Human identification system

Global MSC Security has announced that the new Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material and Surveillance Camera, Professor Fraser Sampson, will address delegates at the Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition 2021. He will be joined by speakers, including Philip Ingram MBE and Professor Martin Innes, to discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the surveillance industry. The conference takes place on Tuesday 19th October 2021, at The Bristol Hotel, in Bristol, United Kingdom. Use of AI in the surveillance industry Professor Martin Innes is currently serving as the Director of Crime and Security Research Institute, at Cardiff University and also as Director of the Universities' Police Science Institute. He will present the session, ‘The technology of facial recognition and the ethics which underpin it’, at the Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition 2021. Professor Innes from Cardiff University commented, “Facial recognition technologies have emerged as a particularly controversial technology among the growing armory of digital policing tools. Supporters point to clear benefits in helping police identify wanted suspects. Opponents worry about the step change in surveillance capacity and capability such technologies portend.” Facial recognition biometrics in policing Philip Ingram will consider how video analytics, such as facial recognition technology could aid an investigation Informed by data from the world’s first independent evaluation of how facial recognition biometrics can be used to support street policing, Professor Innes will explore how the technology is being deployed by police and what results they can and cannot deliver. Philip Ingram MBE from Grey Hare Media and a former Colonel with the British Military Intelligence will discuss the challenges of seizing large quantities of surveillance camera footage, during a major incident (such as the Salisbury Novichok poisoning case). Philip Ingram will consider how video analytics, such as facial recognition technology could aid an investigation. Counter terrorism threat update Louise Stapleton, Counter Terrorism Security Advisor at Avon & Somerset Police will provide ‘A counter terrorism threat update’, concentrating on the current threat faced in the United Kingdom from terrorism, threat actors, methodologies, and hostile reconnaissance. The presentation will include an overview of the ‘See, Check and Notify’ workshop, developed by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. Providing a perspective from inside the control room will be Chris Harrison, the CCTV Manager at North Somerset Council. He will share his CCTV system upgrade journey from concept to completion, including justifying the works financially and efficiency. Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition 2021 Derek Maltby, Managing Director of Global MSC Security, said “We are honored to have such a high caliber of speaker presenting at The Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition this year. AI can be polarizing, misunderstood and sensationalized. This event will separate fact from fiction, to understand where we are today, what is possible and what checks and balances need to be in place, for it to be used ethically and effectively.” The Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition is slated to take place from October 18 to October 19, 2021, at The Bristol Hotel, located in Bristol City Center, United Kingdom.

viisights, Inc., developer of behavioral recognition systems for real-time video intelligence, will be attending ISC West in Las Vegas, July 19-21, 2021, representing its innovative video analytics solutions and revenue-generating partner program. Pat Aiello, viisights’ VP Business Development & Sales, North America, will present a session entitled “Behavioral Recognition for Realtime Video Intelligence” as part of the SIA Education @ ISC program. Company representatives will also be meeting with systems integrators to discuss new revenue streams made possible by the company’s partner program, which provides systems integrators a competitive edge while helping their clients achieve more proactive security. Advanced video analytics technology The education session “Behavioral Recognition for Realtime Video Intelligence” will cover viisights advanced video analytics technology that is capable of understanding and recognizing an object’s behavior and interactions in a live video stream, essentially analyzing the story that is unfolding in the video. Session attendees will be shown the exceptional value of behavioral recognition video analytics Session attendees will be shown the exceptional value of behavioral recognition video analytics, a knowledge that will give them the ability to identify security challenges that can be resolved using this automated technology. The session is scheduled to take place Tuesday, July 20, at 1:15 PM. ISC West attendees can register for the session on the company website. Behavioral analytics A benchmark in video intelligence, viisights behavioral analytics provide systems integrators with a new unique selling proposition for existing and new customers that will lead to business growth. viisights personnel will be at the show to discuss these opportunities in one-on-one meetings with potential technology partners and systems integrators during ISC West. The company offers extensive support for integrators including project registration; price protection to protect and secure bids; engineering, design, and implementation support; installation documentation and setup tools; training and certification for technical staff; application consulting for specialized projects; software demo licenses; and more.  AI-based video intelligence systems “viisights leverages artificial intelligence technologies that facilitate human-like pattern prediction to create fully autonomous video intelligence systems,” said Asaf Birenzvieg, CEO at viisights. “viisights goes further than simple object recognition by analyzing full-motion video for objects and their behavior in the context that they operate in." "Our real-time behavioral analytics transform video streams into actionable insights by autonomously recognizing behaviors that demand immediate attention, allowing customers to be more proactive.”

IDnow, a German-based leader in identity verification-as-a-service solutions announced that it has agreed to acquire ARIADNEXT, a French company specializing in remote identity verification and digital identity creation. With IDnow and ARIADNEXT joining forces, the companies can provide one comprehensive identity verification platform, ranging from AI-driven to human-assisted technology and from online to point-of-sale verification options. The combination further increases the services IDnow offers to the UK, French and German markets, as well as to international customers with identity verification needs across several jurisdictions and use cases. Frictionless user experience On the back of the strong adoption of digital identity products, IDnow expects to increase revenue 3x in 2021 versus 2019 and is on track to continue accelerating this growth momentum. Since the beginning of the pandemic, IDnow has seen an extraordinary increase in demand for their solutions. IDnow's products have been used 200% more compared to last year and many companies have decided to switch to fully digital application processes. The integration of ARIADNEXT, whose service usage has increased more than 130% per year over the last 5 years, will help to meet this rising demand by providing an outstanding, frictionless user experience. Identity verification "This combination with ARIADNEXT is an important step towards our vision of building the pan-European leader for identity verification-as-a-service solutions," said Andreas Bodczek, CEO of IDnow. Identity verification is critical for banks, insurers, mobility companies, and others to shift towards safe, automated solutions "Identity verification saw a major turn towards digitalization over the past decade and this trend has been further accelerated by the pandemic. It is now critical for banks, insurers, mobility companies, and others to shift towards safe, automated solutions.” “With ARIADNEXT, in addition to our recent acquisition of identity Trust Management AG, IDnow can provide our customers with an even broader suite of products through a single platform with a seamless user experience."  Working towards a future-proof solution "We are looking forward to joining a team of IDnow's caliber, combining our experience and skills to work towards our shared vision of providing a pan-European secure and future-proof solution to customers," said Guillaume Despagne, President of ARIADNEXT. "With a strong presence in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, and Romania, our combined product portfolios create an unmatched platform for customers across the European market." IDnow will retain ARIADNEXT's locations in Rennes, Paris, Madrid, Bucharest, Iasi, and Warsaw, as well as its over 125 employees. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.

