Security camera systems

Kleard, an award-winning real estate tech company that provides self-tour technology (called Kleard Now), has partnered with Kangaroo Home Security to make self-touring real estate safer, more secure, and helps promote COVID social distancing. Property access works via the Kleard app (available on iOS and Android). The partnership between Kleard and Kangaroo will allow agents the ability to purchase a unique home security package created specifically for real estate listings with a starting price of only $64.99. The two package options will include a combination of a doorbell camera, door/motion sensors, and an indoor camera. Smart home technology Installation is simple, fast, and is done via the Kangaroo app. In-app notifications will inform agents when buyers arrive, when doors are opened, closed, when motion inside the home is detected, and will capture images and video to give agents visual updates when motion is detected. This helps make self-tours using Kleard safer and increases peace-of-mind. With Kangaroo's optional complete plan (1 month is included free), professional monitoring and premium features can be included. Kangaroo's smart home technology was designed to be affordable, extremely easy to set up" Dhruv Garg, Co-Founder and President of Kangaroo, says, "Kangaroo's smart home technology was designed to be affordable, extremely easy to set up, and respectful of user data and privacy. In partnering with Kleard, we are able to extend these core principles into action to enable more secure self-tour events and complete visibility of listed properties for agents - peace of mind for all parties involved." Powerful home security Kleard Now can be used by any licensed real estate agent on their listings in the U.S. The technology reduces friction and allows homes to be toured easily by verified buyers. Kleard requires that all self-tour requests be approved by the listing agent and is done via the app. Buyers simply download the app to find self-tour enabled homes. Social distancing is becoming normalised and with innovative Kleard's self-tour technology, buyers and agents can feel better knowing that homes can be toured without the need to meet in person. "We're excited to partner with Kangaroo. We love that their home security devices are easy to set up and affordable. With this new partnership, agents will be able to add powerful home security to all their listings that have Wi-Fi and will make homes that are self-tour enabled more secure," says Jonathan Martis, Kleard CEO and Co-founder. Both Kleard and Kangaroo are National Association of Realtors (NAR) Reach® Companies, created by Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of NAR.

Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, introduced an ultra-high-definition (UHD) surveillance camera reference design to address today’s high-accuracy object detection and recognition needs for video security and surveillance systems. Developed in collaboration with Novatek Microelectronics Corporation and designed by Systemtec Corporation Ltd, the reference design includes a camera image sensor (CIS) board with phase-detection autofocus (PDAF), and a high-performance image signal processing (ISP) board along with auto focus zoom lens software. The surveillance camera reference design enables 4K resolution, excellent colour imaging and better recognition accuracy of objects, including small objects in low-light conditions. Video security camera The surveillance camera reference design uses several other Renesas ICs that address its signal chain electrical functions Its impressive high-speed autofocus operation can also be realised with low-priced lenses. This features combination allows Systemtec to offer customers a high-performance 4K video security camera reference design and software that helps shorten their development time building a camera system with fast autofocus and enhanced imaging performance. “An ever-increasing demand for security and surveillance camera systems drives the need for better object detection and recognition capabilities with higher imaging accuracy,” said DK Singh, Director, Systems and Solutions Team at Renesas. Image signal processor “Our surveillance camera with 4K resolution and PDAF function can deliver much faster autofocus results compared with conventional contrast-detection autofocus. We are excited that our close collaboration with Novatek and Systemtec makes this surveillance system reference design more accessible for customers worldwide.” Built around Renesas’ high performance RAA462113FYL CMOS image sensor and Novatek’s dual core SoC image signal processor, the surveillance camera reference design uses several other Renesas ICs that address its signal chain electrical functions. The CIS board includes the RAA462113FYL, DC/DC buck converters, LDOs, motor driver and lens. The ISP board features the SoC and associated signal chain components. Multi-interface support Key features of the surveillance camera reference design: Camera Sensor Board CMOS image sensor with high-sensitivity, low-noise, low-power with high resolution 8M pixels for UHD Sensor features HDR, PDAF functions and MIPI-CSI2 output, which support 30fps @12-bit digital output Enables the exchange to fixed-focus lens as well as zoom lens Image Signal Processor Board 800 MHz dual core SoC image signal processor with sensor interface and interfaces for display, PHY, Wi-Fi module, GPS, and RS-485 RTC, I2C, SPI, GPIO, audio IF, Flash/SD card, HDMI, Ethernet, SDIO, SCI, UART and SDRAM controller High-accuracy and fast AF with support for contrast AF, PDAF, and hybrid AF (PDAF + contrast AF) Flexible and rich functions including 12V power supply (DC jack or Type C), multi-interface support for video output

Hanwha Techwin America, a supplier of IP and analogue video surveillance solutions, will debut its next generation Wisenet 7 SoC (System on Chip). Built from 30 years of innovation in video surveillance solutions, the highly anticipated announcement sees the continuation of the Wisenet line of custom-built SoCs designed specifically to address the unique challenges of the security market. New key features include cybersecurity features, clear images in all lighting conditions, improved lens distortion correction and more. High levels of protection “Hanwha Techwin concentrated on image quality and cybersecurity when developing Wisenet 7. This enables us to make the smartest and most secure video cameras on the market today while giving us a platform for further innovation as we react to these challenging times,” said Ray Cooke, Vice President - Products, Solutions, and Integration, Hanwha Techwin America. Hanwha Techwin established its own device certification issuing system to embed certificates Wisenet 7 offers end-to-end cybersecurity with high levels of protection including secure boot, OS, storage, and JTAG, plus a signed firmware/open platform app and more. Hanwha Techwin established its own device certification issuing system to embed certificates and encryption keys into the product during the manufacturing process. When firmware is installed and a certificate is verified, it uses these encryption keys which can never be reprogramed. Forensic-level image quality This creates a trusted platform module that separates the end-user side of the camera application from the network (Linux). This OTP (One Time Program) feature provides a unique level of cybersecurity that is secure by default and only possible when utilising a custom chip. Wisenet 7 offers forensic-level image quality by utilising multiple combined technologies. Digital Overlap and Scene Analysis technology reduces motion artifacts and improves picture quality in low light conditions. Dynamic Range is maximised and noise is reduced when composing multi-frame images captured at varying exposures by processing line by line vs. each frame. This minimises motion blur and improves edge and colour definition of objects, making them easier to identify when viewing live video and during forensic review. Hybrid motion detection Temporal filtering removes or attenuates frequencies within the raw signal that are not of interest XCE (eXtreme Contrast Enhancement) technology is utilised to analyse the back-light area of the image and enhance contrast by analysing nearby pixel colour values in the surrounding area. Wisenet 7 employs motion history-based temporal filtering to analyse the motion data of moving objects in low-light environments. Temporal filtering removes or attenuates frequencies within the raw signal that are not of interest. A new Noise Adaptive Hybrid Motion Detection algorithm significantly reduces sensor noise. These clearer images improve the results for object recognition performance in low light and offer maximum performance for machine and deep learning algorithms. Demanding security applications Wisenet 7 corrects barrel distortion common with wide angle lenses up to 100% at all resolutions. The correction is done in-camera to provide a video output more closely representing how humans perceive images across a wide field of vision. “The first Hanwha Techwin Wisenet SoC was released in 2010 in response to the unique requirements of security professionals. Our focused development efforts have continued as technology and business needs have evolved to where we are today. Our most powerful SoC ever, Wisenet 7, delivers a new level of quality, performance and cybersecurity to our industry,” concludes Cooke. The first Wisenet 7-based cameras (XNB-9002/8002, XND-9082RV/8082RV, XND-9082RF/8082RF, XNV-9082R/8082R, XNO-9082R/8082R) offer up to 4K high-resolution video providing clear and vivid images suitable for the most demanding security applications.

