Brad Kamcheff

Though many office workers across the globe have found themselves working remotely for the past year, we are seeing a bit of a silver lining, as vaccine rollouts hint at a return to some pre-pandemic sense of normalcy. However, while some of us might opt for a fully-remote work life, others are anticipating a hybrid solution. Even before the pandemic, offices were taking a new, more open layout approach—moving past the days of cubicles and small office configurations. Going forward, offices and other workspaces will be tasked with supporting a hybrid work solution, as well as increasing hygiene measures. Video intercom solution This is where an IP video intercom solution can assist. Below are four ways they can help usher in a smarter, safer work environment: Video intercoms assist in creating a more hygienic work environment - The outbreak of COVID-19 has raised awareness of germs and just how easily a virus can be transmitted by face-to-face contact. Germ barriers are popping up in many aspects of our daily lives, where we were not likely to see them before Unfortunately, the door is also the easiest of these germ barriers to breach As such, we’re becoming accustomed to seeing plexiglass barriers at restaurants, grocery stores, and even coffee shops. However, many don’t realise that one of the best germ barriers is a simple door. Unfortunately, the door is also the easiest of these germ barriers to breach. All it takes is a knock or a doorbell ring to make us open our germ barrier and be face-to-face with whomever is on the other side. Increasing hygiene safety A simple step to increase hygiene safety and visitor security in commercial buildings and workspaces is an IP video intercom. Installing a video intercom will allow staff to see and speak with visitors without breaching that all-important germ barrier. A video intercom system provides a first line of defence, enabling the user to visually confirm the identity of the person on the other side of the door first before granting access. It can also be used to make sure proper procedures are being followed before a person is allowed to enter, such as using hand sanitiser, wearing a mask, and following social distancing guidelines. Basic security needs A major topic of conversation the past year has been how to manage occupancy in all facilities Video intercoms for occupancy management and basic security - A major topic of conversation the past year has been how to manage occupancy in all facilities—ranging from grocery stores and retail shops to restaurants and commercial buildings. Workspaces and offices are no exception. A video intercom provides a quick and convenient method of seeing who, or what, is on the unsecure side of the door before opening. For basic security needs, if a business has a door opening into an alley, a video intercom would be used to ensure no one is waiting outside to force their way in when the door is opened. Personal protection equipment Such solutions can also be used to ensure a person is carrying proper credentials, or wearing proper personal protection equipment (PPE), before entering a sensitive area. For example, if a lab has a room which can only be accessed by two persons at a time wearing specific protective gear, a video intercom could ensure each person is properly equipped, before allowing access that particular room. Additionally, for office or workspaces that have shared common areas, such as a cafeteria, gym or even conference rooms, managing access to these spaces will remain a priority, especially with post-pandemic restrictions in place. Video intercoms are a comprehensive safety and security tool for any workspace Deliveries of packages, work-related materials, or even food are common in any office or workspace. Video intercoms can assist in facilitating safe deliveries by visually and audibly confirming the identity of the individual. The visitor could be your next big client, your lunch delivery, a fellow employee with a faulty access card, or your mail. Video intercoms are a comprehensive safety and security tool for any workspace. Visitor management systems Video intercoms provide a cost-effective solution in small to mid-sized office facilities - One significant advantage of video intercom systems is the variety of applications available. Systems range from simple one-to-one video intercoms, to buzz-in systems, to full-fledged visitor management systems in mixed-use buildings. While they might lack the resources and manpower many enterprises have, small-to medium-sized offices can also take steps to ensure the safety of their staff and customers. Like any business, controlling who comes into the building is a primary way of maintaining safety. Video intercoms work in conjunction with access control systems to provide an identifying view of visitors or employees with lost or missing credentials. They allow staff to both see and hear those on the unsecured side of the door to determine intent before granting access. Most quality video intercoms will provide a clear enough image to allow an identification card to be read by holding it close to the lens, adding another opportunity to verify identity. Touchless intercom activation One major trend is the option of providing a touchless door activation Video intercoms provide a touchless option - Even prior to COVID-19, one major trend is the option of providing a touchless door activation or touchless intercom activation of a video intercom for those without proper credentials. Though touchless isn’t a new solution to the access control market, the pandemic introduced a renewed focus on these types of solutions to provide hygienic access to visitors. For offices and other workspaces looking to make investments into post-pandemic solutions to assist in reopening, touchless can support these efforts. When it comes to smart, secure workspaces, many people think instantly of cameras or monitors, access control, and alarm systems. Proper access credentials However, video intercoms are often the missing piece of a building’s security puzzle. A video intercom provides an identifying view that is not always available from a camera covering a large area. They allow those without proper access credentials a method of requesting entry, and just like cameras, they can be activated by alarms to allow staff to clearly see and communicate. If a workspace or office is important enough to be secure, it’s important enough to be sure of who is there before the door is opened. In 2021, it’s not enough to ensure the physical security of your staff and visitors, but also to ensure they are accessing a hygienic environment. Video intercoms provide that security and peace of mind.

In-person training sessions were mostly canceled during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the need for training continued, and in some cases increased, as the security industry sought to adapt to the changing business climate of a global emergency. So how well did we as an industry adjust? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How has security industry training changed in the last year?