Mobileum Inc., a provider of analytics solutions for roaming and network services, security, risk management, and testing and monitoring solutions, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Niometrics, a provider of deep network analytics. The acquisition expands Mobileum's actionable analytics platform with customer discovery, engagement, and experience capabilities, enabling Communications Service Providers (‘CSPs’) to identify new revenue streams and to improve customer experience across the entire customer lifecycle. Mobileum's Active Intelligence platform is a telecom-focused analytics technology that supports roaming, network services, security, risk management, and testing. Deep network analytics The acquisition of Niometrics will enrich Mobileum's existing solutions with deep network analytics and applied Machine Learning, while expanding its portfolio with customer intelligence solutions. Mobileum's expanded platform will provide deeper network insights, a 360-degree customer view, and enhanced data privacy control, to accelerate growth and improve customer retention. The two companies have already won contracts together and have experience integrating their products to solve high-impact customer use cases. "The addition of Niometrics to Mobileum's portfolio further reinforces our strategy to provide telecom operators an end-to-end analytics engine that not only strengthens their network and interconnection and assures their business, but that also provides them with the network intelligence required to grow revenues and improve customer experience as they rollout 5G and evolve their business.” Service performance expectations Niometrics' proven technology and respected team of industry experts make this acquisition a perfect fit" “Niometrics' proven technology and respected team of industry experts make this acquisition a perfect fit to accelerate Mobileum's growth strategy," commented Bobby Srinivasan, CEO of Mobileum. "Communications service providers have unrivaled direct access to customer preferences, data consumption and loyalty trends.” “With the analytical horsepower to leverage these data points, CSPs can now take these insights to segment their marketing and sales, personalize end-user engagement, build new digital partnerships, and monetize data – while coping with all the privacy and data protections in place. By combining our product portfolios, we will be able to provide CSPs unique insights at every customer touchpoint and make sure that they are able to consistently exceed customer experience and service performance expectations," commented Kostas Anagnostakis, CEO of Niometrics. Machine learning algorithms The Niometrics' Deep Network Analytics platform (‘DNA’), which includes real-time data analytics, advanced AI and machine learning algorithms, and Deep Packet Inspection (‘DPI’) capabilities, will now become part of Mobileum's Active Intelligence platform. Active Intelligence will provide the critical insights that carriers need for network operations, roaming, business assurance, testing, service assurance, and customer engagement. Based in Singapore, Niometrics' 150+ employees will join Mobileum, strengthening Mobileum's global team of more than 1,800 employees, and growing its engineering hub in Asia. This acquisition will further expand the capacity to serve Mobileum's more than 900 telecom customers. After closing this acquisition, 9 out of 10 telecom operators will rely on Mobileum solutions.

York company, cards-x, is championing British manufacturing after producing and selling more than 5 million security ID card holders in the last six months alone. The firm is now expanding its team as it launches the world’s first completely biodegradable card holder. cards-x is one of Europe’s suppliers of security products, ID cards, and the specialist print equipment used to create them. The German-based company expanded into the UK last autumn, opening a new base at Malton near York. Expanding product range In December, cards-x then acquired Evohold, which manufactures ID card holders, and the company now produces hundreds of thousands of card holders each week, which are exported to countries throughout the world. To meet this rising demand, cards-x has appointed Craig Kail to oversee the manufacturing process and Charlotte Hoggard has joined the customer services team, managing the distribution of completed products. Further investments, in both staff and machinery, are planned in the coming months as the company continues to expand its product range. Its latest product to hit the market is the fully biodegradable ID card holder. It uses innovative technology to significantly increase the biodegradation rate of polymers in anaerobic microbe rich environments such as landfill and oceans. Biodegradable card holder The product complements Evohold’s existing range which includes recyclable and antimicrobial products The product complements Evohold’s existing range which includes recyclable, compostable and antimicrobial products, as well as detectable products that include metal particles. The UK division of cards-x, which is a ‘Made In Britain’ member, is headed up by Managing Director, Andy Reeves. He said: “Since expanding into the UK and then acquiring Evohold late last year, we’ve enjoyed a very busy six months with high demand across our product range and particularly for our card holders. As the only manufacturer of these products in the UK, we’re now on target to surpass 12 million units a year.” “The appointment of Charlotte and Craig, combined with further investment in new machinery, will support this growth. Craig brings a wealth of experience in the plastics industry to the role and Charlotte has spent more than five years working in customer services and has immediately hit the ground running.” Detectable card holders Andy continued: “Our new biodegradable card holder is proving very popular and particularly with businesses and organizations that are keen to demonstrate their green credentials. Our innovative technology means it biodegrades approximately five times quicker than conventional plastic.” “This launch also coincides with many countries banning the use of oxo-degradable plastics. Until recently these were marketed as a solution to plastic waste, but it was discovered they actually fragment into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, but don’t break down at a molecular or polymer level like biodegradable plastics, making them a major contributor to plastic pollution. This makes it a really exciting time to be adding this pioneering product to our range of recyclable, compostable, antimicrobial and detectable card holders, as well as flying the flag for eco-friendly British manufacturing.”

