Body worn video cameras

Video surveillance across the world is growing exponentially and its major application is in both public safety and law enforcement. Traditionally, it has been fixed surveillance where cameras provide live streams from fixed cameras situated in what is considered strategic locations. But they are limited in what they can see given by their very definition of being “fixed”. The future of video surveillance includes the deployment of more mobile video surveillance with the benefits it offers. Instead of fixed cameras, this is the ability to live stream from mobile devices on the move such as body-worn cams, drones, motorbikes, cars, helicopters and in some cases, even dogs!Sending drones into the air, for example for missing people or rescue missions, is much more cost-effective than deploying helicopters Advantages Of Mobile Surveillance The advantage of mobile surveillance is that the camera can go to where the action is, rather than relying on the action going to where the camera is. Also, sending drones into the air, for example for missing people or rescue missions, is much more cost-effective than deploying helicopters. The ability to live stream video from cars and helicopters in high-speed pursuits can be used to take some of the operational issues from the first responders on the ground and share that “life and death” responsibility with the operational team leaders back in the command center. This allows the first responders in the pursuit vehicle to focus on minimizing risk while staying in close proximity of the fleeing vehicle, with direction from a higher authority who can see for themselves in real time the issues that are being experienced, and direct accordingly. In addition to showing video live stream from a pursuit car or motorcycle, by using inbuilt GPS tracking, the video can be displayed on a map in real time, allowing a command chief to better utilize additional resource and where to deploy them, through the use of displaying mapping information with real time video feed. It allows police chiefs to make better informed decisions in highly-charged environments. The 4G phone network can now be used with compressed video to live stream cost effectively Application in emergency situations The same is true of first responders in many different emergency situations. Mobile surveillance opens up a new area of efficiencies that previously was impossible to achieve. For example, special operations can wear action body-worn cameras when doing raids, fire departments can live stream from emergency situations with both thermal and daylight cameras, and paramedics can send video streams back to hospitals allowing doctors to remotely diagnose and prepare themselves for when patients arrive at the hospital. How can special operations and emergency first responders live stream video from a mobile camera with the issues of weight, reliability and picture-quality being considered? H265 Mobile Video Compression Law enforcement insists on secure transmissions, and it is possible to encrypt video to the highest level of security available in the public domain The 4G phone network can now be used with compressed video to live stream cost effectively. The issue of course is that 4G is not always reliable. Soliton Systems has mitigated this risk of low mobile quality in certain areas, by building an H265 mobile video compression device that can use multiple SIM cards from different cellular providers simultaneously. H265 is the latest compression technique for video, that is 50% more effective than conventional H264, and coupling this with using multiple “bonded” SIM cards provides a highly reliable connection for live-streaming high-quality HD video. The 400-gram device with an internal battery can be connected to a small action cam, and can live-stream simultaneously over at least three different cellular providers, back to a command center. Latency is typically less than a second, and new advance improvements are looking to reduce that latency further. Encrypted Video Transmission What about security? Law enforcement insists on secure transmissions, and it is possible to encrypt video to the highest level of security available in the public domain, i.e. AES256.What about integration into existing video infrastructure at the command center? It is not untypical for a police force to have an existing video management system (VMS) at their command center such as Milestone System’s Xprotect. The Soliton range of products are ONVIF-compliant, a standard used by video surveillance cameras for interoperability, allowing cameras and video devices that are ONVIF-compliant to simply “plug&play” into existing video management systems. These mobile transmitters are deployed with law enforcement and first responders across the globe. Their ability to provide secure, full HD quality and highly-reliable video streaming within a small unit, and to enable it to be integrated into the current eco-system that is already installed at the receiving end, has made them a favorite choice with many companies and government agencies.