Johnson Controls, a global provider of smart and sustainable buildings, is launching OpenBlue - a complete suite of connected solutions and services that combine the Company’s 135 years of building expertise with cutting-edge technology. This open digital platform, when integrated with Johnson Controls core building systems and enhanced by Fortune 100 technology partners, will make shared spaces safer, more agile and more sustainable. Johnson Controls OpenBlue is the culmination of years of research and development by the Company’s industry renowned engineers and data scientists around the globe, to create the “blueprint for the future” to guide smart, sustainable buildings. The new suite of connected solutions enables previously unimaginable occupant experiences, respectful safety and security, and impactful sustainability, driven by cutting-edge connected technology. Artificial intelligence Connectivity is critical to achieve this goal: building systems must work together and communicate to be effective. OpenBlue was designed with agility, flexibility and scalability in mind, to enable buildings to become dynamic spaces. In leveraging the OpenBlue platform, customers will be able to manage operations more systemically, delivering buildings that have memory, intelligence and unique identity. The platform infuses the OpenBlue suite of solutions and services with award-winning artificial intelligence (AI), combining data from both inside and outside of buildings. Safety and sustainability The launch of OpenBlue reflects how we think buildings are evolving from inflexible assets to dynamic resources" “How we interact with our environments and how buildings and shared spaces are managed for safety and sustainability is top of mind everywhere, and now more than ever we recognise how complex these systems are. Johnson Controls has been making buildings efficient and safe for 135 years, and this year, our obligation to deliver comprehensive, best in class solutions to our customers has never been more important,” said George Oliver, Chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls. “The launch of OpenBlue reflects how we think buildings are evolving from inflexible assets to dynamic resources. As a result, this is a critical element of our business strategy, enabling us to lead customers around the world to the solutions and services required to transform their spaces for the future.” Indoor air quality By combining traditionally separate systems, OpenBlue will enable the connection of every part of a building to create new possibilities for smarter, more efficient and sustainable spaces. OpenBlue customers will be able to: Respond with dynamic flexibility: OpenBlue will enable buildings to switch into different modes to address various critical situations. Modes can include management of building access, air flow, elevator movement, door locks, lighting, and open collaboration, as well as other environmental and safety settings. Deploy COVID-19 solutions: OpenBlue connects Johnson Controls products, technology and services to help customers get back to work as safely and efficiently as possible. These solutions and services include contact tracing, social distance monitoring, thermal cameras, clean air, touchless environments, compliance and reporting management, energy optimisation, advanced safety monitoring and more. Select from tiered services for their needs: OpenBlue will contain a suite of tiered, AI-infused service solutions delivering advanced capabilities such as remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, advanced risk assessments, compliance monitoring and more. Security at the center of the solutions: OpenBlue was designed with safety at its core and will enable customers to access secure by design solutions. Each of the OpenBlue offerings are developed with robust design protocols for security and privacy process. Increase energy savings and improve indoor air quality (IAQ): By connecting HVAC equipment with new data and AI, users of the platform can expect 20-60 percent cost savings by optimising the performance of the full HVAC system across energy costs and IAQ parameters. Traditional operational technology Johnson Controls OpenBlue platform brings together traditional operational technology, existing IT systems and cloud applications infused with AI and cutting-edge technology such as digital twins, enabling insight, integration and collaboration. OpenBlue will enable operating technologies to seamlessly communicate and integrate across a broad range of systems. “Connectivity is the key to making buildings work harder for us,” said Mike Ellis, Executive Vice President, Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Johnson Controls. Unique software capabilities Open refers to an optimistic future and the platform’s open architecture to enable products to work with various solutions" “This new suite of solutions will enable previously unimaginable outcomes for our customers by connecting buildings to unique software capabilities, providing insight to deliver high customer value. We are partnering with a number of leading technology companies and thought leaders in various sectors to roll-out tailored solutions in the coming months.” “The launch of OpenBlue is a radical approach to dynamic spaces,” said Phil Clement, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Johnson Controls. “The brand identity was created with a number of factors in mind: Open refers to an optimistic future and the platform’s open architecture to enable products to work with various solutions. The colour blue is core to Johnson Controls branding for the past 135 years and gives a nod to our strong heritage in the buildings space.” Open data platforms OpenBlue technology experts will lead proprietary ‘OpenBlue - Blueprint of the Future’ customer workshops, thought leadership webinars and insight sessions to help customers reimagine the possibilities of built environments and map out capabilities for spaces and places to power a unique customer mission. Johnson Controls partners with global Fortune 100 companies to bring together leading expertise with open data platforms, leading software applications and AI, core building systems and smart edge devices. The new technology ecosystem delivers new vision, while reimagining the future of workplaces, including hospitals, schools, stadiums, cities and more.

Alcatraz, the developer of secure frictionless access control platforms, has named Sarah Lawler-Muzquiz as Director of Channel Sales. Lawler-Muzquiz is the latest addition to the team for Alcatraz – an innovative startup that’s improving access control by delivering secure, frictionless solutions that enhance flow, improve security, reduce overall cost, and work with any access control provider. Based in Los Angeles, Lawler-Muzquiz builds influential, executive-level relationships and drives sales, marketing, account management, and technical training in the engineering, construction, and integrator channels for end users. Developing comprehensive solutions “Although Sarah is new to the team, her passion for our products rivals that of anyone here. We are very excited to have her championing our flagship product the Alcatraz Rock to the extensive list of impressive connections she has made in security over the years,” said Alcatraz Chief Executive Officer and Founder Vince Gaydarzhiev. Lawler-Muzquiz joins Alcatraz from Johnson Controls where she served in various roles “Sarah has a great talent for identifying security needs and developing comprehensive solutions and we know her technical skill – coupled with her enthusiasm for helping businesses improve security – will be a great asset to our customers.” Lawler-Muzquiz joins Alcatraz from Johnson Controls where she served in various roles, including Account Executive for Building/Connected Technologies, Strategic Owner Account Manager, and Sales Engineer. Facial authentication platform Lawler-Muzquiz has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. “What impresses me most about the Alcatraz Rock 3D facial authentication platform is that it creates harmony for our security systems. The Rock truly enables a frictionless environment – without having to upgrade video management, access control, cameras, or buy more software on top of everything, to push analytics and assume everything ‘will work just fine’,” said Lawler-Muzquiz. “In this time of COVID, how important is it to be able to offer businesses a touchless solution that not only improves security but reduces the spread of germs? Alcatraz is the seismic change the physical security industry needs to make our world a safer place. I could not be more excited to be on the Alcatraz team.”