Keyless, a pioneering privacy-first biometric authentication firm announced that it has joined the DizmeID Foundation, to develop an open ecosystem for decentralized management of digital identities. Control over digital identity DizmeID Foundation operates to combine the benefits of self-sovereign identity with necessary compliance and regulation, to enable wallet holders with ownership and control over their digital identity, data access, and distribution. Keyless will work alongside Algorand, Fabrick, and InfoCert within the foundation to make it easier and more secure for users to share their personal information in exchange for blockchain-based services. Blockchain technology "Many users find the idea of blockchain services intimidating and that has caused the adoption of this revolutionary technology to be painfully slow." By integrating with Dizme, the biometric software will make it more intuitive for users to enroll, and benefit from" "We hope that by integrating with Dizme, that our biometric software will make it more intuitive for users to enroll, and begin benefitting from the services offered on its decentralized identity platform," said Andrea Carmignani, co-founder and chief executive officer at Keyless Technologies. Digital Identity verification Dizme enables organizations to both issue and verifies a user's identity through verifiable digital credentials – a digital version of a real-world identity document such as a driver's license or birth certificate. "The way organizations manage their customer's personal data must change if we want to stop privacy and security breaches from being a daily occurrence," said Daniele Citterio, DizmeID Foundation Chairman.  "Currently, our identities are managed by multiple, siloed parties – like private and public organizations. Not only can this leave us exposed to a higher number of threats, but it can also create friction during the identification process," Daniele Citterio continued. Digital credentials With Dizme, organizations can issue and verify verifiable digital credentials to provide services, goods, or resources to users. Once a user has their digital credentials issued to them, they can choose to share their credentials with organizations via their Dizme wallet. Data security "Verifiable digital credentials can help build trust between organizations and users, while also enabling users to control what personal information they share with organizations, and how long for, to ensure their data is not being misused or mishandled" explained  Daniele Citterio. Zero-trust authentication platform Keyless zero-trust authentication platform offers strong compliance while ensuring biometric data is never at risk  Keyless zero-trust authentication platform offers strong compliance with obligations outlined in the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation – while also ensuring biometric data is never at risk of being compromised or mishandled – making it easier for both companies to target enterprises who need to meet strict compliance obligations. Privacy based biometric solution "At Keyless, we understand that for organizations to fully realize the benefits of emerging technologies, we must make them compliant, private, and secure.” “To protect biometric data from threats, we've combined the security benefits of distributed architecture with privacy-enhancing cryptography. The result is a zero-knowledge biometric solution that ensures biometric data and other personally identifiable information is never at risk," explained Carmignani. DizmeID Foundation Joining the likes of Algorand, Fabrick, and InfoCert, this integration also marks Keyless' participation as a founding member to the DizmeID Foundation – the first decentralized identity network that combines the benefits of decentralized identity as well as the compliance to eIDAS regulations.

The global biometrics market has been recently developing rapidly, and this trend will continue shortly. If in 2018 its volume was estimated at $23.4 billion, according to the forecast of the analytical company BCC Research, the market size may increase to $71.6 billion with an average annual growth rate of 23.2 % by 2024. Fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, iris, vein, and voice technologies are expected to be implemented at the fastest pace. The analysis is based on the revenue indicators of key players depending on segments, including hardware, software, and integration. Biometric electronic documents Another analytical Agency, Acuity Research, estimates that the number of biometric electronic IDs will increase by about 3.5 billion electronic documents in the world. Moreover, more than half of the UN member States issue biometric passports. Government and private contracts of Canada, the United States, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Hungary, Bangladesh, Senegal, and other countries are examples of implementation of programs for the transition to biometric electronic documents. Government organizations in various countries believe that biometrics is one of the most effective ways to identify refugees and those who cross the border. Now there are a lot of projects which are based on biometric technology. Biometric identification system Perhaps one of the most ambitious is the Aadhaar project being implemented in India Perhaps one of the most ambitious is the Aadhaar project being implemented in India. It is a biometric identification system that contains the data of more than a billion people. The database contains about 10 billion fingerprint templates, two billion iris templates, and a billion photos. There is another ambitious project at the Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where RecFaces company has implemented a passenger facial identification ready-made solution, that helps the security guards to receive notifications about airport visitors in just a few seconds and increase the efficiency of security services at least by 30%. The introduction of biometric identification of passengers aimed at increasing the level of airport security, as well as quickly obtaining information about the detection of wanted persons, stored in the long-term archive. Automated control gates As another example, face match is used at border checks to compare the portrait on a digitized biometric passport with the holder's face. In 2017, Thales company was responsible for supplying the new automated control gates for the system of Automated Fast Track Crossing at External Borders at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. This solution has been devised to facilitate evolution from fingerprint recognition to facial recognition This solution has been devised to facilitate evolution from fingerprint recognition to facial recognition during. Governmental systems, SmartCity, airports projects using identification technologies day by day become our reality and influence the growth of the biometrics market globally. Countries are studying the experience of each other and adopting it. Paperless payment technologies The global market of biometrics will shift all industries, starting from the transportation facilities especially airports, where a transition from traditional VMS and ACS to paperless biometric self-Boarding systems will be carried out. Sports facilities will see the development of paperless payment technologies at cash desks, and the banking sector — the payment systems with remote customer identification. HoReCa will transfer from staff time tracking systems to biometric payment systems, biometric check—in systems and the use of biometric identifiers. To sum up there are two most significant drivers of this growth are surveillance in the public sector and numerous other applications in diverse market segments.