Eagle Eye Networks, Inc. announced the enhancement of the Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera VMS to include the integration of Hikvision body worn cameras. The new Eagle Eye solution provides ease, reliability, and cybersecurity to body worn camera users seeking to synchronize and store video for extended periods in the cloud.  The Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera VMS will retrieve video and GPS data through a docking station connected to any Eagle Eye Bridge or Cloud Managed Video Recorder (CMVR) and securely transmit the video to the Eagle Eye Cloud Data Center. The body worn camera and its video appears in the Eagle Eye Customer Dashboard along with any fixed cameras attached to the system and can be reviewed, managed and analyzed. Integration With Mobile Cameras Eagle Eye Networks’ customers have requested the integration of mobile cameras in to the Eagle Eye interface to enable the combination of fixed position cameras with mobile cameras to better serve specific applications. Eagle Eye's customers are using mobile video for optimisation in robotics, manufacturing, emergency room management and home care services Law enforcement, guarding services, health care, retail management, training, warehouse management, and other service-oriented verticals create considerable value and reduce risk through the reliable and secure management of surveillance video in the cloud. Several of Eagle Eye Networks’ high-tech customers are using mobile video for business optimization in robotics, manufacturing, emergency room management and home care medical services. The challenge surrounding body worn and other types of mobile cameras has always been the lack of scalable, cost-effective, redundant storage. The Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera VMS offers subscription-based storage for any period. Body Worn Cameras Lieutenant Kevin Francis, Head of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Division stated, “We are excited to see Eagle Eye Networks adding body worn cameras to its system. The management of body worn video is cumbersome and unreliable from a storage perspective. The cloud makes it so much easier to store and retrieve evidentiary video.” The use cases for body worn cameras are endless. Body worn cameras began gaining momentum in law enforcement and private security, but there are other business optimization benefits that these cameras provide.Body worn camera users in retail are witnessing a decrease in customer standoffs and reduced claims against stores Businesses using body worn cameras have been able to improve profitability, communication, and customer service by using the footage to provide scenario-based training to employees. In the retail industry, for example, body worn camera users are witnessing a decrease in customer standoffs and reduced claims against stores based upon readily available visual evidence.  Cloud-Powered Video Surveillance According to Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye Networks, “Eagle Eye Networks is the industry’s go-to supplier of cloud video surveillance." "One of the many advantages of a cloud-based video management system is the ability to coalesce a wide variety of video collecting devices within a single user experience. Eagle Eye Networks will remain the leader in offering innovative solutions to combine connected, remote and mobile based camera technologies.”

Activity slowed on the last day of ISC West in Las Vegas, but there was plenty of momentum remaining and plenty more to see. In the end, Reed Exhibitions declared 2018 the biggest and most successful year to date for the show. There were an additional 4,000 square feet of exhibit space compared to last year and a 6 percent growth in overall attendance, according to Reed.  The cloud, biometrics, deep learning and other technologies were among the big topics at the show, and even smaller exhibitors were pleased with the results. In particular, emerging technologies were successfully highlighted. Cloud-based Video Systems Cloud video company Eagle Eye Networks announced multiple new offerings at ISC West. One was the first cloud-based video system that accommodates HD-over-coax cameras using the HD-TVI protocol to operate over existing coaxial cabling. In effect, cameras connect with an HD-TVI recorder, which plugs into Eagle Eye Networks’ on-site hardware “bridge” connecting to the Internet. Eagle Eye Networks has also integrated Hikvision body-worn cameras into their cloud system; transmitting video using the Eagle Eye Bridge ensures end-to-end encryption and the evidentiary integrity of the video. Analytics in the cloud can be turned on and off at will for each camera, and could be deployed over a weekend and switched off the following week “A few years ago, fewer customers were ready to adopt the cloud,” says Ken Francis, President of Eagle Eye Networks. “Now market adoption is changing, and customers don’t want on-site hardware. End-users are driving the move to cloud systems.” He estimates the evolution is about halfway complete, and Eagle Eye Networks continues to sign up new dealers every month because their customers are asking for the cloud. Eagle Eye Networks’ third new offering at ISC West is “analytics in the cloud,” including familiar analytics such as intrusion, people counting and loitering. Francis says the economics of the cloud make implementation of analytics much more affordable – about $4 per camera. The economics of the cloud make implementation of analytics much more affordable Augmented Identity: Biometrics In Security Analytics in the cloud can be turned on and off at will for each camera. For example, analytics could be deployed over a weekend and then switched off the following week. “It’s a far more economically attractive and cost-effective service than on-site,” says Francis. Biometrics continue to make their way into the mainstream of the security market, and IDEMIA brought