Johan Paulsson

Axis Communications is returning for the 21st edition of Intersec from 20 – 22 January 2019. Axis will showcase the many dimensions of products, solutions and services across Retail, Critical Infrastructure and Smart Cities. Future of security Philippe Kubbinga, Regional Director - Middle East & Africa, Axis Communications, “At Axis, we have stayed at the forefront by constantly challenging the status quo and investing in our people and our partners. As we move into another year, we have an ever-increasing demand for smart products, solutions and services. In the last year, network audio, edge analytics, multi-sensors and privacy of data dominated in demand, conversations and actual applications – trends we deem very positive for our industry.” We have continued to add new dimensions in our offerings across Retail, Critical Infrastructure and are also seeing a positive trend in Smart Cities" “We have continued to add new dimensions in our offerings across Retail, Critical Infrastructure and are also seeing a positive trend in Smart Cities. At Intersec 2019, we look forward to an in-depth conversation with our ecosystem on the future of security and surveillance, and its constantly adapting landscape and application.” Security end points Martin Gren, Co-Founder of Axis Communications, will be a key speaker at the Intersec Future Security Summit on 20th January 2019 where he will discuss “Future of global security industry: security end points viewed as a mode of connection, not an intrusion.” At the stand, visitors can experience the Q8742 Bi-Spectral Camera, Q1645-LE Fixed Box Outdoor Camera, Q6125-LE PTZ with IR, Access Control, Analytics, Audio Products and Management Software, Technologies and the award-winning AXIS P3717-PLE. Axis Communications will be located at stand S1-J12, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. In the lead up to Intersec, Axis also shared the Key Technology Trends for 2019. Key technology trends Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications, “It’s become a tradition to write about the key technology trends that we think will have a significant impact on our business over the coming year and the security sector as a whole.” In thinking about 2019 we see a number of the key trends being an extension of those we identified at the start of 2018" “Future-gazing is never an easy task, and while many new technologies and broader issues will no doubt be significant in the long-term, what particularly interests us are those areas where we can see a compelling use case in the shorter-term. As such, in thinking about 2019 we see a number of the key trends being an extension of those we identified at the start of 2018.” Incremental improvements In our industry today, machine or deep-learning is mostly used for video analytics, but we expect the technology will be an important component in many different applications and products in the future. Over time it will become a common tool for software engineers and will be included in many different environments and devices. But, again, its application will be driven by the most compelling use cases, not by the technology itself. There is a temptation in the surveillance and security sector to over-promise in relation to new technologies. This has been true of AI in video analytics and, particularly, in some of the claims made around the current application of deep learning. With AI and deep learning, as with any new technology, we’re committed to making sure its implementation is robust, reliable and addresses real customer challenges. Research and progress will continue, steadily, and bring incremental improvements and benefits over the next year rather than radical change. Ever-increased capacity Cloud computing is based on the centralised computing in one or many data center, and as the proliferation of connected Cloud computing is based on the centralised computing in one or many data center, and as the proliferation of connected, Internet of Things (IoT) devices grows exponentially, so does the amount of data produced. Even as more data centers with ever-increased capacity are created, this tsunami of data could become overwhelming. This can be particularly critical in areas such as video surveillance, where despite the development of technologies designed to reduce storage and bandwidth needs, data demands are still significant. This is where the benefits of edge computing come to the fore. In simple terms, as its name suggest, edge computing puts more data processing at the ‘edge’ of the network, close to where the data is collected by the sensor and before transfer to the data center. Addressing security In our business, edge computing means processing data within the camera itself. Firstly, initial processing of data within the camera can significantly reduce the bandwidth demands of both data transfer and storage. Additionally, data can be anonymised and encrypted before it is transferred, addressing security and privacy concerns. Ultimately, cloud and edge computing will not be an ‘either…or’ decision; the two will work in balance to the greatest benefit. In years to come, 2018 might be considered as the year when broad awareness of data privacy reached its highest point, particularly that associated with personal information. To those in the public and private sectors, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) bought a higher level of scrutiny than ever before to how organisations