The return to the workplace is a focal point for many in the built environment but one of the most important elements is easy to overlook. Guest services will be vital in the return to the workplace. Front-of-house teams will be responsible for welcoming building users back and reassuring them as they negotiate shared spaces in the post-Covid era. The workplace will inevitably look different after Covid. We have become more aware of our spaces, how clean they are, and what spaces building users share. Employees have also become more conscious of the pros and cons of the workplace. For some, a year of working from home has been a welcome break from the stress and time taken by a commute. Many organizations are considering moving to hybrid workplace approaches, downsizing their corporate real estate portfolio, and using shared spaces more consciously, be that for focussed quiet work or collaboration. We will also see heightened care in workplace cleaning and more data-led solutions. Front-of-house teams will be at the center of helping building users get used to these changes. The role of technology Front-of-house personnel will likely be responsible for ensuring buildings do not exceed safe occupancy levels and will be aided by visitor management systems.  Another change to look out for in the workplace will be the use of technology. Tech-led organizations have long reminded us that gut instinct and trusting our senses is not enough anymore, but Covid-19 has forced us to come to terms with this. Now that adopting technology has become crucial in cleaning, we will see a reticence to adopt it elsewhere fade too. A survey from McKinsey suggests that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technologies by several years. Why is this important for guest services? Much like other workplace changes, new technologies will alter how building users interact with their environment. Tech will also enable front-of-house teams to focus on the key ingredient of their role – human interaction. This will be vital in helping occupants feel comfortable, safe, and happy. Occupancy and visitor management systems These systems have been around in the workplace for many years, and pre-Covid were used to help us maximize our space and utilization. These systems are even more important as we are likely to see some return to the workplace before everyone has been vaccinated. We may see systems that contact only those occupants in an affected area of a building, rather than a whole workforce, to limit worry and ensure most people can remain confident in the hygiene of their workspace. For the rest of 2021 at least, precautions such as social distancing will need to be in place. Workplaces will continue to function at limited occupancy for some time to keep people safe. Front-of-house personnel will likely be responsible for ensuring buildings do not exceed safe occupancy levels and will be aided by visitor management systems. These may be used by individual organizations or by multi-tenanted buildings. Temperature checks and identity verification systems Organizations are mitigating risks where possible. Handheld digital thermometers have been in high demand. The use of such devices has reshaped the role of security officers over the past year. Officers have become familiar faces in shops and shared spaces, keeping people safe and acting as the first point of contact. The security sector has been placed under immense pressure, balancing the need to enforce precautions with responding to stressed building users in an empathetic way. Officers have demonstrated agility that security technology cannot replace. Post-pandemic, we will likely see a greater appreciation for what manned guarding can offer and a greater potential for officers in front of house roles. Front-of-House staff are becoming responsible for temperature verification. Some organizations may choose to increase the collaboration between their front-of-house and security teams. This could include implementing identity verification systems, as well as touchless systems. This will allow the focus of front-of-house teams to remain on the people and giving a warm welcome to users as they return to the office. Using monitoring to make guest services more available  Monitoring solutions may be the first things that come to mind when discussing security technology. We have seen an increasing trend toward integrating remote monitoring with manned guarding since before the pandemic. Such a move may be even more important now.Beyond keeping employees safe, guest services are going to play a central role in making the workplace an attractive option. For many organizations, the pandemic has forced a rapid switch in focus. Organizations have had to face the security challenges of caring for vacant premises and the additional complications of managing cybersecurity for remote work. Rebalancing the cost and focus of security may feel as though it has left some businesses without the capacity to utilize front-of-house officers. Yet when employees return to the workplace, front-of-house teams will be more important than ever. For those that did not do so during the pandemic, now is the time to be investing in effective monitoring solutions. The falling cost of technology means such a solution can be combined with manned guarding and front-of-house roles. Organizations may need to invest in fewer officers, but their roles can be more focused upon the occupant experience. Encouraging employees back Beyond keeping employees safe, guest services are going to play a central role in making the workplace an attractive option. Remote working has had both pros and cons but many of those downsides will be diminished with the end of the pandemic. Loneliness will no longer be such a challenge when seeing friends and neighbours is an option, and the return of children and partners to school and work will relieve distractions. It may be tempting, then, for many employees to continue working from home. As a result, many opportunities for collaborative work will be lost. For employers looking to encourage their workforce to return, creating an amazing workplace experience is key. Technology alone can’t offer this. Rather, too much tech could create an environment that feels clinical and impersonal. Use technology to streamline the boring or stressful elements of the workplace and invest in friendly faces who will welcome your workforce back.

Tragically, in the world we now live, mass shootings and gun violence are epic concerns not only in schools, but Big Box retail, hospitals, municipal buildings, festivals, sporting events, concert venues, and just about anywhere crowds gather or work. The number of incidents is not acceptable and is truly startling. There are many societal and mental health issues that can cause these events and their importance in solving this issue is critical. However, this article will be focussed on the technology side of preventing mass shooting events. Going beyond metal detectors The best way to eliminate mass shootings is to detect weapons before they ever enter, or as they enter, a building. Metal detectors have been effectively dispatched and used to identify weapons on a person entering a building. The major drawbacks of metal detectors are the cost to operate them, several security guards per machine, and the resultant bottlenecks which cause limited throughput at the entrances. The technology eliminates the need to empty pockets and allows backpacks, luggage bags, and purses to be scanned New technology on the market uses millimeter wave detection to quickly scan someone walking through a portal. The technology eliminates the need to empty pockets and allows backpacks, luggage bags, and purses to be scanned at the same time as the person. People can walk through the portals side by side to reduce bottlenecks. Additionally, the technology reduces the number of guards needed, reducing overall costs.  Taking out the human element The first step in surviving a mass shooting is being situationally aware. Immediately accepting and understanding the sounds as gunshots is paramount. Just a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death during an active shooter situation. Gunshot detection can eliminate the fear factor, which in many cases temporarily paralyzes those involved and causes precious seconds to pass before action is taken. By using a trusted, effective gunshot detection solution properly partnered with a monitoring system can eliminate the human factor of indecision and delay. Further, coupled with a VMS camera system, it can visually verify the situation as an emergency, identify the shooter, and provide valuable, accurate information to First Responders—all within just a few seconds. The state of gunshot detection technology Gunshot detection technology has been explored and developed by the military since WWI, but commercially it has only been around for a few years. Such detection systems range from wide area coverage to room-to-room coverage. Most are acoustic based (using microphones) to listen for the sound of a gunshot, record the sound, then analyze it with sophisticated software to determine if it is, indeed, a gunshot. Many years have been invested fine-tuning the software to differentiate between a gunshot and other loud noises. Eliminating ambient noise is very difficult during this process. The locations and venues mentioned at the outset of this article inherently have loud, ambient noise. This, in most cases, causes systems to give a false-positive or to even fail to detect the gunshot. In turn, it can send unverified or wrong information to First Responders and Security and cause havoc of unwarranted fear and actions. To help increase the accuracy of the detection of an actual gunshot, many systems have added infrared sensors. Many systems use backroom or cloud servers to run the necessary analysis In addition to the challenge of false positives, many systems use backroom or cloud servers to run the necessary analysis. This not only increases the cost of the system but may increase the notification time of the actual gunshot. Integration of this data to alarm, notification, and camera systems is difficult and costly. And experts say none of these systems are yet 100 percent effective. Enter ultrasonic sensor technology Fortunately, new technology is emerging in the industry. Technology which can eliminate the false-positives and reduce the cost by doing away with the expensive software, servers, cloud servers, and human intervention. This technology uses non-acoustical ultrasonic sensors to detect the frequency of a gunshot concussive wave created by a bullet, leaving the chamber along with the explosion wave force. Because these sensors are not acoustic (microphone), they will not pick up the ambient noise like other systems. In addition, the ultrasonic sensors only detect the gunshot concussive wave within the determined frequency. This also helps eliminate confusion caused by loud noises such as thunder, cars backfiring, large boxes being dropped, etc. An added bonus is ultrasonic sensors are not acoustic, therefore they are never listening or recording, the sensors only operate when there is an actual gunshot; hence, they’re completely non-invasive. The ultrasonic sensors only detect the gunshot concussive wave within the determined frequency Finally, these non-acoustic sensors do much of the work through an onboard processor, no backroom or cloud servers are needed. Integration to systems such as VMS, Access Control, Alarm Panels, etc. requires minimal effort. This allows existing security systems to be integrated with gunshot detection, creating a low-cost, highly effective overall solution. Protecting our children, loved ones, employees, and customers is a monumental challenge for any security professional. Using newly available technology, combined with existing security infrastructure, we have the ability to add on layers of safety to help reduce the tragedy of gun violence and mass shootings. This article was co-written by Brad McMullen, General Manager at 3xLOGIC, and Brad Jarrett, CTO at Active Guardian.