its message of “augmented identity” to ISC West. IDEMIA (formerly OT-Morpho) provides systems to the largest biometrics users in the world, including big customers such as the FBI and Interpol, and large-scale government projects around the globe. “If you can handle projects that big, enterprise applications are no problem,” says Gary Jones, Vice President, Global Channel & Marketing, Biometric Access & Time Solutions. He says that the company’s technologies apply to any vertical market, and they are especially common in major airports and big financial institutions, in addition to government. The company’s MorphoWave product allows users to wave their hand, and the system captures a three-dimensional shape of fingerprints. The touchless system is also “frictionless” -- it enables fast decision-making that promotes high throughput rates. Artificial Intelligence Applications AI and deep learning have been big topics of conversation at ISC West, and I saw a company on the last day of the show with a different take on the subject. BrainChip uses a type of AI called “spiking neural networking” that models the operation of neurons in the human brain - in contrast to “convolutional neural networks,” which use a series of math functions to train from pre-labelled data sets. The BrainChip Studio software can search vast amounts of video footage rapidly to identify either faces, patterns or objects. Applications are in law enforcement, counter-terrorism and intelligence agencies.The BrainChip Studio software can search vast amounts of video footage rapidly to identify either faces, patterns or objects “We search for specific things,” said Bob Beachler, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Development. The software can search hundreds of live or recorded camera feeds for a unique graphic pattern on an item of clothing or on a bag carried by a person, for example. The technology only requires modest processing power and consumes little energy, so it can be used with legacy systems without requiring hardware or infrastructure upgrades.  Emerging Technology Zone A new Emerging Technology Zone at ISC West included participation by around 40 companies that are startups and/or new to the security industry. The section opened an hour before the main show floor and was located near the registration area, which increased traffic. “Generally speaking some people said it was hard to find, but I think it’s better for us as someone new to the market, rather than being on the main floor where you can get lost in the shuffle,” said Jeffrey Weiner, Vice President, Networks & Business Solutions, at Mersoft. “It was really smart that they opened this an hour earlier.” Mersoft, one of the Emerging Technology Zone exhibitors, has developed a software product to help the security industry do a better job of streaming live video. The software eliminates the startup delay and lag in live video. With dedicated software, video can be consumed by a browser or mobile app more easily Live Video Streaming “We accomplish that in two ways,” says Weiner. “One, we don’t trans-code the video into another format. Instead, we convert a security camera’s video from RTSP (real time streaming protocol) to WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication), an open-source technology that has been used extensively in video conferencing, but not so much in security. The video can be consumed by a browser or mobile app more easily, and we don’t need a player on the client, which is another way we reduce lag.” Another advantage is that WebRTC is natively encrypted; every packet is encrypted. In contrast, applications that transmit RTSP have to be wrapped in a VPN (virtual private network) tunnel, which takes some effort to maintain and is a battery hog on a mobile device. Also, multi-casting of video is easier, even using streams of various resolutions. Mersoft works through partnerships, offering a cloud-hosted service on Amazon and a version that can be installed on a local server. They have worked with several DIY camera sellers (who use cloud services), and with some major commercial service providers. “A new partnership strategy we are exploring is with systems integrators, who can incorporate Mersoft and provide a differentiator by improving their video performance,” says Weiner. The 22-year-old company is new to security, and ISC West provides opportunities for in-depth conversations preparing for a future in the security sector. Customizable Turnstile Solutions Delta highlighted their new designer series turnstiles, whose colorful appearance led booth visitors to ask about customization Even the smaller companies, located toward the back of the hall, were enthusiastic about ISC West this year. “The show has been great,” says Vanessa Howell, project manager of Delta Turnstiles. “We did get a lot of traffic. I am a niche product, so it’s not so much about quantity as quality [of leads]. I had great quality at the show.” Being away from competitors, which are grouped next to each other in the front of the hall, was an upside of the turnstile company’s booth location toward the back. Delta highlighted their new designer series turnstiles, whose colorful appearance led booth visitors to ask about customization. “They ask: ‘Why are turnstiles only sold in basic models?’” says Howell. “’Why can’t they look like a piece of art since they are the first thing people see when they enter a building?’ People are very open to making them prettier.”  Delta Turnstiles has been coming to ISC West since 2006. “I have manufacturer’s reps, and this is one of two times I get to see them in one place, and they bring a lot of customers to me at the booth,” says Howell. “This is my only face-to-face meetings with some customers. I speak mostly over the phone.” Valuable face-to-face engagement was a benefit of ISC West, and many of those meetings will likely set the stage for continuing successes in our vibrant market. Until next year. 

