Body field communication

The sensor manufacturer Optex has launched the new BX Shield (BXS) series sensor in the EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa) region, a range of curtain motion sensors that are ideal for protecting windows and the immediate boundaries of a building or site. Complementing the best-selling VX Shield series launched in autumn, the new Shield concept combines great usability with versatile design. Enhanced signal recognition logic The BX Shield series includes four PIRs, two on each side, and the detection range and sensitivity can be adjusted independently for each side of the sensor. The detection area can be easily set up to 12m/40ft (24m/80ft in total). With a sleek modern look, the BX Shield sensor comes in two standard colours: Black body and white front face plate, or white body and white face plate. Optional black and silver plates are also available. The new BX Shield has four models: 2 standard, hardwired PIRs (BXS-ST) and 2 hardwired models with anti-masking (BXS-AM). There are also two battery-powered models, standard (BXS-R) and antimasking (BXS-RAM). All are equipped with digitally-enhanced signal recognition logic known as Super Multidimensional Analysis (SMDA). By analysing detection patterns and environmental information, SMDA improves immunity against changes in temperature or moving trees and vegetation, and can distinguish between the cause of nuisance false alarms and genuine intrusions. High PIR sensitivity for residential security For environments where the temperature difference between the human body and the background is very small, the extreme high detection mode increases the PIR sensitivity to prevent any missed alarms. The BX Shield includes a tamper output that is activated when the face cover or back box is removed. For ease of installation, the BXS has a walk test mode to ensure the beam field is set up correctly. It indicates when someone walks through the beam and an alarm is activated. This mode returns to normal operation after three minutes. Jacques Vaarre, Managing Director of Optex, EMEA Headquarters, says the BX Shield is an ideal choice for a variety of residential and light commercial sites. “The new BX Shield detectors are excellent multi-purpose sensors for an array of scenarios. We have designed the entire range to be easy to install with features such as a level indicator and colour-coded components. The BX Shield combines modern design with superior performance. It can be connected to an alarm panel or to a CCTV system, triggering the camera to provide visual verification when an intruder is detected.”

Once operational these scanners will be able to check both clients, visitors and staff for contraband Netherlands based security manufacturer, OD Security announced that they have been awarded another contract to install 2 SOTER RS Through Body Scanners, this time in Kentucky County Jails. Measures to prevent contraband The contract is to supply 1 each SOTOR RS Through Body Scanners to Puleski County Detention Center and Boyle County Detention Center in Kentucky . Once operational these scanners will be able to check both clients, visitors and staff for contraband in an effort to reduce items like; drugs, tobacco, weapons and cell phones from being smuggled into the prison. The use of Through Body Scanners in prisons is regarded as the most effective way of countering the smuggling of contraband material without subjecting inmates and visitors and staff to intrusive body searchers. The SOTER RS is a low dosage full body scanner which combines ultra-low radiation with maximum visibility, for use at airports and prisons. Within seconds the SOTER RS reveals hidden items, such as weapons or narcotics, diamonds, or any stolen or smuggled goods. It doesn’t even have to be metal. The SOTER shows a clear difference between human tissue and other materials. Even ingested or camouflaged items will be shown. Improve security operations The SOTER RS will increase the level of security operations previously possible through the use of conventional metal detectors. Non metallic objects hidden under clothes, in natural cavities or within the human body cannot be detected by conventional metal detectors and typically, these non-detectable items, such as narcotics, explosives, precious stones, plastic weapons, or other contraband, can only otherwise be detected by highly intrusive total body searches. SOTER RS is successfully deployed in prisons, in airports, detention centres, police and customs facilities worldwide including; Australia, Denmark, Ghana, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, The Netherlands, The United Arab Emirates, The United States of America, The United Kingdom, Chile, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

