Randy Smith

Security control rooms should be functional and durable, and their aesthetics should incorporate matching colours that are conducive to a 24/7 operating environment—not too much contrast and easy on the eyes. Another factor driving aesthetics is an enterprise’s desire to create a ‘showpiece’ to demonstrate a commitment to security for shareholders and other stakeholders. “Everyone wants to have a good-looking control room and a cost-effective design,” says Matko Papic, Chief Technology Officer of Evans Consoles. Role of lighting and aesthetics in control rooms “Lighting is a critical factor for operators,” adds Papic. Studies of control rooms have sought to address issues of circadian rhythms (physical, mental, and behavioural changes that a person undergoes over a 24-hour cycle, based on responses to light) and the impact of changing light colours throughout the day. Flexibility is key. Properly adjusted light can increase alertness at 2 a.m.; controlling the colour, tone and intensity of light can increase productivity any time of day. Evans Controls has experts who can do a lighting study of a room as part of construction services and consulting. Evans Controls has experts who can do a lighting study of a room as part of construction services and consulting Aesthetics, depending on the control room, can be very important, agrees Randy Smith, President of Winsted. His company accommodates aesthetics by using a variety of matching laminates, solid (Corian-type) surfaces, and sometimes real wood. They can put in a console with matching work surfaces, a credenza or other furnishings, or can even match existing décor in a facility. Customised tailored furnishing Security control rooms, often operating in glass enclosures, are often used to “make a statement” about the security of a facility, says Smith. Companies want the control rooms to be up-to-date, and have “cool designs.” Sometimes they want to add a company logo to a work surface or side panels, or they want to employ corporate colours in the design. Winsted can customise its offerings to meet any such requirements, says Smith. In too many instances, the control room is an afterthought: They just install furniture that fits with the monitors. How the furnishings are tailored to the operator is often not considered, says Papic. He offers several other considerations: Will the furniture last the lifetime of the control room? How adaptable is a design to possible future changes, whether larger monitors, managing cables, or ability to reconfigure the console? Furniture should not be viewed as a transactional item; there are more issues to address beyond physically housing the equipment, says Papic. Read part 5 of our Control Rooms series here

Technology is changing the look and function of today’s security control rooms. Old-school CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors are giving way to the thinner, flat screen monitors in the control room environment, but the transition is gradual. Randy Smith of Winsted still sees many control rooms that need to make the conversion, which is a boon to his company’s business. Furniture today is designed differently to accommodate the thinner monitors, often with larger screens. Need for integrated rack systems With the increase of IP-based systems comes the need for integrated rack systems that include advanced functionality such as cable management, adds Jim Coleman, National Sales Manager, AFC Industries. Server rooms are environmentally controlled by cooling systems and power systems monitored on the IP network. Low-profile flat screens allow centres to utilise space vertically, thus creating a smaller footprint for the consoles. Additionally, with IP-based systems, workstations will have a smaller footprint because there is less cumbersome equipment. In most cases the servers are stored in a secured, climate controlled environment to eliminate overheating of the servers and maintain their security, says Coleman. This environment also helps with cable and power management. AFC builds technical furniture racks that adhere to the precise needs of computer network server room operators. The company designs and fabricates LAN workbenches with versatile functionalities, and server room workstation racks that are scalable. There is a complete line of IT workbenches, IT computer racks and computer server rack mounts with flexible mounting options. In most cases the servers are stored in a secured, climate controlled environment to eliminate overheating of the servers and maintain their security Flexible control room designs Matko Papic, Chief Technology Officer of Evans Consoles, says the transition from bulky CRT equipment to flat-screen (lower profile) monitors was a major disruption in control room design; it changed the whole dynamic. Another evolution is the use of IP video streaming, which allows more flexibility in manipulation of audio-video content, and requires more flexible control room designs. Another shift, driven by larger, higher-definition monitors, is a shift to fewer monitors that display more information. Instead of a smaller monitor for each information stream, larger monitors now consolidate that information into “dashboard” displays. Looking ahead, control rooms will need to be more flexible, both in the initial design and the ability to adapt to changing technology, says Papic. Legacy customers who are currently using PCs may be moving to more remote applications. Sit-stand equipment will continue to be increasingly prevalent. “There will be more emphasis on flexibility, technology integration, and the ability to change over the life of the system,” says Papic. Consolidation of multiple operations