Actionable Intelligence

Turning misconceptions of AI into dynamic security solutions

There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay, as new AI-driven solutions are pervasive across every category of professional and consumer electronics today. This is especially true in the professional security arena – both in terms of physical and cyber security – as exciting new AI-driven solutions promise to move the industry from passive monitoring to predictive analysis modes of operation. The ability to autonomously collect and analyze vast amounts of data from holistically integrated security systems also opens-up a myriad of new business intelligence applications across the enterprise.

Yet, despite the pervasiveness of AI technology, it is still widely misunderstood, and that is understandable after hearing comments from some of the most respected technology gurus of our time who portend that AI will be death of civilization or believe that sci-fimovies portray an accurate picture of the future. It is important to separate media grandstanding and fiction from the real science behind AI and the pragmatic benefits it promises to deliver. For the purposes of this discussion, let’s focus on the latter purely from the perspective of the professional security market.

Video surveillance, access control and other related physical security systems have progressed in quantum leaps over the past several years. It was not all that long ago that we were all looking at grainy B&W images from analog CCTV cameras, and access control was relegated to keys and guards who manually logged individuals entry/egress activities with a ballpoint pen.

The truth of the matter is that the seemingly rapid evolution from analog to digital to networked, and now intelligent state of technology, has actually been in the works for quite some time – actually since the 1940s. This is when research first began on developing computational models that would eventually evolve into artifi- cial neural networks, which provide the foundation and processing power for AI and machine learning technology as we know it today.

According to Wikipedia, artificial neural networks, otherwise referred to as connectionist systems, are computing systems that are inspired by biological neural networks like those in human brains. Such systems have the capacity to “learn” to perform tasks by considering examples, generally without being programmed with taskspeci fic rules. This is essentially how the term “artificial intelligence” and the alternate term for AI, “machine learning”, came into being as a means of describing a new generation of smart machines and devices capable of making autonomous decisions.

Many of today’s new physical security solutions actually live up to the long-standing expectations of AI with the ability to autonomously learn and analyze situations and then make decisions based on the data. These new solutions employ one or more of three different electronic learning techniques: Supervised learning. Where continuous feedback is presented to formulate decisions.

Unsupervised learning. Where decisions are based on estimation of statistical data received by an input source or device,

Reinforcement learning. Where rules are adjusted based on a combination of estimating data inputs and pre-established rules to reach the desired results.

There are several relatively new, yet highly familiar professional, security solutions trending today that adhere to these AI models, including intelligent AI surveillance cameras, dynamic and adaptive facial recognition, video redaction, and physical and software enabled IoT sensor technologies. When used in combination, the aforementioned solutions transform traditional security monitoring and recording systems into sources of actionable intelligence enabling new forms of predictive analysis.

Unfortunately, it often takes a cataclysmic event to identify the need for new and innovative security solutions that migrate into the mainstream thereafter. The ongoing pandemic is no exception. New integrated AI-driven security and health safety solutions have made their way to market to help address current challenges and compliance mandates.

  • Automatically identifying, authenticating and tracking individuals upon entering a facility or campus.
  • Automatically identify individuals who are not wearing face masks in environments where masks are required.
  • Automatically detecting and identifying individuals with elevated body temperature.
  • Automatically restricting access or redirecting individuals who may require additional screening or attention.
  • Redacting innocent individuals’ faces from video that is being used to apprehend suspects or as video evidence.
  • Detecting anomalies in the environment or standard operations that pose a potential threat or liability.

Although we now perceive these intelligent integrated solutions as specific measures to combat the pandemic, we should anticipate that they will become permanent criteria for safe and secure facilities and healthy buildings moving forward. A perfect example of this was the widespread adoption of metal detectors and body scanners following 9/11.

This level of integrated intelligence represents the tip of the iceberg in relation to the wide range of new and emerging professional security applications for AI-driven software and hardware solutions. This is relevant to new and relatively inexpensive sensors and analytics that can easily supplement traditional surveillance cameras and software solutions such as VMS and access control management platforms.

The additional data from new sensor solutions further increases situational awareness by providing the ability to detect potentially threatening anomalies. Examples include everything from audio analytics to detect and identify screams, gunshots, explosions and glass breaking to environmental sensors that recognize noxious fumes and gasses, smoke and fire, and feel vibrations such as explosions or earthquakes.

As we constantly hear on the news these days, it is important that we “follow the science” as it pertains to AI – which is a win-win for security professionals, users and integrators alike.

This article originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Live from GSX 2024: Post-Show Recap

    Another great edition of GSX is in the books! We’d like to thank our great partners for this years event, NAPCO, LVT, Eagle Eye Networks and Hirsch, for working with us and allowing us to highlight some of the great solutions the companies were showcasing during the crowded show. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Research: Cybersecurity Success Hinges on Full Organizational Support

    Cybersecurity is the top technology priority for the vast majority of organizations, but moving from aspiration to reality requires a top-to-bottom commitment that many companies have yet to make, according to new research released today by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the technology industry and workforce. Read Now

  • Live from GSX 2024: Day 3 Recap

    And GSX 2024 in Orlando, is officially in the books! I’d like to extend a hearty congratulations and a sincere thank-you to our partners in this year’s Live From program—NAPCO, Eagle Eye Networks, Hirsch, and LVT. Even though the show’s over, keep an eye on our GSX 2024 Live landing page for continued news and developments related to this year’s vast array of exhibitors and products. And if you’d like to learn more about our Live From program, please drop us a line—we’d love to work with you in Las Vegas at ISC West 2025. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Bringing New Goods to Market

    The 2024 version of GSX brought with it a race to outrun incoming hurricane Helene. With it’s eye on Orlando, it seems to have shifted and those security professionals still in Orlando now have a fighting chance to get out town. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.” 3

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises. 3

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame. 3