When technology performs a required task effectively, there is little reason to upgrade to the ‘next big thing’. In this regard, the physical security market is notoriously slow to change. Much of yesterday’s most robust and dependable equipment is still in place at thousands of customer sites, still performing as well as the day it was installed. However, there comes a point when any technology becomes outdated. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Which security technologies are becoming outdated or obsolete?

Aiphone, the international manufacturer of intercom and security communication products, is announcing its IXG Series tenant, guard, and entrance stations are integrated with Telecoil (T-Coil) to assist individuals with hearing loss or impairments who wear compatible devices. This integration allows the IXG-DM7-HID IP Video Entrance Station to send out an electromagnetic signal that the T-Coil within a person’s hearing aid picks up – allowing the hearing aid and the intercom system to directly connect to produce a clearer sound and to remove audio interference. Security communication products This feature allows those who suffer from hearing impairments to more easily communicate using an intercom system in multi-tenant facilities, as well as medical or elder-care facilities. “The Telecoil integration is important to ensure Aiphone’s intercom and security communication products can be easily used by individuals who are hearing impaired and require the assistance of a hearing aid,” said Brad Kamcheff, Marketing Manager for Aiphone Corp. More than 13 percent of people in the United States report some difficulty with hearing" “More than 13 percent of people in the United States report some difficulty with hearing and Aiphone wants to ensure that our devices support accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act." The T-Coil integration works like this: when a hearing-impaired individual approaches an intercom, the sound signal is connected to an amplifier, which generates a current to pass the signal to the induction loop – which is usually made of copper tape or wire. Multi-tenant solution The loop then produces an electromagnetic field and is then picked up by the T-Coil. As each hearing aid individually tailors the sound to the specific needs of the individual, the integration with T-Coil allows for reduced background noise and the full spectrum of sound frequencies required for intelligibility will be available. The IXG Series from Aiphone features the benefits of an IP intercom with the versatility of a multi-tenant solution, all powered by a single, full-featured system. IXG Series solutions are ideal for commercial sites, industrial facilities, schools, campuses, parking garages, retail, emergency calling, and correctional applications. Throughout 2020, Aiphone will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in North America by thanking customers, dealers, integrators, and employees for providing the opportunity to develop and improve better security and communication solutions.

Aiphone, the foremost international manufacturer of intercom and security communication products, is announcing its IXG Series tenant, guard, and entrance stations are integrated with Telecoil (T-Coil) to assist individuals with hearing loss or impairments who wear compatible devices. Integration This integration allows the IXG-DM7-HID IP Video Entrance Station to send out an electromagnetic signal that the T-Coil within a person’s hearing aid picks up, allowing the hearing aid and the intercom system to directly connect to produce a clearer sound and to remove audio interference. This feature allows those who suffer from hearing impairments to more easily communicate using an intercom system in multi-tenant facilities, as well as medical or elder-care facilities. Support accessibility “The Telecoil integration is important to ensure Aiphone’s intercom and security communication products can be easily used by individuals who are hearing impaired and require the assistance of a hearing aid,” said Brad Kamcheff, Marketing Manager for Aiphone Corp. “More than 13 percent of people in the United States report some difficulty with hearing and Aiphone wants to ensure that our devices support accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act." Process of T-Coil integration The T-Coil integration works like this: when a hearing-impaired individual approaches an intercom, the sound signal is connected to an amplifier, which generates a current to pass the signal to the induction loop, which is usually made of copper tape or wire. The loop then produces an electromagnetic field and is then picked up by the T-Coil. As each hearing aid individually tailors the sound to the specific needs of the individual, the integration with T-Coil allows for reduced background noise and the full spectrum of sound frequencies required for intelligibility will be available. IXG Series The IXG Series from Aiphone features the benefits of an IP intercom with the versatility of a multi-tenant solution, all powered by a single, full-featured system. IXG Series solutions are ideal for commercial sites, industrial facilities, schools, campuses, parking garages, retail, emergency calling and correctional applications.

Aiphone, the international manufacturer of intercom and security communication products, announces that 14 of its most popular IX Series IP video intercom stations and components have received certification from UL, an independent global safety science company that tests and certifies products. The IX Series IP video intercom stations and components which received UL certification were tested under UL standard, 62368-1, for audio/video, information, and communication technology equipment. A UL Standard certification is only granted through comprehensive procedures and guidelines, ensuring that Aiphone is offering quality products to its customers. IX Series “Aiphone recognizes it is critical our products are both reliable and meet the highest safety standards set forth by the industry,” said Brad Kamcheff, Aiphone Marketing Manager “By investing in the UL certification process, more than a dozen of our IX Series products now have the UL stamp of approval, ensuring we deliver on our goal of quality products that increase opportunities for our dealers and integrators.” The IX Series features the power of an enterprise platform with the simplicity of a single system—offering scalable enterprise security. The IX Series solution is ideal for commercial sites, industrial facilities, schools, campuses, parking garages, retail, emergency call, and correctional applications. Fourteen of Aiphone’s most deployed products from the IX Series have received the UL Standard certification. They include a wide variety of IP stations, such as hands-free video master stations, handset video master stations, and a variety of other audio and video components.