Facial recognition continues to be a political football and a target of privacy activists in the United States. For example, San Diego has suspended its use of facial recognition scanners by law enforcement after a campaign by civil rights groups. The San Diego Tactical Identification System (TACIDS) program included a database of facial recognition scans shared by 30 local, state and federal agencies. A California law, passed in the fall, puts a three-year moratorium on law enforcement use of face recognition technology. A proposal in Congress would prohibit use of biometric recognition technology in most public and assisted housing units funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), thus protecting the more than two million public housing residents nationwide from being “over-surveilled.” The “No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act” is supported by the NAACP, the National Housing Law Project, National Low-Income Housing Coalition, National Action Network, Color of Change, and the Project on Government Oversight. The problems of Facial Recognition "Studies that show that facial recognition systems may misidentify many individuals including women and people of colour" A letter from seven members of Congress to HUD Secretary Ben Carson questioned the use of facial recognition in federally assisted housing because it “could be used to enable invasive, unnecessary and harmful government surveillance of…residents.” The letter cites studies that show that facial recognition systems may misidentify many individuals including women and people of color, thus “exacerbating vulnerabilities that marginalized groups already face in life.” In June, Somerville, Mass., became the second U.S. city to ban the use of facial recognition technology in public spaces. The first was San Francisco. A coalition of organizations and trade associations has issued a letter to Congress outlining concerns with “blanket prohibitions” or moratoriums on facial recognition technology and listing beneficial uses for public safety, national security and fighting fraud. The Security Industry Association (SIA) is part of the coalition, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. A letter from seven members of Congress to HUD Secretary Ben Carson questioned the use of facial recognition in federally assisted housing   Facial recognition technology has benefited Americans in many ways, such as helping to thwart identity thieves" The letter says: “While polls consistently show that Americans trust law enforcement to use facial recognition technology responsibly, some groups have called for lawmakers to enact bans on [the] technology. While we agree that it is important to have effective oversight and accountability of these tools to uphold and protect civil liberties, we disagree that a ban is the best option.” Development and guidance  As alternatives to outright bans, the letter proposes expanded testing and performance standards, develop of best practices and guidance for law enforcement, and additional training for different uses of the technology. “Facial recognition technology has benefited Americans in many ways, such as helping to fight human trafficking, thwart identity thieves and improve passenger facilitation at airports and enhance aviation security,” says Don Erickson, CEO of SIA. “SIA believes this advanced technology should be used in a safe, accurate and effective way, and look forward to working with Congress to help the U.S. set the example on how to ethically and responsibly govern this technology.” SIA has produced a document called “Face Facts: Dispelling Common Myths Associated with Facial Recognition Technology.”

GSX 2019 got off to a jaunty start Tuesday. The show was humming with activity much of the day, and most exhibitors said they were pleased with the numbers and types of potential customers visiting their booths. There seemed to be less emphasis on product introductions than at the ISC West show in the spring (although there is much that is on the new side), while the trend toward system sales is continuing. Here's a review of Day 1 from the show floor. Dahua continues to educate market  “Traffic-wise, the show is better than last year,” observed Tim Shen, Director of Marketing at Dahua Technology USA, at midday on Tuesday. “We met more people from Latin America,” he added. Shen theorized that Chicago is at the center of a larger territory of customers than last year’s location (Las Vegas).Dahua’s presence at the show makes a statement: “We’re still here" Dahua has faced some negative publicity in the last year since they were banned from procurement by U.S. government customers by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Dahua’s presence at the show makes a statement, says Shen. The statement is “We’re still here.” Shen said only one visitor to the Dahua booth even mentioned the NDAA on the first day of the show, and the visitor was misinformed about the provisions and implications of the law. “There is a lot of misinformation,” he says. “We need to continue to educate the market.” Facial recognition, video metadata, and people counting New at the show is the Dahua Analytics+ line of cameras that feature more in-depth analysis of data such as facial attributes, video metadata, and people counting. For example, the cameras can identify 128 points in a face, with an additional 256 attributes analyzed by the back-end recorder. Analysis can provide information such as age and gender, which can help a retailer analyze the demographics of their customers, for instance. Dahua is also adopting some of its consumer line of products for sale through the commercial channel. These include a flood light camera, a 2-megapixel WiFi camera and a doorbell camera. The products might be used outside of a retail store, for example, to complement Dahua commercial cameras that are used inside the store, says Shen. Dahua previewed a new multi-sensor camera that also includes a speed dome. The multi-sensor component combines eight views, each 2 megapixels, for a total of 16 megapixels. Below the multi-sensor camera is mounted a speed dome that can zoom in on regions of interest in the larger multisensor view. The camera will be launched in the fourth quarter. The show was humming with activity much of the day, and most exhibitors said they were pleased with the numbers and types of potential customers visiting their exhibits ACRE reports continued North American growth “The industry’s momentum will continue to grow,” predicted Joe Grillo, Principal of ACRE. New areas such as cloud and mobile credentialing have the fastest growth rate, but are starting from a much smaller base, he said, so momentum in those categories will take time.ACRE sees continued rapid growth with no slowdown in the North American market Grillo noticed the first morning of GSX was busy, although there was a bit of a lull at midday. In terms of the business outlook, Grillo sees continued rapid growth with no slowdown in the North American market, although there have been some negative elements creeping into the outlook in Europe. Cybersecurity concerns in access control I caught up with Grillo at the booth promoting RS2, a Munster, Ind., access control company that Acre acquired last May. It is the only Acre company that is exhibiting at GSX. RS2 is one of two access control companies acquired by Acre in the last year — the other was Open Options, Addison, Texas. Grillo said the two acquired companies are complementary, especially in terms of their sales channels and geographic strengths. Although both are national companies, RS2 tends to be stronger in the Midwest, while Open Options sales emphasis is centered in Texas and emanates to the rest of the country. Concerns about vulnerabilities are a growing issue in access control, said Grillo, and more large endusers are conducting penetration testing of systems. The industry should welcome the scrutiny, he added. Cybersecurity also represents an business opportunity in access control, noted Grillo. Concerns about the vulnerabilities of legacy technologies such as 125Khz proximity cards and the Wiegand protocol will likely accelerate the pace of companies upgrading their access control systems There seemed to be less emphasis on product introductions than at the ISC West show in the spring (although there is much that is on the new side) Eagle Eye Networks and cloud-based VMS Ken Francis of Eagle Eye Networks had already realized some new client opportunities during the first day of the show, although he was not optimistic at the outset. In contacting potential clients to meet at the show, he had heard that many were not attending. Among Eagle Eye Networks’ news at the show is full integration of body-cams into their cloud-based video management system. “It’s the most unique thing happening from a video management perspective,” Francis said. Previously, if someone needed a video clip from a body cam, they had to use a separate software system. Five years from now, at least 80 percent of all VMS systems will be cloud-managed" Francis continues to be bullish on the subject of cloud adoption of video management and made a bold prediction: “Five years from now, at least 80 percent of all VMS systems will be cloud-managed.” Eagle Eye Networks is doing its part with “rocket growth” that is reflected in an increase of company employees from 27 to 165 or so. Economies of scale have enabled Eagle Eye Networks to lower subscription prices by up to 45 percent. Genetec's release self-service PIAM system Many of the “new” products at GSX 2019 are slight variations on what was introduced at ISC West last spring. An exception is Genetec’s introduction of ClearID, a self-service physical identity and access management (PIAM) system that enforces security policies while improving the flow of people within the organization. The new system is integrated with the Genetec's Security Center Synergis access control system. PIAM systems have historically been customizable, complex to install and costly, which is why a lot of companies have not used a system. Genetec’s differentiator is that it is an off-the-shelf, out-of-the-box solution for a broader base of customers. “We scanned the market and found a lack of off-the-shelf identity management systems,” said Derek Arcuri, Product Marketing Manager, Genetec. “Targeting the mid-market, we are providing an accessible, ready-to-go cloud-based system that is ‘baked’ for the average company but can be integrated and expanded to include other systems.” The trend toward system sales at the show is continuing ClearID will simplify operation for the security department, which was previously tasked with a lot of administrative work in response to various departments. ClearID “pushes down” the authority to use the system to stakeholders (such as IT and/or facilities directors) and provides  a system they can use themselves without involving security. “It empowers stakeholders and employees to work directly through the system rather than going through security,” says Arcuri. “It gives employees access based on stakeholder policies and improves the flow of people through an organization. The security director is relieved of administrative work and can work on ‘real’ security.” I saw some other things today, too, which I will share in a future GSX article... And more about the show tomorrow.