into a single system A trend in security is consolidation of multiple physical operations into a single system, says Papic. As a result, more customers are taking more interest in alarm management and situational awareness. How is the technology being used in terms of alarm triggers? How can the systems react rapidly and provide information to a larger audience in the control room? These questions impact how control rooms are designed, and Evans Consoles can adapt lessons learned from other markets to these trends in the security arena. Greater use of technology is inevitable, says Coleman of AFC Industries. “It is virtually impossible for humans to monitor all security data at the street level in our cities,” he says. “As computers become more powerful and their programs more all-encompassing, we will see a greater shift to robotic and technology uses that will provide enhanced monitoring capabilities and safety Read our Control Rooms series here

When people think of control rooms, images from James Bond movies or intense action stories come to mind. What they fail to realise is the incredible level of ergonomics, technology, precision and craftsmanship required to create a top-notch command and control room. “These are rooms of complex functionalities, where hundreds of elements must be integrated and function in sync,” says Jim Coleman, National Sales Manager, AFC Industries. Professional teams from several different industries must coordinate every single detail in order to ensure that functionality occurs each and every time. Reconfigurable furniture for control rooms AFC Industries is one company that specialises in equipping control rooms for security and other applications. AFC Industries was established in 1994 as a family-owned business that focuses on the design and construction of ergonomic products. Their height-adjustable units guarantee the right height for standing desks as well as traditional sitting levels. The company produces an array of Command and Control ergonomic security consoles and mounting solutions. Modular racking systems facilitate efficient storage of electronic and audio-visual equipment. As technology changes, older traditional consoles are no longer a necessity. Many organisations instead are choosing to use lighter, less costly, reconfigurable furniture that allows more flexibility. Command Centres need to be able to reconfigure the space at will. Because most systems are housed in secure data centres, users should be able to quickly move their positions by relocating their workstations, utilising different network connections. Simple control room features, like those addressing lighting or operator comfort, can make the difference in a correct or incorrect decision during a crisis Emergency operations centres A positive trend driving the market for control rooms is an increase in emergency operations centres (EOCs), says Randy Smith, President of Winsted. “Everybody is concerned about what happens in an emergency,” says Smith, and the centres are popping up as a tool for emergency preparedness. It’s another environment where sit-stand work stations are the rule. Winsted’s product lines include stock modular and customised elements in good-better-best categories – from basic to lots of “bells and whistles;” jobs can be configured from modular elements or customised as needed. Customised control rooms for seamless operation There is a lot at stake in control room design: Lives can depend on how effectively a control room functions in an emergency. Control rooms should seamlessly accommodate both everyday occurrences and crisis situations, says Matko Papic, Chief Technology Officer of Evans Consoles. Better-operating control rooms can increase efficiency and reduce and/or mitigate risk. Simple control room features, like those addressing lighting or operator comfort, can make the difference in a correct or incorrect decision during a crisis. Addressing operator comfort can reduce the possibility of workers’ compensation claims. End users are seeing multiple benefits of creating a better operating environment, better sightlines, more comfort and attention to ergonomics. As a fully integrated control room solutions provider, Evans Consoles approaches the needs of a control room environment beginning in the conceptual/operational planning stage. They consider broad issues such as how information will be processed, the interface between technology and operators, and the cognitive and physical interactions of operators – understanding that these factors drive the layout and function of control rooms. After analysing tasks to be performed in the environment, Evans lays out the consoles to meet those needs. Rather than a predesigned solution, each installation is tailored around a specific application. Read part 2 of our Control Rooms series here

Some end users and integrators are daunted by the idea of designing control rooms, but they shouldn’t be. “It’s not difficult to design because we will help,” says Randy Smith, President of Winsted. “We will walk you through the entire process.” Some control rooms still need storage areas for consoles underneath the workspace; however, when hardware is relocated to a server room, Winsted has modern, streamlined and simplified designs with no doors or storage under the work area. The request for a new control room can come from a consulting engineer, an integrator, or even from an end user. All Winsted sales go through the company’s integrator channel, although larger jobs tend to be specified by security engineers or consultants, who put the job out to bid with integrators. “The most important thing is for engineers to understand we are a partner for them and