collect, store, share and use personal information (including that captured by video surveillance). Heightened awareness This data is used by the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Google and others to increase the value of these services through a high degree of personalisation To the broader consumer, however, it is more likely to be issues relating to Facebook’s use of data which has heightened awareness and concern regarding what happens to the personal data given away online. Ultimately, we live in a world where we have been given valuable online services in exchange for knowingly or unconsciously handing over a significant amount of personal data. Indeed, this data is used by the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Google and others to increase the value of these services through a high degree of personalisation. To many, however, it feels like a line has been crossed between useful personalisation and invasion of privacy, and the rumours that home voice assistants listen in to domestic conversations will only cause this unease to increase. Most impactful aspects Ultimately, the trust between an organisation and its customers is becoming an increasingly important and tangible asset. Concerns about a company’s approach to privacy and the use of personal data will be one of the most impactful aspects of trust in business moving forwards. Can something continue to be a ‘trend’ when it appears every year, and is a constant concern? Whatever your answer to that question, it’s impossible to think about issues that will affect every sector this year without a mention of cybersecurity. Indeed, in relation to the previous point, the fastest way to damage trust between a company and its customers (and shareholders) is through a cybersecurity breach. Good cybersecurity practice Cybersecurity will never be solved, because the cybercriminals will never stop trying to find and exploit vulnerabilities Cybersecurity will never be solved, because the cybercriminals (and increasingly nation states) will never stop trying to find and exploit vulnerabilities. These organisations are incredibly well-funded and organised and can innovate much more quickly than companies that need to adhere to industry regulations. Attacks are becoming more sophisticated, at a time when the number of connected devices mean that potential vulnerabilities and insecure network end-points are growing exponentially. One particular area of vulnerability that has been highlighted recently is in the supply chain, where either a lack of good cybersecurity practice or even deliberately malicious actions can result in cybersecurity breaches being achieved through both software and hardware. The provenance of products is ever more critical than ever, with manufacturers needing to be confident that every link in their supply chain is a secure as it should be. Environmental impact We’ve already seen how video analytics can be used as an operational planning tool by organisations looking to improve energy efficiency within offices, with the subsequent positive benefits for the environment. But new types of sensors can more accurately measure environmental impact across an organisation’s sites, effectively acting as highly sensitive artificial ‘noses’ calibrated to different forms of output, and thermal imaging can be used to pinpoint areas of energy wastage. For instance, one critical area where such sensors can heighten awareness, understanding and, increasingly allow for remedial action is in air quality. Whether inside buildings or in the external urban environment, the negative impacts on health and associated costs are becoming an ever-greater issue. Effective response Smart sensors will have a central role to play in addressing the problem globally. Such applications add value to organisations through efficiencies and cost savings (and, hopefully, health benefits), but also help them reach their own environmental and sustainability goals. But a final trend that we’re confident will be increasingly prevalent in 2019 will be combining and integrating sensors to prompt ‘smart’ actions In themselves, individual sensors such as those described above can deliver significant benefits. But a final trend that we’re confident will be increasingly prevalent in 2019 will be combining and integrating sensors to prompt ‘smart’ actions. For instance, in a smart city, a motion sensor connected to a barrier could trigger a camera which, in turn, would trigger an alert in the operations center, allowing for rapid and appropriate response. Or an environmental sensor could again trigger a video or thermal camera to quickly identify fires or spillages, again prompting alerts which will create a more rapid and effective response. Bringing new technologies When the range of sensors are considered – from thermal to motion, from atmospheric to video – the ways in which they could be combined are endless, as are the potential benefits of doing so. Technology continues to develop at a rapid and accelerating pace. While it can be easy to become distracted by the potential of every new trend or innovation, each must be considered in relation to the use cases that are going to deliver maximum positive impact and value to organisations and citizens. This remains the lens through which we view technology trends and their application, and 2019 promises to be another exciting year in bringing new technologies to market in increasingly useful ways.