Gunshot detection today is part of more physical security systems than ever before, and many manufacturers are developing interfaces to the latest gunshot detection technologies. Genetec has integrated ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology into its unified IP security platform, Security Center. Thanks to this integration, police departments and security professionals will be able to receive more actionable information, gain rapid access and detailed location insights when a gunshot situation occurs.   Cloud-Based Analysis Software ShotSpotter uses wide-area acoustic surveillance that automatically gets activated when gunfire occurs, providing comprehensive outdoor coverage on campuses and in complex urban geographies. ShotSpotter sensors and cloud-based analysis software triangulate and pinpoint the precise location of each round fired within seconds, the number of shots fired and provide an immediate gunfire alert with an audio clip. Detailed incident data is immediately sent to SST’s Incident Review Center (IRC), a secure data processing and alert validation facility, where acoustics experts analyze the data and qualify the incident in real-time 24/7. Once validated, an alert is sent directly into Genetec’s Security Center, all in under a minute. Once the alarm is triggered within Security Center upon gunshot detection, operators can quickly access video and other related data surrounding the location of a gunshot alert, and immediately visualize it on Security Center maps, leveraging the dynamic visualization capabilities of the Security Center Plan Manager. Genetec has integrated ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology into its unified IP security platform Gunshot Identification Software Stanley Security has announced a partnership with Shooter Detection Systems LLC (SDS), gunshot detection solutions provider. As an authorized dealer, STANLEY Security is now certified to sell, install and service SDS products and services. SDS’s Guardian Indoor Active Shooter Detection System combines acoustic gunshot identification software with infrared gunfire flash detection for a fully automated gunshot detection and alerting solution. The Guardian System immediately detects gunshots and simultaneously alerts building occupants The Guardian System immediately detects gunshots and simultaneously alerts building occupants and first responders within one second and with zero false alerts. Johnson Controls has announced that its exacqVision video management system now integrates with Databuoy Corp.’s ShotPoint acoustic gunshot detection and localization system to speed response time and heighten the decision-making process for local responders during active shooter situations. Integrated Security Systems Johnson Controls has also released the Detect360 Active Shooter Response (ASR) system, combining reliable gunshot detection with notification technology to provide immediate warning when a gunshot is fired within a building. By providing early notification and precise location of the shooter, the ASR system gives occupants time to find safety and allows police and security personnel to mitigate the threat up to 60 percent faster. Detect360 ASR gives first responders information as it develops at the scene, including shot location, number of shots, location of the shooter in near real-time and the ability to remotely monitor the situation through integrated security systems. It also collects forensic information that can later be used by law enforcement. The system supports multiple integration options, including video feeds from existing CCTV and intrusion systems, mass notification systems, access control systems and panic button/manual initiation systems. Public Safety Access Points Listed as one of the most important new technologies debuted at CES 2019 by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News, Safe Zone also showcased its Safe Zone Gunfire Detector (GFD) at ISC West 2019. Priced at $149 per unit, the Safe Zone Gunfire Detector combines infrared and sound detection technologies with immediate cloud-based data analysis that can analyze more than 3,000 data points of each loud noise that exceeds ambient levels by a certain threshold. Utilizing the data from multiple detectors simultaneously, the system determines the location of shots fired, the number of shots, and the type and caliber of gun being used. Within 10 seconds of the trigger pull, an alert is sent to Public Safety Access Points in the appropriate dispatch center, giving local 911 dispatchers all critical information on their computers. Reseller Recruitment Program Shot Tracer has launched a reseller recruitment program with a highly attractive on-boarding proposition for qualified dealers. Qualifying resellers can receive a Gunshot Simulator Kit valued at $1,000 when they commit to becoming a Shot Tracer dealer. Shot Tracer’s Eagle Gunshot Detection System easily integrates with virtually any security, alarm, surveillance and access system via contact closure – or wirelessly via IP integration. The system determines the location of shots fired, the number of shots, and the type In fact, Shot Tracer gunshot detection sensors are as easy to install as a smoke detector, so there’s virtually no learning curve for installing dealers. The new Shot Tracer Reseller Recruitment Program includes an exclusive offer for installing dealers to receive a free Gunshot Simulator Kit, valued at over $1000, which is essential for demonstrating Shot Tracer Eagle Gunshot Detection sensors. Terms and conditions apply for qualifying resellers.