will walk through a project from beginning to end. We will do the design work and make sure it’s correct,” says Smith. Designing control room furnishings In designing control room furnishings, Winsted considers the room dimensions, number of operators, electronics to be deployed and both the day-to-day workflow of the room and how it will need to operate in an emergency. Smith says that putting in new security hardware is often the catalyst for redesigning the control room. Winsted’s free equipment layout software is available on the website, and Winsted can also provide an AutoCAD drawing of the room and proposed furnishings. Depending on the market, another manufacturer, Evans Consoles, works with a variety of partners, dealers, integrators, and equipment providers. Most of the work they do is “brownfield” and involves retrofitting of existing facilities, says Richard Game, Chief Operating Officer of Evans Consoles. Evans Consoles personnel span a range of capabilities; from architects to visualisation artists, to engineers Broad spectrum of resources Evans Consoles personnel span a range of capabilities from architects to visualisation artists, to engineers; encompassing product design and construction management, and considering ergonomics. This broad spectrum of resources enables Evans to provide control room furnishings in 15 different market areas – security is just one of them. As a broad-based company, they can apply lessons learned across the span of various markets; as a global company, they can consider where the technology is going on a global scale. They execute an average of more than 40 control room projects a month. Evans seeks to engage with customers as subject matter experts in the area of control rooms; they can work at any level of engagement as needed by the customer, based on a scaled approach. For an architect concerned with the overall design of a building, for example, they can help to focus on the control room piece of the puzzle. They can work either with an integrator or an end user. “Some just want to buy the Evans products, and others want integrated services,” says Game. AFC Industries, another manufacturer, also provides free on-site consultation to create a customer environment. The company provides free project support and design service too. Read part 4 of our Control Rooms series here

  Ergonomics are a critical, but often misunderstood aspect of designing control rooms for security. Ergonomics have a deep impact on the integrity of an operation, and the issue goes beyond the control room furniture. Matko Papic, Chief Technology Officer of Evans Consoles, divides ergonomics into three areas: physical (reach zones, touch points, monitors); cognitive (the individual’s ability to process information without overlooking a critical element) and organisational (how the facility operates in various situations; e.g., is it adequately designed for an emergency event?). He says the Evans approach is to determine the precise placement required for each element an operator needs, and then to design and build console furniture to position it there. Basically, the idea is to tailor the control room to the operation. What tasks must an operator perform? Are they manageable or should they be divided up among several operators? Control room design should accommodate the need to collaborate, and be flexible enough to adapt to various situations. It all begins with understanding the information that needs to be processed, says Papic. Increased productivity in the workplace Because personnel are often stationed at a specific console, desk or workstation for long hours, physical problems and productivity issues can result, says Jim Coleman, National Sales Manager, AFC Industries. Ergonomically designed furniture and related products have been proven to increase productivity and alleviate physical stress in the workplace. Ergonomic furniture solutions are crafted for the ultimate in safety, adaptability, comfort and functionality. Coleman says AFC Industries can tailor furniture to specific needs and environment. For example, a height-adjustable workstation can be combined with adjustable monitor arm mounts to create a relaxed, comfortable environment. Furniture offers modern designs, comfortable ergonomics, and comprehensive features. Rugged materials withstand the 24/7 use of command control centres. Health benefits of ergonomic workstations A sedentary office environment is often an unhealthy one. “For people who sit most of the day, their risk of heart attack is about the same as smoking,” says Martha Grogan, Cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic. Ongoing research and studies have shown that a change in posture (i.e., using ergonomic sit-to-stand workstations) is an effective means to combat these negative health issues. Using sit-to-stand workstations helps to eliminate musculoskeletal disorders caused by long-term sitting. They can also improve productivity and focus from the increased blood flow. Energy levels can rise and employees burn more calories. Control room design should accommodate the need to collaborate and be flexible enough to adapt to various situations “The ergonomic environment we create for control rooms involves considering every need of the staff at each workstation and their equipment, as well as workflow within the entire room,” says Coleman. “From the proper setting of screen focal lengths to sound absorption and glare reduction, each requirement and phase of a control room design is a necessary process to ensure the protection and safety of people and property.” Emergency operations centre “The military has figured out that you are more alert when you are standing,” says