On the opening day of ISC West 2018, Hikvision USA Inc., a provider of artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and other emerging technologies, and major supplier of video surveillance products and solutions, launched its ‘Achieve Extraordinary’ campaign, which highlights how Hikvision technology provides valuable operational information for end users, as well as security for people, property and assets. "Beyond security, Hikvision solutions provide important data and business intelligence for end users, which can enable greater commercial success and more efficient operations," said Jeffrey He, president of Hikvsion USA Inc. and Hikvision Canada Inc. “A tour of the Hikvision booth will provide visitors with numerous examples of how Hikvision security systems can provide data useful for loss prevention, patient care, inventory management and much more."A special EZVIZ Pro section features a dedicated line of connected home products for professional dealers, installers and systems integrators Deep Learning To Intelligent Storage Hikvision has also released its 'Achieve Extraordinary' video, which artfully conveys how Hikvision technology enables our customers to see and perceive beyond human capabilities. The Hikvision booth has eight kiosks of solutions for critical infrastructure, retail, K12, assisted living, higher education, and healthcare, and featured technologies such as access control, intercom and TurboHD.  The ‘Hall of Innovation’ area showcases sought-after products such as the DarkFighterX; Deep Learning NVRs and cameras; LPR Technology; Thermal Technology; Body Worn Cameras; Gaming solutions; Under Vehicle Screening System; Swing Barrier Turnstile with Facial Recognition Terminal; and Intelligent Storage. A special EZVIZ Pro section features a dedicated line of connected home products for professional dealers, installers and systems integrators.The DS-2TD4136-25 (50) has linkage between the thermal and optical views Three Key Products Among the broad range of Hikvision products at ISC West 2018 are the following three key products: Swing barrier turnstile with facial recognition terminal Deep learning facial recognition is added to access control with our Facial Recognition Terminal, providing an effective addition or replacement for physical credentials. Simple face capture and storage is used to create a database that is used to match to persons entering or exiting. Benefits include: customisable sizes and finishes, Smart features such as anti-tailgating, improved throughput, security, and 99-percent accuracy rating. PanoVu Mini + PTZ Series - DS-2PT3326IZ-DE, DS-2PT5326IZ-DE Part of the new PanoVu line which features panoramic products for retail, residential, commercial, gaming, assisted living, airports, stadiums, parking lots and more. It features a smaller footprint panoramic and PTZ camera suitable for indoor or outdoor applications, and ideal for health care, retail and education applications. New thermal + optical bi-spectrum PTZ A new fully equipped PTZ with smart tracking, panorama tracking, event tracking and multi-scene patrol tracking to provide end users with detailed information. The DS-2TD4136-25 (50) has linkage between the thermal and optical views, 36x zoom, 15 color palettes, 650-foot Smart IR and image enhancements. Designed for complete day and night surveillance and perimeter protection in large open spaces with no lighting, well suited for public parklands, petroleum refineries, ports, airports and construction sites. Visit Hikvision Booth # 18037 to see Hikvision’s enterprise-level solutions, future technology, participate in Thought Theater events, and to view the 'Achieve Extraordinary' video.

For the first time in Europe, bodycams have been deployed in public transport on a nationwide level. Dutch railway company NS has equipped 700 safety and service employees with Zepcam bodycams that they can use in unsafe situations to increase safety and prevent escalation of violence and aggression. Large Scale Bodycam Deployment Body worn video is mostly used by police, other law enforcement and first responders. However, there is a growing demand for this technology to be used in other sectors like public transport, in order to increase the safety of employees and passengers. In the Netherlands for instance, the number of people who are victims of an annoying violent incident in public transport has increased from 13.5 percent in 2016 to 15.5 percent last year, according to research center CROW. It’s the first time a public transportation organisation deploys bodycams on such a large scale within the EU Dutch Railways (NS) approached Dutch tech company Zepcam to develop bodycam solutions for its safety and service employees. These workers monitor the train stations and approach people who are for instance dodging the fare, behaving aggressively or otherwise causing problems. Thanks to the bodycams, they now can record situations for further investigation and prosecution purposes. Zepcam has over 400 customers in 45 countries, including the police forces of Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore, and already supplies mobile video and bodycam solutions to local public transport companies like Movia in Denmark, SBB in Switzerland, SNCF and Veolia in France and Arriva in the UK. At Dutch Railways, it’s the first time a public transportation organization deploys bodycams on such a large scale within the EU. Benefits Of Bodycam Solutions According to Marjolein Maasland, representative of Dutch Railways, the new bodycams are comfortable to wear and easy to use. "I believe that the bodycam can help employees positively influence an escalating situation and possibly even prevent an incident," she states. CEO Bart van der Aa of Zepcam: "We are very proud to be the ones helping Dutch Railways’ safety and service personnel and their passengers decrease violence and prevent escalations. A growing number of organizations is discovering the benefits of our bodycam solutions for application in busses and subway trains and stations. We aim to make public transport safer all over Europe."