Collins Aerospace has completed deployment of its ARINC SelfPassTM biometrics solution at Haneda Airport, one of the busiest airports in Asia, streamlining passenger processing through reduced physical interactions and bottlenecks at multiple passenger touchpoints. Collins Aerospace is a Raytheon Technologies business. “Our ‘Face Express’ system will allow passengers to efficiently proceed through procedures at the airport (baggage drop, security checkpoint entrance, boarding gate) utilizing facial recognition, eliminating the hassle of showing their passport and boarding pass,” said Shoichi Ohashi, Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation’s senior manager for the Facility Department. “We worked closely with Collins Aerospace to achieve this and enhance passenger convenience at Tokyo Haneda airport.” SelfPass biometrics solution Rakan Khaled, vice president, Airport Systems for Collins said, “Our ARINC SelfPass biometrics solution at Tokyo Haneda Airport streamlines passenger processing while improving airport efficiency and security. Despite the challenging pandemic environment, we were able to manage staffing and suppliers to ensure smooth delivery of the solution.” This project includes the installation of 98 Self-Service Check-In Kiosks, 30 biometric enrollment kiosks, 104 biometric devices for Self-Bag Drop, 17 biometric Automated Security Gates, and 42 biometric Automated Self-Boarding Gates.

SAFR from RealNetworks, Inc., a pioneer in high accuracy, low bias facial recognition, announces a collaboration with Dains, a Korean company that specializes in unmanned people and asset counting solutions. As part of the collaboration, SAFR is providing its AI-based computer vision technology to increase the accuracy of people counting to prevent duplicates of customers and employees. The combined solution was recently deployed at the National Memorial Hall of the Korean War Abductees in Paju, Gyeonggi-do. Unmanned counting system Since there is no entrance fee for the memorial, accurate statistics on the number of unique visitors were required. Dains developed an unmanned counting system with a feature to prevent counting duplication by utilizing SAFR's face recognition technology. Using SAFR facial recognition, the system can ignore multiple re-entries from visitors With ceiling-mounted camera counting systems, it is difficult to avoid duplicate counts when the same person enters or exits the premises multiple times. Employees entering and exiting would also skew count accuracy. Using SAFR facial recognition, the system can ignore multiple re-entries from visitors while opted-in staff can be removed from the total count entirely. Ceiling-mounted cameras Ceiling-mounted cameras can rarely be used to identify individuals due to their limited field of view. SAFR facial recognition enables cameras to be installed at standard surveillance mounting heights so as to reliably capture individuals and events. Dains plans to expand the unmanned counting product using SAFR's face recognition technology to additional markets. It also plans to offer options for analyzing visitor gender and age, enhanced employee attendance management, and access control.

Teleste will provide an on-board solution to Alstom for the Marseille metro network in France, ordered by the Aix Marseille Provence Metropole, AMP.  Teleste’s deliveries will include onboard TFT displays as well as systems for passenger information, public address, CCTV, and wireless train-to-ground functions for 38 4-car driverless metro trains, with an option for an additional 5 vehicles. The system deployments will start in 2021, and the first trains will enter into service in 2024. Flexibility and efficiency in metros “Introducing automated services to metro networks will increase flexibility and efficiency in operation, while also setting high requirements for the train technology, especially when it comes to real-time train to the ground transmission of audio, video, and passenger information content.” “Our onboard systems are well-equipped to meet the challenge by enabling reliable, real-time connectivity between moving trains and the ground system, reinforced by seamless integration also with third-party systems." "We are pleased that Alstom selected our solution for their project and are looking forward to providing a safe and smooth travel experience for the passengers of Metro Marseille,” commented Jarkko Vehkala, Head of the Rolling Stock Manufacturers business line at Teleste. Driverless metro operations Teleste’s on-board solution seamlessly supports fully automated, driverless metro operations Teleste’s on-board solution has been designed for the seamless support of fully automated, driverless metro operations, which will be taken into use in the Marseille metro by the end of 2026. This means that the trains will then be controlled without any staff on board from the operator’s train control system, and a reliable interface between the new and legacy systems will be deployed. Seamless remote operations Teleste’s solution meets the requirements by seamlessly combining onboard systems such as a public address, CCTV, and the delivery of passenger information with an advanced train-to-ground transmission system. This allows the operator to manage onboard operations remotely while, for example, getting 24/7 access to live camera views from the metro cars to ensure the safety and security of passengers during their journey. Also automatic and manual offload of video recordings, system diagnostics as well as automatic updates, and version control of the train software are enabled. With interfaces to third-party systems, the solution also empowers seamless operation of the onboard functionalities as part of larger transport ecosystems.

HID Global, a globally renowned company in trusted identity solutions, has announced that it has delivered a re-designed ePassport booklet and document issuance software to Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA). The European country, known worldwide as a pioneer of electronic identity and services, recently issued the new passport booklet, making it possible for citizens to renew their travel documents to receive the new ePassport. HID ePassport solution “HID is proud to meet the rigorous quality and technical ePassport specifications required by the government of Estonia, which is widely renowned for providing high-caliber electronic identity documents and services to its citizens,” said Craig Sandness, Senior Vice President and Head of Secure Issuance and Citizen ID Solutions. Craig Sandness adds, “The new booklets and supporting software solution simultaneously enhance the country’s ePassport document with industry-leading security features, while capturing the essence of Estonia’s national identity.” Featuring polycarbonate datapage Document holders benefit from various forward-looking features included in Estonia’s unique and improved ePassport Document holders benefit from various forward-looking features included in Estonia’s unique and improved ePassport. The document’s polycarbonate datapage incorporates optically variable inks, two laser images, and a window in the shape of Estonia for strong protection against fraud. Additional visual components that reflect the country’s identity include visa pages that showcase six native animals found in Estonia’s natural habitats and UV and embossed features that depict the local climate. Semi-automated personalization process “Estonia took a significant step forward with the new passport project, introducing the identity document which binds the history, present and future of Estonia as a cohesive design and tells the story of Estonia in the world,” said Eliisa Sau, Chief Expert of the PPA Identity and Status Bureau. Eliisa Sau adds, “With the project not only was the design changed, but the first ever polycarbonate datapage was introduced together with new technology and semi-automated personalization process.” Quality assurance software modules HID’s personalization and quality assurance software modules seamlessly integrate into Estonia’s existing issuance system and enable polycarbonate datapage personalization, secure chip encoding, encryption, and help ensure the condition of the ePassports. For additional security, the PPA is able to track each booklet from the manufacturing facility to the conclusion of the personalization process with HID’s inventory software module. The Estonian government issues seven types of travel documents to citizens that are valid for up to 10 years.