The thermal imaging camera automatically detects the hottest temperature within an area, set by the operator. A colour alarm makes it easy to decide whether a person needs further screening. A thermal imaging camera can be an effective screening device for detecting individuals with an elevated skin temperature. This type of monitoring can provide useful information when used as a screening tool in high-traffic areas to help identify people with an elevated temperature compared to the general population. That individual can then be further screened using other body temperature measuring tools. Thermal imaging cameras Although thermal imaging cameras are primarily designed for industrial and night vision uses, public health organisations have used FLIR cameras around the world at airports, seaports, office buildings and other mass gathering areas to provide rapid, efficient screening in high-traffic areas. FLIR thermal cameras are particularly well suited to this because they can provide a temperature reading of a person´s face in a matter of seconds. A thermal imaging camera produces infrared images that display small temperature differences The FLIR Systems product line-up includes a wide variety of thermal imaging cameras that can be used for detecting people with elevated skin temperature. FLIR A320 Tempscreen, however, was especially developed for thermal screening in high-traffic applications. A thermal imaging camera produces infrared images or heat pictures that display small temperature differences. This allows thermal cameras to create and continually update a visual heat map of skin temperatures. Measuring skin temperatures In addition, FLIR thermal imaging cameras are sensitive devices capable of measuring small temperature differences. Many of the FLIR thermal cameras that are appropriate for measuring skin temperatures also offer built-in functions like visual and sound alarms that can be set to go off when a certain temperature threshold is exceeded. The operator can then instantly decide whether the subject needs to be referred for further screening with additional temperature measurement tools. As the thermal imaging camera produces images in near-realtime, the total evaluation process takes mere moments, making thermal imaging technology very useful for rapidly screening large numbers of people. FLIR A320 Tempscreen can be used in high-traffic areas, such as an airport, as part of screening procedures. Detecting elevated skin temperatures It´s true that a person´s general skin temperature is typically not equal to the person´s core temperature. That doesn´t detract from the use of thermal cameras to detect elevated skin temperatures, however. Thermal cameras are useful in this role because the goal is not to measure absolute skin temperature, but to differentiate people who have an elevated skin temperature compared to others while also considering the environmental conditions of the location. When in screening mode, the operator can save ten thermal images of faces Some FLIR camera models offer an elevated skin temperature screening mode that is helpful in comparing the person being screened against the temperature of other people previously screened. When in screening mode, the operator can save ten thermal images of faces that the camera automatically averages as a reference. Additional screening tools All areas on the subject's face that are hotter than a predefined temperature value can be displayed as a designated colour on the thermal image. This built-in alarm allows users to make an immediate decision regarding whether the subject may need further screening with additional screening tools. In addition, some FLIR cameras are equipped with an audible alarm that can be activated to sound if the detected temperature exceeds a predefined value. Airports all over the world are using FLIR cameras and have applied this methodology to screen people entering and leaving the country. It is a quick, non-contact method that is safe for both the camera operator and the people being screened.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge to businesses. From retail stores to office buildings to warehouses and construction sites, a big question looms: how can landlords, executives, and employers ensure their facilities don’t contribute to the spread of the virus? A low-tech solution - the face mask - has become a leading preventative measure. But, a high-tech solution is necessary to ensure that everyone is wearing them. Cameras powered by artificial intelligence can now identify whether or not people entering a facility are wearing facemasks and help enforce adherence to mask mandates. This technology is proving to be a cost effective solution that reduces risks of confrontations over masks policies and gives managers the data they need to document regulatory compliance and reduce liability. Layers of security They can also be integrated into access control systems or woven into other preventative measures that create overlapping layers of security. These cameras are an ideal solution for low-traffic, remote sites, or areas that are only accessible to employees that need to monitor mask compliance but at which hiring a manned guard is just too expensive. Cameras with mask detection capabilities are especially useful when the technology piggybacks on existing autonomous devices, such as mobile security drones. The premise is simple. When a person without a mask is detected by the autonomous robotic security device, the system can generate, depending on customer preferences, audible and visible alerts to remind people to mask up. It also feeds alerts to a cloud-based data storage system so that security executives can analyse data for trends or quickly locate video of important incidents. Why masks? One study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A highlights the benefits of mask usage. If just 50 percent of people use masks, the rate of COVID-19 transmission will slowly decline. If 80 percent of people use them, the rate will plummet. Bu,t people don’t love wearing them. They’re hot. They make eyeglasses foggy. It’s hard to make yourself heard when talking to others. We’re all familiar with industries that wear masks of some type or other, on a regular basis - health care, construction, and heavy industry to name a few. But for the general public, wearing a mask for long periods of time is not a regular habit. For the general public, wearing a mask for long periods of time is not a regular habit We also know that other measures site managers have used to limit the spread of coronavirus are ineffective. For example, at least three meatpacking plants rank among the top 50 locations for coronavirus clusters. One factor driving that spread: many employees, to avoid missing a day’s pay, masked their mild fevers with ibuprofen to fool the infrared temperature scanners that employers used to protect against the outbreak. The paradox of masks, however, isn’t that they protect the wearer from infection. It’s the other way around: when an infected person wearing a mask sneezes, coughs, or breathes, they don’t spread the virus as far, and thus masks slow the spread of the virus from infected people, including those that are not showing symptoms. Prove it One of the very reasons why county and state governments have instituted mask orders is simple: it’s an easily verifiable sign that an organisation is taking steps to limit the spread of coronavirus. Mask detection cameras, coupled with autonomous security systems, can provide the documentation employers need to ensure mask compliance. Imagine, for example, a warehouse full of manual laborers. The county orders everyone to wear a mask any time they leave home. A disgruntled employee, recently terminated, files an anonymous complaint to local health officials stating that the warehouse isn’t enforcing mask compliance - or worse, preventing employees from wearing masks to prevent theft. The county sends an inspector. Mask detection cameras provide site managers with the documentation they need to disprove these allegations. The autonomous systems developed by RAD will feed video footage into a cloud database, documenting not only the instances of non-compliance, but also the instances of compliance - with the mask clearly highlighted. Any inspector that arrives on a job site can see hours and hours of footage, without having to pour through hours of video. Reducing confrontation We’ve all seen the videos in which angry shoppers confront retail clerks and security guards over mask usage. In some cases, these confrontations have turned violent, resulting in injury or death. For every one of these videos, there may well be hundreds of others. While most of the videos featuring mask confrontations focus on retail settings, manned guards also face challenges in enforcement. Confrontations over mask usage have the potential to drive up workman’s compensation claims higher when guards are injured. Because autonomous security units generate alerts automatically, the chance of confrontation is minimised. It’s easy to imagine a couple of scenarios in which autonomous units can be beneficial. In health care settings, where emotions run high, autonomous devices can serve as a force multiplier for patrolling guards in parking areas. For example, roving units can identify people that are not wearing masks, and remind them to do so before they enter the building. These can also be placed in entryways that generate alerts as visitors approach doors. In many buildings, mask detection systems can be integrated into access control systems Autonomous security units can be deployed for a fraction of the cost of manned security. In healthcare, autonomous units can be used to re-allocate security spending, placing less emphasis on low intensity guards whose primary function is to observe and report - particularly those that patrol parking garages - and more emphasis on trained professionals capable of defusing confrontations inside the hospital. In other words, autonomous units outside allow facilities to hire better quality inside, where confrontations are most likely to take place. In many buildings, mask detection systems can be integrated into access control systems, which might be especially useful at entrances that are not manned by security, but accessible via key card. Changing behaviours There was a time when smoking in public was not seen as particularly anti-social. Almost everyone will stop at a stop sign, even when we can see for miles in every direction, and we know that the risk of an accident is zero. We do these things because we have been trained to. These behaviours make us safer, but we didn’t adopt them overnight. Many of us forget, but the fight over banning smoking in bars and restaurants was filled with confrontation. So, too, will it be with mask compliance. But time is short, and we all need to do everything we can to encourage good behaviour. Mask detection technology can do that, and these solutions are very cost effective. In some cases, the cost may be just 5 percent of using a manned guard. They’re effective too. Autonomous systems enforce mask policies consistently and drive accountability. That can make us all safer.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic marks the biggest global disruption since World War II. While the ‘new normal’ after the crisis is still taking shape, consumers are apprehensive about the future. According to a recent survey, 60% of shoppers are afraid of going grocery shopping, with 73% making fewer trips to physical stores. Returning to the workplace is also causing unease, as 66% of employees report feeling uncomfortable about returning to work after COVID-19.  Businesses and employers are doing their best to alleviate these fears and create safe environments in and around their buildings. This also comes at tremendous costs for new safety measures and technologies – including updates to sanitation protocols and interior architecture – that protect against COVID-19. Costs in the billions that most businesses will face alone, without support from insurance and amidst larger macroeconomic challenges. Saving costs and increasing security But what if building operators, retail shop owners, and other stakeholders could save costs by leveraging new functionality from their existing security infrastructure? More specifically, expanding the use of current-generation security cameras – equipped with AI-driven image analysis capabilities – beyond the realm of security and into meeting new health regulations. This is exactly where video analytics algorithms come into play. And in the next step, a new evolutionary approach towards open security camera platforms promises new opportunities. Security cameras have evolved from mere image capturing devices into complex data sensors Over the past decade, security cameras have evolved from mere image capturing devices into complex data sensors. They provide valuable data that can be analysed and used in beneficial ways that are becoming the norm. Since 2016, Bosch has offered built-in Video Analytics as standard on all its IP cameras. On one hand, this enables automated detection of security threats more reliably than human operators. And on the other hand, video analytics collect rich metadata to help businesses improve safety, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and create new value beyond security. Expanding camera functionality beyond security Today, we have ‘smart’ security cameras with built-in video analytics to automatically warn operators of intruders, suspicious objects and dangerous behaviors. The rich metadata from several cameras on the same network can also be consolidated by making use of an intelligent software solution. It offers so-called pre-defined widgets to provide business intelligence by measuring area fill levels, counting building occupancy and detecting the formation of crowds. In combination with live video stream data, these insights enable heightened situational awareness to security operators. What’s more, operators are free to set their own parameters – like maximum number of occupants in a space and ‘off limit’ areas – to suit their needs. These user-centric widgets also come in handy in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Specific widgets can trigger an alarm, public announcement or trigger a 'traffic light' when the maximum number of people in a space is exceeded. Building operators can also use available intelligence such as foot traffic ‘heat maps’ to identify problem areas that tend to become congested and place hand sanitiser stations at heavily frequented hotspots. At the same time, the option to perform remote maintenance on these systems limits the exposure of technicians in the field during the pandemic. Again, the underlying camera hardware and software already exist. Cameras will be able to ‘learn’ future functionality to curb the spread of the coronavirus Looking ahead, cameras with video analytic and neural network-based analytic capabilities will be able to ‘learn’ future functionality to curb the spread of the coronavirus. For instance, cameras could monitor distances between individuals and trigger voice announcements when social distancing guidelines are violated. Facial recognition software can be trained to monitor personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance and sound alerts for persons entering buildings without masks. The technical requirements are already in place. The task at hand is to deliver these new functionalities to cameras at scale, which is where open camera platforms hold the key. Why open camera operating systems? When it comes to innovating future camera applications that extend beyond security, no hardware manufacturer should go at it alone. Instead, an open platform approach provides the environment for third-party developers to innovate and market new functions. In essence, an open platform principle allows customers and users to change the behavior of devices by adding software afterwards. This software can either be found in an app store or can be self-developed. For a precedent, we can look at the mobile phone industry. This is where software ecosystems like Android and Apple’s iOS have become the norm. They have also become major marketplaces, with the Apple App Store generating $519 billion in billings on 2019, as users use their phones for far more than just making phone calls. In the same way, intelligent cameras will be used far beyond classic video applications in the future. To get there, adopting an open platform principle is essential for a genuine transformation on an industry level. But establishing an open platform principle in the fragmented video security industry demands a cooperative approach. In 2018 Bosch started a fully owned start-up company, Security & Safety Things, and became one of five founding members of OSSA (Open Security & Safety Alliance). With more than 40 members, the Alliance has collectively created the first Technology Stack for “open” video security devices. This includes the OSSA Application Interface Specification and Compliant Device Definition Specification. An open camera platform for innovating future functionality  Based on OSSA’s common APIs, collective approach on data security and core system requirements for video security cameras, the first camera manufacturers were able to build video security cameras that adopt an open platform principle. Further fueling innovation, OSSA focused on driving the creation of one centralised marketplace to unite demand and supply in the market. Camera devices that are built in accordance with OSSA’s Technology Stack, so-called “Driven by OSSA” devices, can benefit from this marketplace which consists of three pillars: a development environment, an application store, and a device management portal. Security & Safety Things has advanced OSSA’s open camera platform concept, built this marketplace for the security and safety industry and has developed the open OS that powers the first “Driven by OSSA” devices. Making it quick and simple to customise security solutions by installing and executing multiple apps This year, Bosch, as one of the first camera manufacturers, introduces the new INTEOX generation of open platform cameras. To innovate a future beyond security functionality, INTEOX combines built-in Intelligent Video Analytics from Bosch, an open Operating System (OS), and the ability to securely add software apps as needed. Thanks to the fully open principle, system integrators are free to add apps available in the application store, making it quick and simple to customise security solutions by installing and executing multiple apps on the INTEOX platform. In turn, app developers can now focus on leveraging the intelligence and valuable data collected by analytics-equipped cameras for their own software developments to introduce new exciting possibilities of applying cameras. These possibilities are needed as smart buildings and IoT-connected technology platforms continue to evolve. And they will provide new answers to dealing with COVID-19. The aforementioned detection of face masks and PPE via facial detection algorithms is just one of manifold scenarios in which new apps could provide valuable functionality. Contact tracing is another field where a combination of access control and video analytics with rich metadata can make all the difference. Overall, open camera platforms open a future where new, complex functionality that can save lives, ensure business continuity and open new business opportunities will arrive via something as simple as a software update. And this is just the beginning.