Axis announces enhancements to its Zipstream compression technology to support the increased data streaming and storage demands of 360-degree panoramic cameras and 4K resolution. Zipstream ensures that important forensic details of video footage are maintained, while minimising bandwidth and storage requirements by an average of 50% or more. Axis also announces two new domes that include the enhanced Zipstream, offering cost effective, 360-degree, high-resolution coverage. Customer demands for video surveillance can appear contradictory: an increasing desire for improved quality, resolution, and coverage, with a simultaneous need to control costs in relation to bandwidth and data storage. The response from Axis Communications, the provider of network video, is to continually develop its unique Zipstream video compression technology, to embrace the developments in network camera capabilities. Zipstream enhancement “Storage and bandwidth make up a significant part of the total cost of a surveillance system. Axis developed Zipstream to address the specific needs of the security industry. That is, to minimise these requirements without losing forensic details”, said Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer at Axis Communications. “We are happy and proud to announce the enhancement of Zipstream now embraces both panoramic and ultra-high resolution cameras." Axis also announces AXIS M3047-P and AXIS M3048-P Network Cameras, which take advantage of enhanced Zipstream technology to deliver cost effective 360-degree coverage. They are compact fixed mini dome ‘fisheye’ cameras giving complete coverage to customers. The cameras support both camera-side as well as client-side dewarping New camera features Featuring an attractive, smaller design than their predecessors, the new cameras are flat and subtle, with no dome over the lens - making them more discreet and eliminating the risk of reflections in the dome. Smoke-detector and vandal-resistant casings, as well as a black casing, are offered as accessories for both cameras. The cameras support both camera-side as well as client-side dewarping. The smooth client-side dewarping in AXIS Camera Station or other video management systems can be easily performed in live view or on recorded material of the full 360° overview. AXIS M3047-P, with a 6-megapixel sensor, and AXIS M3048-P, with a 12-megapixel sensor, both deliver full frame rate video and excellent image quality, including overall sharpness and light sensitivity. “Combining these new 360-degree domes with the enhanced Zipstream technology really does deliver a cost-effective solution for customers, providing comprehensive coverage while ensuring the detail of that panoramic view is not lost when streaming and storing data,” added Petra Bennermark, Global Product Manager at Axis Communications. The enhancements to Zipstream will be showcased together with above-mentioned panoramic cameras and new 4K cameras at IFSEC International 2017, which takes place from June 20-22 at London ExCeL.

The latest enhancement of Axis’ Zipstream technology offers more storage and bandwidth savings without compromising on important image details Axis Communications, a provider of network video, has introduced an enhancement of its award-winning Zipstream video compression technology. It now dynamically adjusts the frame rate, instantly adapting to any changes in the scene. The new dynamic frame rate feature offers significant additional bandwidth and storage savings for video surveillance applications. Reduced bandwidth and storage for security cameras “Ensuring that important image details are captured at all times is what really counts for our customers. Being able to reduce the bitrate to almost zero when there is no activity means you get everything you need with less of what you don’t. We are working very closely with our partners and customers listening to ideas and suggestions for improvements to our Zipstream technology. One area where we have seen particularly strong demand for even further reduction of bandwidth and storage consumption is that of continuous recording of scenes with changing activity levels,” says Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications. “That's what we have achieved with the latest enhancement of Zipstream.” Benefits and cost savings Zipstream offers significant cost savings as less storage is needed and existing storage can be used more effectively Zipstream offers significant cost savings as less storage is needed and existing storage can be used more effectively. It allows customers to make use of a camera's full resolution and advanced image processing capabilities such as Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) or Axis’ Lightfinder technology while at the same time significantly reducing bandwidth and storage requirements. For edge storage applications where video surveillance footage is stored on SD memory cards inside the cameras, the increased retention time is a clear advantage. For cloud storage applications, the reduction in bandwidth consumption allows for more reliable uploads and reduces broadband connection costs. Zipstream features Important forensic details like faces, tattoos or license plates are isolated and preserved by Zipstream, while irrelevant areas such as white walls, lawns and vegetation are sacrificed by smoothing in order to achieve the desired bandwidth and storage savings. The latest enhancement of the Zipstream technology adds the concept of dynamic FPS (frames per second) to optimise the video stream's bit rate as an addition to the concepts of dynamic ROI (region of interest) and dynamic GOP (Group of Pictures) being used in existing Zipstream technology. Users have full control over the settings and can customise Zipstream to optimally meet their specific video surveillance needs. Axis’ Zipstream technology with dynamic framerate is set to be available in July 2016.

Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, has introduced the latest release of Zipstream compression technology that now automatically adapts to pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera movements, offering further storage and bandwidth savings. By analysing and optimising a network camera’s video stream in real-time, scenes containing interesting details are recorded in full image quality and resolution while other areas are filtered out. Drastically reduces bandwidth and storage needs The Zipstream technology allows users to drastically reduce bandwidth and storage needs without compromising on important image details. Forensic details such as faces, tattoos or license plates are isolated and preserved, while irrelevant areas such as white walls, lawns and vegetation are sacrificed by smoothing in order to achieve better storage savings. The best video surveillance evidence is of no value if the system is configured to automatically overwrite the footage before it is needed and by reducing bandwidth, more video can be stored on any given system. Also, it makes little sense to invest in high quality cameras when reducing the video bit rate, resolution or frame rate to a level where important details are not captured and footage no longer provides clear evidence. “Axis’ Zipstream technology has been a huge market success since its introduction a year ago. It has received several industry awards confirming it is a true game changer,” says Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications. “The latest release is able to adapt to PTZ camera movements in real-time, offering further storage and bandwidth savings and making bitrate peaks a thing of the past.” Adapts to PTZ camera movements Most IP-based video surveillance systems today are based on the H.264 video compression standard lowering bandwidth and storage requirements. Fully compatible with existing H.264 network infrastructure and video management software (VMS), Axis’ Zipstream is a significantly more efficient H.264 implementation, lowering bandwidth and storage requirements by an average 50% or more. This is achieved by adding a new module inside the video compression engine of a network camera that ensures important details in the image get enough attention in the video stream while unnecessary data can be removed. PTZ camera movements can cause bandwidth peaks resulting in frames being skipped, both in live operator viewing as well as in recordings. Axis’ Zipstream compression technology is now able to adapt to these camera movements. Bandwidth peaks can be avoided thanks to a new dynamic rate controller that is automatically enabled when the camera is being panned, tilted or zoomed.

Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, introduces Zipstream technology allowing customers to benefit from reduced bandwidth and storage requirements without having to invest in new cameras or software. Axis’ Zipstream technology is fully compatible with the widely adopted H.264 compression standard. The technology has been developed specifically for video surveillance applications and lowers bandwidth and storage requirements by an average 50% or more. Zipstream technology - Fully compatible with H.264 compression standard “Significant progress towards better image quality with higher HDTV resolutions and increased low-light performance has also increased the requirements on the network and storage infrastructure. With Axis’ Zipstream technology we enable our customers to drastically reduce bandwidth and storage needs without compromising on important image details. For example, more than twice the video footage can now be stored on SD cards or NAS’s in small systems built on AXIS Camera Companion as well as other edge recording applications,” says Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications. “Axis’ Zipstream technology adds a new module inside the network camera’s video compression engine which ensures that important details in the image get enough attention in the video stream while unnecessary data can be squeezed.” Axis’ Zipstream technology analyses and optimises the network camera’s video stream in real time. Scenes containing interesting details are recorded in full image quality and resolution while other areas are filtered out, to optimally use available bandwidth and storage. Important forensic details like faces, tattoos or license plates are isolated and preserved, while irrelevant areas such as white walls, lawns and vegetation are sacrificed by smoothing in order to achieve the better storage savings. Customers can use Axis’ Zipstream technology alongside other Axis network camera technologies such as Wide Dynamic Range - Forensic Capture and Lightfinder. As Zipstream is fully compatible with H.264 and can be used with, AXIS Camera Companion and third-party video management software installations already in place. Zipstream technology to be available on Axis’ network cameras Axis is making available its Zipstream technology on the existing network cameras AXIS Q1615, AXIS Q1635 and in the AXIS Q35 Series, via firmware updates. The first new products with Axis’ Zipstream installed are planned to be AXIS M1124/-E, AXIS M1125/-E and AXIS P1365/-E fixed network cameras, and AXIS P3224-LV/-LVE and AXIS P3225-LV/-LVE fixed dome network cameras. AXIS M1124/-E and AXIS M1125/-E are low cost network cameras with features such as Axis’ Zipstream technology, CS mount lens, Day/Night functionality, WDR – Forensic Capture and enhanced capabilities for analytics especially suited for retail and other prices sensitive installations, indoors and outdoors. AXIS M1124/-E, AXIS M1125/-E Network Cameras are planned to be available in Q2, 2015. AXIS P1365 and outdoor ready AXIS P1365-E are full featured cameras featuring WDR – Forensic Capture, audio, remote back focus as well as Axis’ Zipstream technology. The cameras’ exceptional image quality includes seamless transition between handling WDR and Lightfinder mode, making them great cameras for banking and city surveillance applications, indoors and outdoors. AXIS P1365 and AXIS P1365-E are scheduled for launch on April 9, 2015. AXIS P3224-LV/-LVE and AXIS P3225-LV/-LVE Network Cameras are streamlined, versatile and easy-to-install fixed domes that provide excellent image quality in any lightning conditions thanks to the winning combination of OptimizedIR and WDR – Forensic Capture. Axis’ Zipstream technology reduces bandwidth and storage needs without compromising image details. AXIS P3224-LV/-LVE and AXIS P3225-LV/-LVE are planned to be available in Q2, 2015.