HID Global, a globally renowned company in trusted identity solutions, has announced that it has delivered re-designed ePassport booklet and document issuance software to Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA). The European country, known worldwide as a pioneer of electronic identity and services, recently issued the new passport booklet, making it possible for citizens renewing their travel documents to receive the new ePassport. technical ePassport specifications “HID is proud to meet the rigorous quality and technical ePassport specifications required by the government of Estonia, which is widely renowned for providing high-caliber electronic identity documents and services to its citizens,” said Craig Sandness, Senior Vice President and Head of Secure Issuance and Citizen ID Solutions at HID Global. Craig Sandness adds, “The new booklets and supporting software solution simultaneously enhance the country’s ePassport document with industry-leading security features, while capturing the essence of Estonia’s national identity.” Identity protection and fraud detection Document holders benefit from various forward-looking features included in Estonia’s unique and improved ePassport Document holders benefit from various forward-looking features included in Estonia’s unique and improved ePassport. The document’s polycarbonate datapage incorporates optically variable inks, two laser images and a window in the shape of Estonia for strong protection against fraud. Additional visual components that reflect the country’s identity include visa pages that showcase six native animals found in Estonia’s natural habitats and UV and embossed features that depict the local climate. ePassport booklet “Estonia took a significant step forward with the new passport project, introducing the identity document which binds the history, present and future of Estonia as a cohesive design and tells the story of Estonia in the world,” said Eliisa Sau, Chief Expert of the PPA Identity and Status Bureau. Eliisa Sau adds, “With the project not only was the design changed, but the first ever polycarbonate datapage was introduced together with new technology and semi-automated personalization process.” HID inventory software module HID’s personalization and quality assurance software modules seamlessly integrate into Estonia’s existing issuance system and enable polycarbonate datapage personalization, secure chip encoding, encryption, and help ensure the condition of the ePassports. For additional security, the PPA is able to track each booklet from the manufacturing facility to the conclusion of the personalization process, with HID’s inventory software module. The Estonian government issues seven types of travel documents to citizens that are valid for up to 10 years.

The customer is involved in shipping and transportation at a local port, responsible for docking ships, offloading, storage, and distribution of cargo. Due to the nature of their business, coupled with the constraints and logistics of their physical geography, the property is tightly regulated as to who can, or cannot gain access. In addition to their internal regulations and protocols, they are subject to directives and requirements of the Department of Homeland Security along with the Department of transportation. As the port expands both in acreage and volume, being able to more thoroughly and accurately identify personnel as they ‘come and go’ becomes increasingly vital. Challenges As Securiteam began its discovery and design process, two major issues need to be accounted for: Transportation workers are required to carry a TWIC card, which serves as a means to validate an individual who may be attempting to enter a port area. The TWIC card utilizes FIPS technology, a level of data encoding that contains more information than with a standard Weigand output. This data would then be displayed on a monitor at 2 attended guard stations to provide staff with a method of visual verification. The means of Transportation Worker validation would only serve as a first step in the organization’s overall Physical Access Control System (PACS) deployment. The actual comprehensive access control system would not be installed for 18 months from the completion of the initial phase. The factors, combined with additional “wants” of the stakeholders (centralized remote management, ease of operation, database migration, video integration, etc…) meant that whatever system installed would by necessity have to be scalable nationally as well as locally. This could not be treated as a standard “6 doors” access control system. The chosen solution would require creativity as well as technical skill to successfully configure. Linus based access control solution Securiteam utilized a Linux-based, embedded access control solution along with FIPS-compliant readers   Because of the requirements for conclusive validation of identification, Securiteam utilized a Linux-based, embedded access control solution along with FIPS-compliant readers. These initial appliances have been combined with a server interface to a national TWIC holder database ensuring that the information received by guards at the point of port access is as current and accurate aspossible. This initial phase has since been incorporated into an overall port access control system which serves not only to validate but to regulate who is granted access where and under what conditions. Scalable Having used the system for over 2 years, the client is extremely pleased with how the initial deployment has exceeded their original requirements and expectations. The scalability of the overall solution has ensured that further deployment can proceed without additional investment in infrastructure or software. Additionally, the database, along with permissions and allowances, can be managed remotely at the corporate headquarters. Data upgrades The end-user is that the server is eligible for firmware upgrades when improved technology is available Finally, the infrastructure will enable the rollout of similar design solutions at other port locations within the area and nationwide. As a person is entered into the system, they can be granted access at any site within the network. Another benefit for the end-user is that the server is eligible for firmware upgrades when improved technology is available for distribution, ensuring that their technology is never out of date. Finally, the company was able to pass along to the customer the lower installation costs and economies of scale available with an IP-based solution. As a result, less of their investment dollar went toward labor costs and expendables such as wire and hardware associated with older, less technologically advanced, analog systems, and more was invested in the flexibility of the technology.

Video analytics are undergoing a fundamental change in the market as machine learning enhances their accuracy while expanding their capabilities. But what are those expanded capabilities and how are they impacting the operation of security and video systems? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new video analytics are having an impact in the market and how?

Ensuring privacy is often a concern for video surveillance systems, especially in situations where a system intended for “public” surveillance could somehow, perhaps inadvertently, view private areas or situations. The classic example is an apartment building whose windows are within the range of a video surveillance camera. How can you provide video surveillance without invading the privacy of the apartment dwellers? Integrators and end users often turn to technology for a solution. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Round Table: How can smart camera features (such as privacy masking and programmable pan-tilt-zoom) address concerns about privacy?

Terrorism is in the headlines all over the world. After any such incident, many of us in the physical security market find ourselves asking: What could we have done to prevent it? Assessing risk and preventing catastrophes before the fact are part of our market’s DNA; and yet, too often the random nature of terrorist attacks and their targeting of public places leave us unsure of anything anyone could have done. How can we translate the benefits of our industry’s products into real-world solutions that can prevent terrorist attacks? We presented the question to this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable, and received a variety of interesting responses. Specifically, we asked: How is the recent rise in terrorism impacting the physical security market (e.g., higher demand, different mix of products, etc.)? How should the physical security market respond? What solutions are needed?