTT DATA with scalable, behavioral modeling, machine learning, and advanced analytics for comprehensive insider and entity threat detection throughout Japan, APAC, North America, and Europe. This functionality was vital to the NTT DATA team because they required greater visibility into potential cyberthreats throughout the organization and in all locations around the world. Automated Incident Response “NTT DATA’s journey was a unique one, since they had multiple legacy logging platforms in use globally. Exabeam was able to replace or consolidate each system using our next generation platform, and we accomplished the initial rollout in a matter of months,” said Nir Polak, CEO, Exabeam. “The swiftness of that transition is critical to maintaining secure operations, especially when dealing with such a geographically dispersed enterprise.” Automated incident response allows teams to respond to security incidents rapidly and with less effort Automated incident response allows teams to respond to security incidents rapidly and with less effort. At the SMP’s foundation is the Exabeam security data lake, designed to store all event logs at a predictable and flat price. This frees the NTT DATA security team from manually analyzing data logs – and instead they can focus on quickly identifying and responding to security threats. SIEM Solution According to Honjo, “The second phase of our project will be to look at use cases and fine tune the SIEM solution to work for our business needs. Overall, we are very happy with how well Exabeam met our stated deadlines and how quickly we are able to realize value from the product. We look forward to introducing Exabeam to our global customers.” Recently, Exabeam was identified by Gartner, Inc. in the 2018 Magic Quadrant for Security Information and Event Management. The company was positioned as a Leader based on completeness of vision and ability to execute.

Knightscope, Inc., a developer of advanced physical security technologies focused on enhancing U.S. security operations, announced that it is has taken a major step in its commitment to help better secure schools across the country by selecting Clovis Unified School District in California as its beta testing location for a suite of new technologies under development. The Company had prior announced this effort earlier this year when it solicited students to get involved and submit essays on how Knightscope’s fully autonomous security robots could help in a school setting. Security Robots To Monitor School Safety “With over 100,000 schools in the country, we need to develop a new set of tools and technologies as a critical part of our long-term mission to better secure the United States of America,” said William Santana Li, chairman and chief executive officer, Knightscope, Inc. Knightscope’s robots will provide the authoritative presence needed on a school campus and provide actual intelligence by filling in the blind spots" “Being able to utilize a real-world environment to test, sample, and iterate on new capabilities while inspiring students to pursue STEM careers is certainly a winning combination,” continued Li. “As a teacher of thirty years, my philosophy has always been to be proactive instead of reactive, and the idea of security robots monitoring a school is definitely a proactive approach to school safety. Knightscope’s robots will provide the authoritative presence needed on a school campus and provide actual intelligence by filling in the blind spots with their ‘eyes and ears,’” said Clifford A. Nitschke, Jr., AP United States Government and Politics Instructor, Clovis North High School. Trialling A New Technology In School Safety Mr. Nitschke’s class submitted the winning proposal to Knightscope. “We are honored to be chosen by Knightscope and to be given the opportunity to pilot a new and exciting technology in the field of school safety.” The Clovis United Unified School District Governing Board is scheduled to meet on January 16, 2019 to formally accept the beta testing program by Knightscope. The meeting is planned to occur at 6:30pm at the Clovis Unified Professional Development Building, 1680 David E Cook Way, Clovis, CA 93611. Assuming an approval by the Board, the parties will determine implementation timing thereafter.

According to Save The Rhino statistics, over 1000 rhinos are killed annually in South Africa. These harrowing poaching statistics display a gloomy future for survival of this beautiful species. While many attempts have been undertaken over the past ten years to combat the devastating results of poaching, the country has not yet seen a steady decline in numbers year-on-year. It is with this knowledge that AxxonSoft’s Global Marketing Director, Colleen Glaeser, who is based in South Africa, decided to create a strategical and proactive anti-poaching approach, utilising the tools at her disposal, assisting a country in dire need of assistance. While Deep Learning, using Artificial Intelligence and neural network analytics in its algorithm, is not new to the security and surveillance industry, Colleen and the team at AxxonSoft global took the technology a step further, developing and implementing the software to help differentiate between humans and animals. Identifying Actual Poaching Threats AxxonSoft’s surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat The implementation of this technology in game reserves and parks across South Africa has certainly been a game-changer regarding the war against poaching. For two reasons namely; this neural network solution can identify actual poaching threats (distinguishing poachers from their prey) while providing a proactive surveillance solution as opposed to a reactive one. Predominately utilised for face and license plate recognition, Deep Learning technology has never been adapted to tell the difference between humans and animals. Prior to the incorporation of Deep Learning in anti-poaching surveillance, software often failed control rooms and response units in that false alarms were on many occasions, set off by animals, insects and weather. Control rooms were not able to tell the difference between an actual threat and a false alarm, which often resulted in exhausting resources as teams were dispatched for animals who had touched the fence while grazing in their natural habitat. AxxonSoft’s leading surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat as poachers try and breach the fence perimeter to enter the reserve or park. Proactive Surveillance Solution AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats Global Marketing Director for AxxonSoft, Colleen Glaeser says, “Our Deep Learning technology has been extremely successful thus far in telling the difference between animals and humans as the neural network algorithm can identify, through certain indicators, whether a human or animal has set off the alarm. If the software detects a human, the operations team is immediately notified and a dispatch team is sent to the scene in question.” Furthermore, AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats. Due to expansive terrain and limited resources, rangers and antipoaching units often get to the scene of the crime too late. With the AxxonSoft technology, as soon as the breach occurs, cameras will identify if the breach has been caused by an animal or human, and the control room is immediately notified as to where the occurrence has taken place in the reserve or park. The dispatch team is given the necessary information and they head to the site where the occurrence has taken place. Real-Time Identification Of Threats By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation" The beauty about Deep Learning and Neural Network analysis is in its ability to learn and understand the conditions which lead up to an event, and that ultimately allows us to prepare for threats or potential breaches when the known conditions are met. “AxxonSoft’s technology has proved very successful in preventing killings as the team is able to get to the scene of the crime quickly. “By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation. The AxxonSoft team and I really believe this anti-poaching solution can aid in the war against poaching and drastically bring down the upsetting statistics. I can attest to the fact that we have seen great success in curbing poaching,” concludes Glaeser.

The year ahead holds endless promise for the physical security industry, and much of that future will be determined by which technologies the industry embraces. The menu of possibilities is long – from artificial intelligence to the Internet of Things to the cloud and much more – and each technology trend has the potential to transform the market in its own way. We tapped into the collective expertise of our Expert Panel Roundtable to answer this question: What technology trend will have the biggest impact on the security market in 2019?

The new year 2019 is brimming with possibilities for the physical security industry, but will those possibilities prove to be good news or bad news for our market? Inevitably, it will be a combination of good and bad, but how much good and how bad? We wanted to check the temperature of the industry as it relates to expectations for the new year, so we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How optimistic is your outlook for the physical security industry in 2019? Why?

In many regards, 2018 was a turbulent year for the physical security marketplace, driven by evolving technologies and changing customer needs, among other factors. Year-end is a great time to reflect, so we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What caused the most disruption in the physical security marketplace in 2018?