Artificial Intelligence. You’ve heard the words in just about every facet of our lives, just two words, and they’re quite possibly the most moving, life-changing words employed in everyday conversations. So what exactly is AI, who currently uses it and should be using it? What is AI? AI is a powerful way of collecting, qualifying and quantifying data toward a meaningful conclusion to help us reach decisions more quickly or automate processes which could be considered mundane or repetitive. AI in its previous state was known as “machine learning” or “machine processing” which has evolved into “deep learning” or, here in the present, Artificial Intelligence. AI as it applies to the security and surveillance industry provides us the ability to discover and process meaningful information more quickly than at any other time in modern history. Flashback - VCR tapes, blurred images, fast-forward, rewind and repeat. This process became digital, though continued to be very time-consuming. Today’s surveillance video management systems have automated many of these processes with features like “museum search” seeking an object removed from a camera view or “motion detection” to create alerts when objects move through a selected viewpoint. These features are often confused with AI, and are really supportive analytics of the Artificial Intelligence, not AI themselves. Machine Learning Fully appreciating AI means employment of a machine or series of machines to collect, process and produce information obtained from basic video features or analytics. What the machines learn depends on what is asked of them. The truth is, the only way the AI can become meaningful is if there is enough information learned to provide the results desired. If there isn’t enough info, then we must dig deeper for information or learn more, properly described as “deep-learning” AI. Translated, this means that we need to learn more on a deeper level in order to obtain the collaborative combined information necessary to produce the desired result. Deep learning AI Deep learning AI can afford us the ability to understand more about person characteristic traits & behaviors. Applying this information can then further be applied to understand how to interpret patterns of behavior with the end goal of predictable behavior. This prediction requires some degree of human interpretation so that we are able to position ourselves to disrupt patterns of negative behavior or simply look for persons of interest based on these patterns of behavior. These same patterns evolve into intelligence which over time increases the machine’s ability to more accurately predict patterns that could allow for actions to be taken as a result. This intelligence which is now actionable could translate to life safety such as stopping a production manufacturing process, if a person were to move into an area where they shouldn’t be which might put them in danger. Useful applications of intelligence  Informative knowledge or intelligence gathered could be useful in retail applications as well by simply collecting traffic patterns as patrons enter a showroom. This is often displayed in the form of heat mapping of the most commonly traveled paths or determining choke points that detract from a shopper’s experience within the retail establishment. It could also mean relocating signage to more heavily traveled foot-paths to gain the highest possible exposure to communicating a sale or similar notice, perhaps lending itself to driving higher interest to a sale or product capability. Some of this signage or direction could even translate to increased revenues by realigning the customer engagement and purchasing points. Actionable Intelligence From a surveillance perspective, AI could be retranslated to actionable intelligence by providing behavioral data to allow law enforcement to engage individuals with malicious intent earlier, thus preventing crimes in whole or in part based on previously learned data. The data collection points now begin to depart from a more benign, passive role into an actionable role. As a result, new questions are being asked regarding the cameras intended purpose or role of its viewpoint such as detection, observation, recognition or identification. Detecting human presence By way of example, a camera or data collector may need to detect human presence, as well as positively identify who the person is. So the analytic trip line is crossed or motion box activated or counter-flow is detected which then creates an alert for a guard or observer to take action. Further up the food chain, a supervisor is also notified and the facial characteristics are captured. These remain camera analytics, but now we feed this collected facial information to a graphic processing unit (GPU) which could be employed to compare captured characteristics with pre-loaded facial characteristics. When the two sources are compared and a match produced, an alert could be generated which results in an intervention or other similar action with the effort of preventing a further action. This process- detect, disrupt, deter or detain could be considered life-saving by predictably displaying possible outcomes in advance of the intended actions. The next level is deep-learning AI which employs the same characteristics to determine where else within the CCTV ecosystem the individual may have been previously by comparatively analyzing other collected video data. This becomes deep-learning AI when the GPU machine is able to learn from user-tagged positive identification, which the machine learns and begins to further reprocess its own data to further understand where else the person of interest (POI) may have existed on the ecosystem and more correctly improve its own predictive capabilities, thus becoming faster at displaying alerts and better at the discovery of previously archived video data. The future In conclusion, the future of these “predictables” wholly rests in the hands of the purchasing end-user. Our job is to help everyone understand the capabilities and theirs is to continue to make the investment so that the research perpetuates upon itself. Just think where we’d be if purchasers didn’t invest in the smartphone?    