RedTacton technology makes it possible to transfer data by a simple touchCan you imagine locking or unlocking a door simply by touching the doorknob? Or being able print a document by placing one hand on the copy machine and the other on your laptop? It may sound like science fiction but is actually a very real possibility thanks to a new close-range communication technology called RedTacton. ASSA ABLOY Future Lab explores the implications of this new technology. First developed by Japanese NTT (Nippon Telephone & Telegraph) in 2005, the new close-range communication technology RedTacton takes wireless communication a step further by replacing the radio waves used for transmission over Bluetooth, IR and similar technologies with the minute electrical field emitted by the human body.NTT claims the invention heralds the dawn of Human Area Networking (HAN), a network where communication takes place via RedTacton transceivers embedded in devices like PCs and cameras, and in tags carried in, for example, the user's pocket. The connection is not initiated until he or she physically touches two different RedTacton-enabled devices, say, a laptop and a printer. Calling it an "intuitive and natural" technology, NTT points out that any human movement - be it touching, gripping, sitting, walking or stepping - can serve as triggers for unlocking or locking, starting or stopping equipment, or obtaining data. Development of an automatic human identification system and other applicationsTo the security industry, the RedTacton body field communication technology paves the way for a new breed of access control systemsTo the security industry, this biometric technology paves the way for a new breed of access control systems that are not based on remote controls or access cards that rely on radio waves that could be interfered with. The technology uses a transmission path established between the body of a person carrying a RedTacton card key and a RedTacton transceiver installed in, for example, a doorknob or floor. The person is automatically identified when they touch the doorknob or walk on the floor, and the transmission path is disconnected when the body and transceiver physically separate.  Based on this technology, NTT and Hitachi have developed a human-identification system that could be used for security applications, while a lock company designed and manufactured the RedTacton-equipped doorknob.  Also, French security company Vachette is currently working on a wireless security and control system for private homes where the use of RedTacton would add a further touch of convenience and ease-of-use to the home owner. The company's technical director Christian Pont explains: "Our preliminary tests show that RedTacton could be useful in motorised door locks. When you leave your home it is simply enough to touch the handle in order to lock the door. You don't even need to push a button or use a remote control."With RedTacton technology it will be possible to lock and open doors by merely touching the handleUsing human body for surface transmission of data Instead of radio waves, RedTacton utilises an electro-optic crystal that transforms electricity into data, achieving duplex (two-way) communication over the human body at the maximum speed of 10 Mbps. Scary as it may sound to use your own body as a communication device, NTT points out that the transmission never actually enters the skin but is merely carried across the surface, not exposing the user to more electricity than when speaking on a cell phone. In addition, the transceiver is covered with an insulation layer.  According to NTT another benefit of RedTacton - compared to transmission technologies using radio waves - is that transmission speed does not deteriorate in congested areas where many people are communicating at the same time. RedTacton is also said to be highly scalable for security systems incorporating flapper gates, fingerprint biometric authentication devices, immersion-detection sensors or safety equipment.  Outside the office, RedTacton offers a host of communication options that might come in really handy. For example, it lets you transfer pictures from your camera just by touching the PC while the camera is around your neck. And since data can pass from one human body to another, you may also swap electronic business cards by shaking hands, trade music files by dancing cheek to cheek, or swap phone numbers just by kissing. Body communication just reached a whole new level!ASSA ABLOY Future Lab 

Everbridge, Inc., globally renowned provider of critical event management solutions, has announced that it has been selected by Peru’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC) to power the nation’s Sistema de Mensajería de Alerta Temprana de Emergencia (Sismate), Peru’s Early Warning Emergency Messaging System. The news marks the completion of contract negotiations with the MTC that Everbridge had initially disclosed in September, without naming the country. The win reinforces Everbridge’s position as the global leader in population warning systems with contracts in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. Critical messages to mobile phones After the Sismate is deployed, it will be activated once Peru’s National Institute of Civil Defense detects a major incident After the Sismate is deployed, it will be activated once Peru’s National Institute of Civil Defense detects a major incident. The system, powered by Everbridge Public Warning, will send critical messages to mobile phones before, during and after the emergency. Sismate alerts can also be used in drills and to provide support in search and rescue operations. The Sismate is designed to serve over 37 million people including Peru’s 33 million residents and 4 million annual visitors. “This technology marks a milestone in risk and disaster management at the national level, which will be consolidated by combining joint efforts between various institutions and citizens,” explained Deputy Minister of Communications, Virginia Nakagawa to El Economista. National warning system “Everbridge is honoured to support Peru with its national warning system,” said David Meredith, Chief Executive Officer at Everbridge. “Peru joins a growing number of countries that have chosen to partner with Everbridge to implement a nationwide system to protect their population and visitors amid an escalating threat environment.” The Everbridge Platform has been deployed by more local, state, and national governments across the globe than any other solution, offering the ability to reach over 500 million people in more than 200 countries. In addition to Peru, Everbridge Public Warning has been deployed to reach the mobile populations on a country-wide scale in Sweden, Iceland, the Netherlands, Singapore, Greece, and a number of the largest states in India, and is currently being implemented in Australia. Everbridge Public Warning system Everbridge is the first population alerting provider to support four EU countries in conjunction with the recent EU mandate requiring member countries to have a population-wide alerting system in place by June 2022.  Everbridge Public Warning represents the only multi-channel solution which allows countries to deploy their preferred combination of emergency communications methods. The Everbridge population warning system communicates across all phases of an incident, leverages location intelligence (static location, last known location, and expected location). It provides directed two-way communications, and enables countries to combine both speed of delivering alerts with the broadest reach to cover the full population and visitors.