Randy Smith, President of Winsted, and the realisation is guiding emergency operations centre (EOC) design toward sit-stand. “As soon as there is an emergency, everybody stands up,” Smith adds. Designing EOC environments also requires systems be integrated with annunciating signal lights to facilitate communication among operators. Winsted’s sit-stand consoles can be combined with a motorised M-View monitor wall mount, enabling a 60-inch wall monitor to be raised and lowered to match the positioning of the sit-stand console. Larger, wall-mounted screens are easier to use for operators, since a larger monitor size can make it easier to read text on a screen, for example. Combining the larger monitor with sit-stand capabilities provides the best of both options. Many operators today stand for 50 percent of their day, says Smith. Ergonomic standards guide the design of Winsted’s control room consoles, including ISO 11064 standards for the design of control centres. The furniture also is designed to accommodate industrial wire management (larger wire bundles), unlike furniture that might be bought in an office supply store. Read part 3 of our Control Rooms series here {##Poll37 - How well do you incorporate ergonomics into your control rooms?##}

It’s common knowledge today that sitting all day is bad for your health. Researchers have found that the negative impact of excessive sitting can even outweigh the benefit we get from exercise. Many of us have seen the long list of negative health effects of sitting at work. But what about all those security control room operators, perpetually vigilant, and perpetually tied to their stations? New sit-stand workstations are providing a solution, and the new stations are more popular than ever. A sit-stand workstation can move from a sitting position to a standing position, and the keyboard and mouse might move independently of the monitor. Sit-stand workstation trend taking off quickly “Cities, states and counties are all dictating that this is what you have to have in your control room,” says Randy Smith, President of Winsted Corp., a manufacturer of control room furnishings. “It’s been proven that sitting all day is bad for you, bad for your posture, your digestion, your bone structure, everything else. Standing all day also has negative effects, but a combination of both is ideal.” “I have been surprised by how quickly the sit-stand trend is taking off,” says Smith. “It’s not just like we’re selling a few. It’s skyrocketing.” Quality over cost Adapting to the need for sit-stand equipment has evolved more quickly in the consumer market for business furniture than in equipment specific to control rooms. However, the 24/7 nature of the control room environment requires higher quality, more durable equipment than might be offered by a business furniture manufacturer. Customers who try to save costs by buying the consumer-grade equipment will likely be disappointed over time, says Smith. “We build products to sustain the 24/7 environment, 365 days a year, and to last in that environment,” says Smith. “It has to be sturdy and strong so it will last. Because there are a lot of office supply people coming out with a sit-stand product, we run into customers who want to outfit their control room with essentially low-cost consumer furniture. But we say: You’re sitting there doing a security application maybe at a power plant that has to be manned 365 days a year, and you want an actuator that’s going to last going up and down, and laminates and bumpered edges that are going to last.” The 24/7 nature of the control room environment requires higher quality, more durable equipment than might be offered by a business furniture manufacturer The control room environment requires sit-stand equipment that can work repeatedly over a long period of time. Smith says: “It was challenging during development to find the right actuator (the leg that goes up and down), and we cycled and tested them over and over with monitors, including monitors that are cantilevered, which means all the weight is in the back, which is a whole other challenge. It was a lot of testing to find the right leg that would stand up.” Understanding ergonomics Ergonomics are another big issue in control room furniture. Ergonomics of control rooms are covered by the ISO 11064 standard, which specifies ergonomic principles, recommendations and requirements to be applied in the design of control centres, as well as to the expansion, refurbishment and technological upgrades of control centres. Ergonomic principles relate to multiple variables, including the angle at which a monitor is viewed. Making an ergonomic product claim is a broad statement, while the ISO 11064 standard is very specific. “If you put an ergonomic label on your product, that doesn’t mean it meets the ISO 11064 standard. It’s not the same thing; there is a standard for it,” says Smith.  “We have to educate,” he says. “People know they want something to be ergonomically correct, but what does that actually mean at the end of the day? So we educate them about line-of-sight and other ergonomics.” Technology changes are also impacting the types of control room furniture being used in the market, and Smith and others from Winsted will be watching closely at ISC West to see how technology might be changing in a way that will impact control room design. Examples include touch screens, which are becoming more popular, and larger sizes of monitors. To accommodate touch screens, Winsted mounts them on adjustable, articulating arms, but the arms have to lock into place so that the user doesn’t push them back when they touch the screen. “We have done some, and more are coming,” says Smith.