Video surveillance has begun offering healthcare providers more than just security; video analytics are now allowing hospitals and clinics to achieve their business goals. Improving patient satisfaction is supported by staff reminders when a patient has been left alone for too long. Even more, an alert can be given to staff members when a patient arrives that needs assistance. This reduces wait times, improves service, and gives patients better outcomes.  However, healthcare costs are rising throughout the world. In the US, spending is expected to reach 19.3% of GDP by 2023; whereas the European Union, with more moderate spending, will reach 10% of GDP by 2060. Managing costs has never been more important.  While the benefits of a video surveillance system help healthcare providers to manage their costs by enabling them to achieve their business goals, storing large amounts of video can pose a problem. With many hospitals recording 24/7 and long government mandated retention times, bandwidth and storage space can quickly evaporate.  SAS Drives Provide Reliable System Scalability The SuperNova Series uses SAS technology to improve performance over SATA drives. This is an evolution of the parallel SCSI into point-to- point serial peripheral interface in which the controllers link directly to the disk drives. With up to 224TB storage on SAS hard drives, superior bi-directional data transfer and high availability support up to 1000 camerasm one SuperNova Server offers scalability at an extraordinary level for mission-critical security applications.  Moreover, by supporting a variety of surveillance cameras, encoders and applications, SuperNova Servers allow customers to build high-quality surveillance systems lowering cost, raising performance, and maximizing capability. The SuperNova Series’ scalability and bandwidth for up to 1000 cameras make expansion efforts easy while maintaining complete failover redundancy.  All SuperNova Servers can come preloaded with the VMS of the integrator’s choice. This makes them well-suited for enterprise IP video surveillance applications. They can be used as a unified security solution or as a stand-alone platform for video storage, access control, or license plate recognition.

The IRIS Cam system integration with Genetec Clearance allows efficient video evidence collection & management Point Blank Enterprises, a manufacturer of soft body armor and related protective solutions, announced that it has been awarded a five-year contract by the North Miami City Council to provide the North Miami Police Department with IRIS Cam body worn cameras, together with a collaborative case management system from Genetec Inc., a leading provider of open-architecture security and public safety solutions. PBE and Genetec will offer the city of North Miami Police Department an integrated system that combines 120 IRIS Cam body-worn cameras and Genetec Clearance, a case management system designed to accelerate investigations by enabling different organizations to collect, manage and share video evidence. IRIS Cam Body Worn Camera The IRIS Cam is designed to meet the growing demand for law enforcement agencies to provide a visual and audio record of officers’ interactions with the public and help agencies improve evidence collection and enhance officer accountability. Built in a ruggedized enclosure, the IRIS cam provides ultra-high definition recording with a 140° FOV, for getting even closer to the action. Additionally, the IRIS Cam ensures not a moment is missed with 30 seconds of pre-recording. Genetec Clearance Case Management System The Genetec Clearance case management system is designed to speed up investigations by enabling different organizations to collect, manage and share video evidence, and other relevant case information. It allows police officers, investigators and security managers to gather digital evidence from the IRIS Cam and other sources—such as cell phone footage from bystanders and witnesses and store surveillance video—and easily store, manage, review and share it from a single application. Efficient Video Evidence Capturing The integration of the IRIS Cam system with Genetec Clearance allows for quick and simple uploads, saving officers time at the end of their shift. Post-incident tagging can also be added to the recording, to help with further classification of the event and to aid in locating the file for future searches or investigations. With built-in video redaction, Genetec Clearance protects the privacy of bystanders by allowing identifiable information to be masked, if video must be shared with 3rd parties or when fulfilling public record requests. All user actions initiated within the system, whether internal or external, are automatically tracked to ensure the chain of custody of the evidence is maintained at all times. Streamlined Video Evidence Management “The IRIS Cam system and Genetec Clearance will help the city of North Miami Police Department achieve a streamlined and highly effective process of capturing, managing and administrating video evidence, which will ultimately save the city time and resources in managing cases over the long term,” stated Paulo Motoki, Chief Operating Officer, Point Blank Enterprises. “With over 40 years of trusted service to law enforcement agencies around the world, we are proud to provide a unique hardware/software turnkey solution that will help strengthen accountability and transparency. This will result in more constructive encounters between the police and members of the community,” added Motoki.