Honeywell Commercial Security is among the companies working to develop security systems that are more proactive than reactive. “Our biggest opportunity moving forward is the ability to have security solutions that do a better job of detecting and predicting threats,” says Tim Baker, Global Marketing Director, Honeywell Commercial Security. Greater use of analytics and intelligence can reduce human error and simplify processes by providing a more unified view for greater situational awareness. Artificial intelligence and deep learning “We’re reaching a maturity level in terms of algorithms and hardware to drive new capabilities in a cost-effective way,” he says. Baker sees a continuing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning in the physical security market, used in video analytics and also for intrusion and access control. "We have challenged ourselves to move from reactive solutions to develop a set of proactive solutions that determine potential security threats before they happen,” he says. An overarching theme is the need to focus operator attention on “what matters” rather than requiring operators to keep track of the growing number of sensors in newer systems. A remaining hurdle is to streamline the deployment of analytics systems, which can require expensive customisation during the commissioning phase.  Credential-enabled access control reader The reader can support any card format and also enables “frictionless” access control That’s where Honeywell is investing and focusing its attention, seeking when possible to “pre-teach” algorithms based on data gleaned from a large installed base. Fortunately, there will be plenty of data from a growing variety of sites to build from. Honeywell offers a full ecosystem built around enterprise security needs and a second ecosystem built around the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).  In the enterprise space, the trend is toward smarter edge devices, such as Honeywell’s OmniAssure Touch, a mobile credential-enabled access control reader. The reader can support any card format and also enables “frictionless” access control. A user can gain access by touching the reader, with no need to take his or her smart phone (which has the credential) out of their pocket. The reader is fully backwards compatible, which is a Honeywell hallmark. Honeywell’s OmniAssure Touch can support any card format and also enables “frictionless” access control. Designed to be cloud-enabled On the enterprise software side, Honeywell has invested in further development of their Pro-Watch access control system and MAXPRO VMS (video management system), tying them together into a single security console, along with intrusion and other systems such as human resources (HR) data. For the SMB market, Honeywell is building and expanding their MAXPRO Cloud system. As existing hardware has evolved to be cloud-enabled, the company has also been introducing new control products that are designed from the ground up to be cloud-enabled. Honeywell’s biggest vertical markets include banking, healthcare, gaming, energy infrastructure and airports The new MAXPRO Intrusion system, which can be configured over the cloud, will be introduced in the first quarter. MAXPRO Access, to be introduced in late November, can be deployed using an embedded web interface, a cloud interface, or as an on-premise solution. On the NVR side, an embedded NVR works alongside Honeywell’s new 30 Series video cameras, providing secure and encrypted end-to-end connection. Networked security system A challenge for Honeywell is to keep up with broader trends happening in the industry, whether geopolitical (e.g., relations between China and the United States) or regulatory such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Baker acknowledges an industry-wide increase in awareness about cyber security, driven largely by the enterprise market. IT departments are getting more involved in the purchasing decision; indeed, the chief information officer (CIO) is often the ultimate decision-maker. In response, Honeywell is emphasising “cyber security by design” from the beginning to the end of a project. Also, they are using white-hat hackers to test products before they are released into a live environment. “We are doing everything we can to make sure products are cyber secure,” says Baker. Honeywell’s biggest vertical markets include banking, pharmaceutical, healthcare, gaming, energy infrastructure and airports. NDAA-compliant video cameras Compliance is a common thread throughout the verticals. Honeywell sells to the government mostly in the access control and intrusion space and built around their Vindicator networked security system. (They also introduced the line of NDAA-compliant video cameras, made in Taiwan, at the recent GSX show.)

The healthcare market is rife with opportunity for security systems integrators. Hospitals have a continuous need for security, to update their systems, to make repairs, says David Alessandrini, Vice President, Pasek Corp., a systems integrator. “It’s cyclical. Funding for large projects might span one to two years, and then they go into a maintenance mode. Departments are changing constantly, and they need us to maintain the equipment to make sure it’s operating to its full potential.” The experience of Pasek Corp. is typical of the opportunities available for security integrator companies in the healthcare vertical. A single large hospital system can supply a dependable ongoing source of revenue to integrator companies, says Alessandrini. Hospitals are “usually large enough to provide enough work for several people for an extended length of time.”  Healthcare customers in Pasek’s service area around Boston provide the potential for plenty of work. “We have four major hospitals, each with in excess of 250 card readers and 200 cameras, in the Boston area,” Alessandrini says. One appeal of the healthcare market for North Carolina Sound, an integrator covering central North Carolina, is the breadth of possible equipment they can sell into the healthcare market, including access control and video, of course, but also other technologies, such as audio-video systems in a dining room. North Carolina Sound has also installed sound masking in some areas with waiting rooms to protect private patient information from being overheard. Locking systems on pharmaceutical doors are another opportunity. Data capture form to appear here! IP based networked video systems A facility’s IT folks must be convinced an IP solution will function seamlessly on their network Among North Carolina Sound’s customers is Wayne Memorial Hospital, Goldsboro, N.C., which uses about 340 video cameras, with 80 percent or more of them converted to IP. The hospital is replacing analogue with IP cameras as budget allows, building network infrastructure to support the system. The healthcare market tends to have a long sales cycle; in general, sales don’t happen overnight or even within a month or two. In fact, the period between an initial meeting with a healthcare facility and installation of a system could stretch to a year or longer. A lot happens during that time. Healthcare systems involve extensive planning, engineering, and meetings among various departments. Physical security systems that involve the information technology (IT) department, as do most systems today, can be especially complex. Installation of networked video systems based on Internet protocol (IP) requires deep and probing discussions with the IT team about how a system fits into the facility’s network infrastructure. A facility’s IT folks must be convinced an IP solution will function seamlessly on their network. Compatible with the network They must vet the technology to ensure the devices and solutions will be compatible with the network, and must sign off on technology choices. And even more important is determining if the security system will adhere to cyber security requirements of the facility. A complete solution that integrates nearly any system that lives on or uses a facility’s network is ultimately what the healthcare vertical is moving toward, says Jason Ouellette, General Manager – Enterprise Access Control & Video, Johnson Controls. Healthcare security professionals are early adopters of technology, implementing the best technology available” “We are hearing more and more from customers across industries that they want to be able to use their security systems and devices for more than just security: they want added value,” says Ouellette. Many want to use access control, video surveillance and other data sources to assess their business operations and/or workflows with the goal of improving efficiency. Upgrade cost-effectively Historically, three factors have prevented many organisations from moving forward with new technologies: lack of money, proprietary systems, and the need to “rip and replace” large parts of the installed systems, says Robert Laughlin, CEO and Chairman, Galaxy Control Systems. "Today, while funding is almost always a limiting factor at some level, the progression of industry standards and ‘open’ systems has made a big positive impact on the ability of organisations to upgrade cost-effectively,” he says. Despite any obstacles, healthcare customers generally welcome new innovations. “I would say healthcare security professionals in general are early adopters of technology and like to implement the best technology available,” says Jim Stankevich, Global Manager – Healthcare Security, Johnson Controls/Tyco Security Products. “For most, rapid implementation is limited by budgets and available funding." Read parts one and three of our heathcare mini series here and here.