AMAG's seminar provided networking and engagement with experts about technology trends and end user expectations AMAG Technology hosted its 15th Annual Security Engineering Symposium (SES) in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Shingle Creek February 19-21, 2016. Attendees experienced a weekend of educational seminars, networking and engagement with experts about technology trends and end user expectations. AMAG Technology is the worldwide leader of end-to-end security management solutions for access control, video management and identity management. AMAG products educational sessions AMAG conducted educational sessions about their newest products: Symmetry™ GUEST Visitor Management, policy-based software Symmetry CONNECT™ and Symmetry™ v8.1 scheduled for release in Q2. President, Matt Barnette held a session about Product Vision and the future, and Senior Vice President of Sales, Kurt Takahashi presented on Unified Security Technology. Break-out sessions offered attendees opportunities to learn about several technologies that integrate with Symmetry Access Control and Symmetry CompleteView Video Management. Special sessions included: “How to do Business with Consultants,” “How to Design a Symmetry system,” and “Why Yale University chose Symmetry for their Security Management Platform.” “Our 15th Annual SES attracted the best of the best again this year, including many new faces in the consultant, customer and reseller communities,” said AMAG Technology, Vice President of Strategic Accounts, Jody Ross. “The action-packed agenda provided insight into AMAG Technology and the direction the company is heading with new solutions for our customers. The educational sessions and networking opportunities proved valuable to all who attended.” “I’ve attended this event several times because of the incredible value I receive,” said Ross & Baruzzini, Senior Systems Project Manager, Ted Wheaton. “I like to learn about AMAG, as well as learn about their technology partners and where they are heading in the future with their product development. Not only do I learn about technology trends, but there is a lot of time for networking with consultants, manufacturers, integrators and end users.” Strategic technology partners The strategic technology partners who sponsored the event valued the interaction with the consultants, integrators, end users, AMAG staff and other partners. Technology partners included: ASSA ABLOY, HID Global, Hikvision, NEC, Salient Systems, Winsted and Zenitel/Vingtor-Stentofon, FST Biometrics and Risk 360. AMAG’s Security EngineeringSymposium is an original eventthat’s been often copied, but it’snever been duplicated “The SES is set up in a way that affords ASSA ABLOY many opportunities to be in front of the customer,” said Donna Chapman, Security Consultant Relations Manager, ASSA ABLOY. “Between the small group break-out sessions, networking and social time, I believe we had several opportunities to do a deep dive on our products and partnership with AMAG. This was one of the best events I’ve attended.” Dan Rothrock, Senior Vice President Global Strategic Alliances, Zenitel USA, Inc. said, “It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 15 years. AMAG’s Security Engineering Symposium is an original event that’s been often copied, but it’s never been duplicated. We are looking for relationships. We are looking for return on investment, and we are looking for ideas for the future. All those things come out of this event every year that we attend. It’s been the best event for a return on our investment from a dollar AND relationship standpoint, and from what it helps us develop for the security industry. We are looking forward to coming back for our 16th year next year.” “The AMAG Security Engineering Symposium is unique for Salient because the forum enables us to collaborate and strengthen our engagements on several different levels,” said Tom Chamard, Executive Vice President, Salient Systems. “On one front, we’re collaborating with various AMAG resources with regards to our OEM strategy and integration enhancements of our joint platform. In addition, we view this event as the opportunity to reinforce our value propositions to integrators, end users and consultants alike. Not only do we get to extend and refine our OEM strategy with our partner, we have the opportunity to continue to support these channels and hopefully renew and fortify our position within the VMS space. The combination of these factors makes the SES conference an uncommon value for Salient.” Randy Smith, President, Winsted said, “This is the best event we do all year long. AMAG’s SES allows us to get in front of important decision makers in the security industry. It’s a key marketing event for Winsted and we make it a priority to sponsor and participate every year.” “I think this event was great,” said Yaron Zussman, CEO, FST Biometrics America. “It’s rare that you get an opportunity to see so many consultants, VAR's, and end users over a period of a weekend. For a new technology like IMID Access that is a fusion of facial recognition and behavioural biometrics, this has been great exposure to let people experience and understand our product. AMAG’s SES has generated much excitement for our product and how it integrates with AMAG’s Symmetry Access Control System.”

Titan Products Group offers American Dynamics™, KanTech, andSightLogix as part of their complete line of technology products Winsted Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of Titan Products Group to the company’s Canadian representative network. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Titan Products Group provides the security industry with high-tech software, video and data technology for security and surveillance monitoring. The company works directly with engineering specifiers and architectural firms that are updating or replacing their surveillance technology. “We’re pleased to welcome Titan Products Group to the Winsted family of representatives,” said Randy Smith, president of Winsted. “The sophisticated technology they provide security and surveillance professionals is simply unmatched, and the market penetration they have throughout the country is an asset for both organisations.” With locations in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, Titan Products Group offers such high-tech brands as American Dynamics™, KanTech, and SightLogix as part of their complete line of technology products. Their offering now includes Winsted’s comprehensive product line of command consoles and equipment racks, such as Sight-Line, EnVision and Insight. “Our approach to doing business from a partnership perspective is a value and method we share with Winsted,” said Carl Jorgensen, president of Titan Products Group. “We’re thrilled to join forces with an organisation that provides the highest standard of consoles and media racks that mount and display sophisticated technology in the most intuitive, comfortable and efficient manner possible.”