An extensive survey revealed that 72% of paramedics were in favor of wearing BWCs at work Body worn cameras (BWCs) are fast becoming a staple piece of equipment for police officers across the United States. Police forces, such as NYPD, have trialed and adopted BWCs to take advantage of the many benefits associated with greater accountability and transparency, as well as potential cost savings. Yet, unlike the European market where other industries have also bought in to body worn video, the US still views BWCs as predominantly law enforcement specific equipment.Edesix, a UK based manufacturer of complete BWC solutions, has successfully marketed their VideoBadge BWCs, and accompanying VideoManager software, to a range of industries with different requirements and objectives across the globe. Deployments which have proven to be particularly effective include those to emergency services, prisons, and parking enforcement agencies.Emergency ServicesThere is significant potential for BWCs within emergency services in the US, not only to protect staff but also improve the quality of these services. In the UK, ambulance crews often use the cameras to record instances of abusive behavior, while paramedics and fire crews use them as valuable training tools to improve techniques out in the field.An extensive survey revealed that 72% of paramedics were in favor of wearing BWCs at work, citing reasons such as feeling safer, being able to record violent patients, and providing accurate information to medical teams further down the patient’s treatment.Fire and rescue services also value body worn video in their line of work. Edesix recently supplied fire crews of the West Midlands Fire Service with VideoBadge VB-300s, which they will use to identify training requirements and maintain public safety, resulting in improved services in the near future.PrisonsPrisons are a notorious environment for instances of abusive behavior and assaults. In the US alone, 33.5% of prison assaults are committed against staff members. The presence of BWCs has been proven to improve both staff and prisoner safety, by acting as a deterrent to abusive behavior while recording court-ready evidence of incidents. "For the moment being, law enforcement agencies and police forces will remain the biggest endorsers and advocates of body worn video systems in the US" The UK, too, has a problem with prison safety. In July, the Ministry of Justice reported that assaults on prison staff were at a record high. Edesix has since supplied HM Prison services across England with VB-300 body worn cameras, which were extremely well received by prison guards and inmates alike. By wearing BWCs, prison staff can quell violent behavior before it even begins. Prisoners are made aware that both their actions and the staff’s actions are being carefully monitored, which helps create a more harmonious environment, even in particularly rough prisons.Parking EnforcementParking enforcement officers routinely have to deal with disgruntled drivers who, on occasion, may become violent or abusive. BWCs have been used extensively in the parking industry in Europe for a few years to great effect. The American parking market is growing, with a leading market research agency predicting that 14,655 BWCs will be deployed to parking and civil enforcement organizations in 2017.This year Edesix provided Gravesham Traffic Wardens, who had been the targets of a recent spate of abuse, with VideoBadge VB-200 BWCs. Members of the public can now see that they may be recorded and, as a result, many do not escalate their behavior. If the parking enforcement officer does experience any abuse, they are able to record HD court-ready evidence, which can then be referred to the police.Future Of BWCs In United States For the moment being, law enforcement agencies and police forces will remain the biggest endorsers and advocates of body worn video systems in the US. However, as other industries begin to see the possible, and perhaps already evident, advantages of BWCs they will invest in the technology. As many industries in Europe have shown, the applications for BWCs are far more ranging than could have been previously thought only a few years ago.

Among its many uses and benefits, technology is a handy tool in the fantasy world of movie and television thrillers. We all know the scene: a vital plot point depends on having just the right super-duper gadget to locate a suspect or to get past a locked door. In movies and TV, face recognition is more a super power than a technical function. Video footage can be magically enhanced to provide a perfect image of a license plate number. We have all shaken our heads in disbelief, and yet, our industry’s technical capabilities are improving every day. Are we approaching a day when the “enhanced” view of technology in movies and TV is closer to the truth? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How much has the gap closed between the reality of security system capabilities and what you see on TV (or at the movies)?

Body-worn cameras are becoming more common every day, driven both by needs of the marketplace and technology developments. However, questions remain about the usefulness of the devices, and their future role in promoting safety and security. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the challenges of body-worn cameras for the security industry?