One of the common characteristics of trade shows is booths with walls and walls of new products. Sometimes exhibitors seem intent on displaying everything in their portfolio, even though the displays appear cluttered and may not be welcoming. In an age of system sales, in particular, the emphasis on products can seem off kilter. Discussions with exhibitors at this year’s GSX show reveal a new awareness of the need for less cluttered booths, but the equipment walls persist. Here’s a review of Day 2 from the show floor.  Allegion embrace more open booth design At GSX 2019, Allegion is among the exhibitors embracing a new, more open booth design that encourages engagement with customers and puts less emphasis on product displays. Discussions at the Allegion booth have centred around the value proposition and lower complexity of network-connected access control systems. The approach has been gaining a higher profile at Allegion since the company acquired Isonas, whose system configuration involves a reader-controller connected to the network via power-over-Ethernet cable. “Customers are also asking about Bluetooth technology and mobile applications,” said Jonathan Mooney, Allegion sales leader. Allegion is looking to deploy the Isonas software in other products in their portfolio; it will be offered in the range of Schlage wireless locks by the middle of 2020.The benefit of the cloud and network is to remove a lot of complexity and unnecessary costs for access control" “The benefit of the cloud and network is to remove a lot of complexity and unnecessary costs for access control,” said Mooney. Bosch offer complete security solution Bosch is introducing 55 new products at GSX 2019, but when it comes down to it, the company’s overarching message is not about individual products but about how they can be combined into a larger system. “At the end of the day, the message from Bosch is ‘how do I create a complete security solution?’” said Paul Garms, Bosch Director, Regional Marketing Security. “That’s what we are trying to demonstrate: How do all these things integrate?” Most of interest to attendees are actual demonstrations, which are a unique aspect of the trade show experience. “It’s nice at a show where we can really demonstrate what we are talking about when we say ‘integrated solution,’” said Garms. “And people can say, ‘oh yeah, if I trip this video analytic, the speaker will warn me I am approaching a restricted area.’ Or, when the manager signs in on the intrusion panel, now the associate can access a door he wasn’t able to before. It’s that integration and the complete solution that resonates. People are also interested in new products. At a show, they like to see them in operation.” At the Bosch booth, there is a big wall that illustrates some integration possibilities. An array of cameras was among the 55 new products introduced by Bosch, which also emphasised systems. Machine learning and advanced video analytics One implementation featured on the wall is Bosch’s Camera Trainer machine learning system. The system can “train” a camera to recognise a car in a parking lot, for example. Among the new Bosch products is the Autodome 7000i, the next generation of a best-selling camera, now with H.265 encoding and analytics such as line crossing. There is also an outdoor panoramic camera that is adjustable to 180-degree or 360-degree views. The new, less expensive 3000i series cameras provide an affordable option with edge analytics and Bosch’s data security protection included. Integration from Honeywell as well as 'the bigger picture' At Honeywell Security Group, Senior Product Manager G. Eric Green said the show seems to be much better attended than last year, “and we have had a lot of interest in our products.” Even end-user attendees typical of the GSX show are interested in the details of technology, as well as “the bigger picture,” commented Green. “Some of our booth visitors want to get into the weeds,” he said. “They say they want this piece of hardware. But they also also interested in the big picture. How things are interacting is very important.” Honeywell announced the 30 Series IP cameras, which can be used as part of video systems that comply with National Defense Authorization Act Section 889" “Most customers have installed products from other vendors that they expect us to work with. So integration is always at the top of the list. Can you work with these guys? Do you have an API? Do you support this piece of equipment? We always hear that a lot,” said Green. “There are customers who want best-in-breed products, but they’re not necessarily concerned about that coming from one manufacturer,” he said. “Other customers want ‘one throat to choke.’ When something goes wrong, they don’t want any finger-pointing.” Web-based security console and frictionless access control Honeywell is showing a beta version of its Pro-Watch 5.0 product, which is coming out in Q1 next year. It is an integrated security console that provides a map view of access control, video management, intrusion and other third party systems. The web-based platform offers access to each element, all controlled by permissions. “We are also building in an incident workflow engine that allows an operator to see exactly what steps he should take when something occurs as defined by the supervisor or a security director,” said Green. “It can literally walk you through, and it is completely freeform. Whatever you want it to say, it will say. This works in conjunction with access control, video, and all the things we talk to.” The Honeywell booth was a busy place on day two of GSX 2019 Another new Honeywell product is the OmniAssure Touch reader, a “frictionless” device that can read a credential off a smart phone in a user’s pocket. The user merely touches the reader, and it scans the area for a nearby mobile device that is authorised, and you can walk through the door. Honeywell also announced the 30 Series IP cameras, which are encrypted and can be used as part of video systems that comply with National Defense Authorization Act Section 889. They are made in Taiwan. Arcules' cloud security solution “There are fewer people here at GSX 2019, but we have seen a lot of really big companies looking for a cloud service,” said Andreas Pettersson, CEO of cloud video company Arcules. At previous shows, questions about the cloud often seemed out of curiosity. Now, potential customers are more decisive: They say “we want to move to the cloud.” Pettersson theorised that concerns about a possible weakening economy may prompt some companies to avoid the large capital expenditure of procuring a new on-premise system and instead opt for the minimal investment needed for a cloud system. Monthly operating expenses of a cloud system are also predictable and more easily managed, said Pettersson.At previous shows, questions about the cloud often seemed out of curiosity. Now, potential customers are more decisive Arcules is proactive on the subject of cybersecurity and has a two-page handout that summarises the cybersecurity advantages of their system. They are eager to talk about cybersecurity as it relates to cloud systems, said Pettersson. He said that, in his experience, on-premise systems tend to have more cybersecurity issues,  whether because ports are left open or a firewall is implemented incorrectly. Users may also seek to bypass the firewall — a dangerous practice that is not an option with cloud systems. Security patches may not have been implemented; in a cloud system, such updates are pushed out automatically. The recurring monthly revenue (RMR) aspect of cloud systems are a windfall to integrators who embrace the cloud. “One integrator said he went on vacation for the first time in years because he had the extra money coming in,” said Pettersson. Control room integration from Vistacom "We're still fairly new to GSX, as our first show was 5 years ago, but what we have noticed is that the show continues to attract valuable attendees and drive critical conversations around what companies like ours must bring to the table in order to be successful in this space," said Dan Gundry, Director of Sales and Marketing, Vistacom. "We've had so many chances to learn from and share with potential customers and partners, and as a result, we continue to forge great relationships.” Vistacom is highlighting its control room integration and the value enterprise organisations can gain from implementing one in their facility. The company works alongside end-user customers and security integrators to build a command centre space, taking into account video wall display technology, operator consoles and furniture, audio and lighting considerations, as well as temperature and more, in an effort to optimise these centres. Stay tuned for the full GSX 2019 show review.

Based in the affluent district of St John’s Wood, Collection Place is a high-specification development comprising 14 luxury apartments, built nearby the infamous Abbey Road studios. Home automation and integration specialists, Advanced Integration (AI) invited Comelit to present custom door entry systems, as part of a security upgrade programme of works. Specification included bespoke brass video flush panels with video monitors and smart capability to manage from a mobile, incorporating full links to dedicated 24-hour concierge services. Smart door entry systems Says Kem Rashica, Estate Manager of The Collection Management Limited / Harrods Estates Asset Management: “Every element of our development, set in heart of our beautiful St John’s Wood, was created to present residents with a high-end luxury lifestyle, from specification to security and privacy. We are always looking for best ways to maintain and futureproof this expectation.” “Advanced Integration highlighted the opportunity to present smart door entry systems and recommended Comelit, as a brand renowned for delivering on design and style without compromising on technology or security. The installation was seamless and residents are now delighted to be able to manage their home from the convenience of their mobile.” Monitors with video capability Maria Tsiftis, Chief Operating Officer of Advanced Integration added: “When it came to upgrade the door entry, we wanted to incorporate a visual, smart capability, without affecting the style or ambience on site. Being a residential development, we also had to be conscious of any works programme not causing disruption to daily lives." “Comelit responded with a bespoke specification, including high-end entrance panels, monitors with video capability and concierge systems, enabling a combination of door entry and messaging. Being involved from the design stages ensured a smooth delivery and beautiful custom finish befitting to this luxury development.” Video intercom calls on a smartphone Comelit designed the door entry systems for Collection Place, to operate through its innovative VIP system, which offers a powerful all-encompassing opportunity for residents to receive video intercom calls on a smartphone. Sam Arnold, Business Development Manager at Comelit UK concluded: “St John’s Wood is one of London’s most upmarket residential locations, and Collection Place has been established in the elegant villa-style housing that is synonymous with the area.” “Any enhancements to door entry had to be delivered to complement this lavish attention on detail, but also serve discerning homeowners who want the advantages of service and latest technology. By working closely with Advanced Integration, we have delivered a sleek and functional, smart security solution to accommodate these requirements.”

Family-owned and run company, Bijou Wedding Venues, that offers exclusive wedding venues coupled with exceptional food and service, is improving its safety in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a state-of-the-art body temperature monitoring solution from ANT Telecom to reduce the risk of virus transmission. With restrictions lifting to enable larger groups of people to meet, weddings can begin to take place with greater numbers of guests. Bijou therefore wanted a solution that could enable special days to go ahead with confidence and reached out to ANT Telecom to implement its thermal imaging cameras at wedding venue entrances to ensure a significant reduction in risk to guests. Temperature monitoring cameras With Bijou operating across a range of venues, the cameras will be used to scan guests discreetly as they enter the venues to ensure minimum disruption to the day, and allow full focus to be on the couple’s celebration with families and friends. It comes as part of a range of other initiatives the company is implementing, such as changes to seating arrangements to ensure ample distancing; provision of outdoor ceremonies where possible; new methods of serving food and drink; as well as many other adaptations to minimise risk. ANT Telecom’s temperature monitoring cameras can be set up very quickly and are easy to use. The camera can detect multiple people at the same time, so is perfectly suited to scan wedding guests entering the venue. Protect guests and staff Our cameras support fast temperature measurement with discreet notifications to ensure minimal disruption" Sam Cutmore-Scott, Managing Director, Bijou Wedding Venues, comments: “We’ve made a range of changes in light of the pandemic to ensure that weddings can continue as planned and we’re pleased to offer couples this extra layer of safety alongside other measures. The temperature monitoring cameras allow us to protect all of our guests and staff right from the entrance of the venue. This is one of our key initiatives, and on top of this our exclusive venue model means venues can be completely sanitised between events and essentially acts as a private home for the couple, unlike hotel venues which have other people and staff entering and leaving the site.” Discreet notifications Upon camera detection of a temperature above the guidelines, that guest can be discreetly notified by a nominated person on behalf of the couple and alternative arrangements made, for instance inviting them to watch live streamed footage of the ceremony. Klaus Allion, Managing Director, ANT Telecom, states: “We’re delighted to support Bijou in enabling couples’ memorable days to continue and take place as close to as expected as possible. Our cameras support fast temperature measurement with discreet notifications to ensure minimal disruption and peace of mind for both the couple and guests at the venue, as well as staff. It’s an essential component of hospitality and event management and will help many types of gatherings similar to this take place safely as the fallout from the pandemic continues.”

With Razberi Monitor™, security professionals can securely and remotely monitor their physical security network during a time of social distancing. IT professionals can quickly review the cyber posture data in case of a cyber-breach. Razberi Monitor™ provides secure, remote visibility into the availability, performance, and cyber posture of servers, storage, cameras, and other networked security devices. Remote monitoring The tool simplifies the monitoring and support of a multi-site enterprise security system, predicts and prevents problems for security professionals while providing a centralised view that benefits both IT and Physical Security departments. We have listened to the surveillance industry and created our software platform to enhance relationships" According to Tom Galvin, Chief Product Officer, Razberi Technologies, "We have listened to the surveillance industry and created our software platform to enhance relationships and align Physical Security and IT departments. Razberi Monitor allows security professionals to be proactive by predicting problems." Aligning network and surveillance departments Razberi Monitor's software platform, paired with Razberi's video recording and switch appliances, has enabled Tropical Shipping to save on the cost of sending maintenance crews to check on potential issues in their US and Caribbean facilities. "Our network is highly distributed across the US and Caribbean with up to 125 users viewing camera feeds at one time. Razberi Monitor has helped us increase our camera uptime assurance and align our network and surveillance departments," said Chad Nelson, Director of Security, Facilities and Cargo Compliance, Tropical Shipping. "They now have a clear view of all operations, and it puts me in the driver's seat to be able to provide specific alerts to each port remotely, quickly and more efficiently than sending a tech to troubleshoot."

Edgeworx, the edge computing company, has launched a new AI-powered camera called Darcy to help protect workplaces of every size. In addition to detecting signs of fever, Darcy’s AI engine identifies whether individuals are wearing a face mask, tracks self-reported symptoms and delivers a quick, comfortable screening experience ideal for high-traffic environments. Organisations currently face an impossible choice between affordable, but ineffective, temperature readers (such as point and click devices or tablets) on the one hand, and cost-prohibitive medical-grade thermal cameras on the other. Affordable and accurate thermal camera Darcy ends this dilemma by offering the accuracy of a precision thermal camera at a fraction of the price. Darcy costs less than a fifth of the price of competing FDA-compliant thermal cameras, putting it within reach of schools and small businesses as well as enterprises and large retail outlets. To further ensure screening is accessible to all, Edgeworx is offering the first camera free to all public schools. The solution is already being piloted in Bay Area and New York schools. Despite their five-figure price tags, precision thermal cameras are slow, ungainly, inaccurate and hard to operate. Some take as much as an hour to warm up and need regular recalibration. By contrast, Darcy uses artificial intelligence and smart-room sensors to do the work of expensive hardware. Real-time alerts Safety checks will become a feature of daily life as we return to our schools and workplaces" Darcy logs self-reported symptoms via a mobile app, and checks for temperatures in less than a second, keeping lines moving and avoiding dangerous congestion at entry points. It provides real-time alerts and data reports so organisations can spot outbreaks early, take appropriate action and demonstrate compliance with public health mandates. It can be updated with additional features (such as AI for social distance checks) as public health practices evolve, no additional hardware required. Darcy provides peace of mind to businesses, employees, and customers. Schools and workplaces safe re-openings “Safety checks will become a feature of daily life as we return to our schools and workplaces. But many of these checks will be ineffective because organisations can’t afford high-end solutions that cost tens of thousands of dollars so they rely on devices that have been hastily thrown together and are inaccurate. That has to change,” said Farah Papaioannou, President and Co-founder of Edgeworx. “We developed Darcy because we knew we could use our AI, data and edge computing knowledge to really help people struggling with the challenges of re-opening. We’re focused on protecting all workplaces with a solution that’s affordable and accurate today—and is smart enough to adapt as the world’s knowledge of COVID-19 and other viruses evolves in the future.” Darcy secures Manhattan preschool Manhattan preschool program Kids At Work is among the organisations using Darcy to create a reliable and reassuring screening experience for children and staff. "We were searching for a health check solution that would give families peace of mind and be non-intrusive for our student population, from infants to five-year-olds,” said Julie. Darcy reads temperatures with a margin of error of 0.5 degrees Centigrade Averill, founder at Kids At Work. “Darcy checked all our boxes with its seamless experience, easy record-keeping and affordability. We're also thrilled with the day-long temperature monitoring feature. As an owner, I feel so much more confident about reopening with Darcy.” Darcy owes its speed, precision and low cost to Edgeworx’s edge computing fabric, which allows Artificial Intelligence (AI) to run on the device rather than in the cloud. Darcy’s AI performs many of the functions that require expensive hardware on other devices. Key benefits include: Accuracy and reliability Darcy reads temperatures with a margin of error of 0.5 degrees Centigrade. It overcomes the traditional challenges of contactless temperature monitoring with several innovations: Using AI, Darcy identifies where on a person’s face the reading should be taken, determines if they are close enough and whether they are wearing anything, such as a headband or sunglasses, that would interfere with an accurate reading, and automatically adjusts to body temperature fluctuations caused by circadian rhythms throughout the day and even the weather outside. To offset the effect of room temperature on a reading, most thermal cameras require an expensive scientific instrument called a blackbody reference unit, which maintains its own temperature and is used to calibrate the reading from the camera. Faster readings and less prone to errors By contrast, Darcy calibrates its readings against inexpensive smart sensors that attach to objects around the room, read the temperature of those objects and report it continuously and wirelessly to the camera. Not only is this significantly less expensive, but also less prone to failure, requires no maintenance and means the camera can be moved without triggering a lengthy recalibration process. Darcy takes readings in less than 100 milliseconds and uses data processing to identify any anomalies. As a result, by the time a person has approached the camera, Darcy may have 10 to 40 readings and can ensure that only a reliable one is recorded. Traditional cameras take only one reading, whether reliable or not, increasing the chances that a person with fever is not detected. Check mask usage and symptoms Darcy goes beyond temperature scanning to help organisations identify high-risk individuals who may not have a fever. Its AI identifies whether the individual is wearing a mask and allows organisations to conduct efficient wellness checks: Visitors complete a symptom survey from their home or phone via an app, which generates a unique QR code to be scanned by Darcy at entry. Additional features can be easily deployed so these devices can adapt as new practices come into play, without costly hardware changes. Avoid long lines and unsafe crowding at entry pointsBecause all the processing happens locally on the camera rather than in the cloud, performance is dramatically improved, avoiding the need for delays while a person’s temperature is checked. Beautifully designed, unobtrusive and with a friendly interface, Darcy makes screening quick, easy and unintimidating. By installing additional cameras in pass-by mode, schools and businesses can continue to monitor temperature and mask usage throughout the day—and throughout the building—without interrupting schedules. Get real-time alerts and compliance reports Darcy provides warnings via SMS, email, app or desktop notification so organisations can get early warnings of facilities where symptoms are trending and create a complete audit trail for compliance with public health mandates. Armed with data, organisations can make informed decisions and implement targeted measures rather than resorting to broad closures. Built-in privacy and securityBecause Darcy handles storage and AI processing locally, it never sends images or sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) to the cloud. Subscription Organisations can choose from two subscription packages and schedule a demo - Monthly subscription - Yearly subscription Until the end of 2020, Edgeworx is donating a free camera to any public school that purchases a subscription. To apply for a free camera, one may contact Edgeworx.

Airports are transportation hubs often located within close proximity to hotels, eateries, retail stores and sports venues. For this reason, large airports can have thousands of people approach their perimeter each day. With such a high throughput of people, security technology that detects and deters external threats is essential. When it comes to intrusion detection systems, there are several technology options, including buried pressure sensor cables, fibre optic sensors and behavioural analytics. However, an effective solution seeing increased adoption recently are thermal imaging cameras with built-in analytics. Lessons can be learned from integration firms like Ojo Technology, who oversaw the deployment of a FLIR perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) in 2017. Here are four advantages of thermal cameras that Ken Castle, vice president of business development at Ojo, described based on the SJC deployment. Video analysis and monitoring Thermal cameras produce images based on heat signatures rather than light. Consequently, thermal cameras capture video in total darkness, see through foliage and perform in adverse weather conditions like rain, wind and smoke. Thermal cameras provide a significant advantage for airports. As thermal cameras detect even the smallest differences in heat signatures, they produce sharp, high-contrast images “The combination of darkness and distance demands a different solution, one that can be provided by thermal imaging cameras,” said Castle. “These need no auxiliary illumination, and their field of view can extend for hundreds of feet.” Low false alarm rates As thermal cameras detect even the smallest differences in heat signatures, they produce sharp, high-contrast images ideal for video analytics, detection and classification. “With thermal cameras, the embedded analytics can immediately distinguish between an animal at 50 yards and a human at 300 yards, following their direction of movement,” Castle explained when discussing the PIDS project at SJC. Visual proof to provide qualified alerts Deploying thermal cameras in a PIDS project provides video verification for each alert. Thermal cameras provide the data and visual confirmations that are lacking from traditional fibre-based ‘shaker fence’ systems" “Thermal cameras provide the data and visual confirmations that are lacking from so-called traditional fibre-based ‘shaker fence’ systems, which generate alarms when objects strike a fence or something creates vibration,” Castle said. “The problem is that such alerts could be caused by dogs, wildlife, bicyclists bumping into the fence, tree branches or winds — none of which pose security threats. Those incidents then need to be independently confirmed by cameras. That takes extra steps and therefore consumes what could be valuable time.” Long-range detection and flexible coverage Airport perimeter solutions must have the ability to monitor vast exterior areas, from the parking lot to the terminal to the tarmac to the hundreds of portals in between. Thermal cameras provide that long-range monitoring capability. Castle reiterated this point when describing the FLIR solution deployed at SJC. “The FLIR perimeter camera system is designed to identify any attempted breaches by individuals who might try to gain access to the tarmac or aircraft from outside of the airport boundaries,” Castle said. “It also provides ongoing visibility of vehicle and cycling traffic along the outer fence line, as well as the movement of aircraft, cargo loaders, delivery trucks and service vehicles within the perimeter. Bottom line is that the safety of passengers, airline employees and service workers is greatly enhanced.”

ARST is a public transportation company in Cagliari, Italy. The company operates a massive fleet of about 800 public buses throughout the island of Sardinia. During the vehicle modernisation process, the company decided to deploy new centralised CCTV systems to enhance the security level of passengers and drivers. First of all, the low-definition images captured by the original surveillance equipment cannot meet the company’s advanced monitoring needs. Second, the bus driver could not achieve point-to-point communication with the command centre in real time. In addition, in case of an accident, there was no emergency button on the bus before to report the emergency to the command centre. Customised mobile solution To help ARST revamp its bus security system, a customised Dahua mobile solution consisting of more than 3,000 cameras and 750 MXVRs, Panic Buttons, DSS integrated platform as well as other accessories was employed. The data collected from the front-end cameras is integrated in the control room via DSS4004, where emergency calls, geo-localisation of vehicles and statistics can be managed. Each bus is equipped with a penta-hybrid video recorder MXVR6212, 4, 6 or 8 HAC-HDBW2241F cameras Each bus is equipped with a penta-hybrid video recorder MXVR6212, 4, 6 or 8 HAC-HDBW2241F cameras and panic buttons. The main features of the systems are: data encryption, people counting, hot spot, router 3G/4G, dynamic management of the LCD monitor on board and geo-localisation via DSS app. As the first mobile XVR adopting HDCVI/AHD/TVI/CVBS/IP signals, MXVR6212 can achieve 1080P high-definition real-time recording. High performance sensor It supports real-time vehicle location tracking and monitoring, and all information such as GPS and video can be uploaded via wireless network - 3G/4G/WIFI. In addition, the device can also support connection of various accessories, such as card readers, fuel sensors, and emergency buttons. Furthermore, it has passed EN50155/ISO16750 to meet the requirements for mobile use. Other than city bus, this device can be used in various applications, such as school bus, taxi, police car, train, truck, etc. The 2MP HAC-HDBW2241F-M-A mobile camera is designed with a shock-proof compact case, which makes it convenient to be installed and adaptable to various applications. Boasting the strengths of the Dahua self-developed HDCVI technology, the camera offers high quality images and ensures real-time transmission. Also, it adopts a high performance sensor to provide incomparable performance even under extreme lowlight environment. Manage mobile devices The Dahua mobile solution with high-definition monitoring performance reduces theft and robbery on buses The Starlight feature allows capturing of more details and recognising accurate colours at night or in scenes with limited illumination. At the control room, Dahua DSS platform was utilised to control and manage the mobile devices deployed on the bus. It displays real-time location, speed, direction of mobile device, playback device’s history location, and supports alarm for over-speeding, entering and leaving the E-FENCE. Aside from central management, the Business Intelligence feature of Dahua DSS platform also allows the user to export Heat Map reports and people counting statistics, helping operator companies to optimise driving route to generate more profit. High-definition monitoring With upgraded Dahua system, the command centre can communicate with every single vehicle of ARST Bus Company in real time, enabling them to deliver instructions to the driver, allowing the driver to report immediately to the command centre in case of an emergency through the panic button, and ensuring the safety of passengers and drivers. The Dahua mobile solution with high-definition monitoring performance reduces theft and robbery on buses, and enables bus companies to collect accurate information about traffic flows and automatically download data to assist efficient and profitable operation. The Dahua mobile solution mounted on board has been proven to be highly efficient and reliable, which were also applied in two other Italian bus companies: AMAT Bus Company in Taranto and AMTAB Bus Company in Bari.

Video is widely embraced as an essential element of physical security systems. However, surveillance footage is often recorded without sound, even though many cameras are capable of capturing audio as well as video. Beyond the capabilities of cameras, there is a range of other audio products on the market that can improve system performance and/or expand capabilities (e.g., gunshot detection.) We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does audio enhance the performance of security and/or video systems? 

Public spaces provide soft targets and are often the sites of terrorist or active shooter attacks. Public spaces, by definition, require easy accessibility and unrestricted movement. Given that openness, what security technologies can provide real results? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is technology innovation impacting the security of public spaces?

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?