R.I.P. COVID-19

INDUSTRY FOCUS

R.I.P. COVID-19

By my estimation, that crazy pandemic might have slowed things down a bit for the past two years. Working from home, tele-calls and other means to keep a personal distance of at least 6 feet. COVID-19 and all its variations are still hanging around but it hasn’t stopped technology innovations.

A memory from the 2021 ISC West was a reminder of a tradeshow on life support. Things changed for the better. What’s new in security products took a huge leap forward in March during ISC West.

Above all else, it was amazing to see friends, face-to-face. So, where did this year’s tradeshow land in terms of attendance, exhibitors and overall buzz? Is the security industry resilient?

“It truly was amazing to see all our attendees, exhibitors and partners in person again! Clearly the security and public safety industry is ready to get back to face-to-face meetings, as the Show Floor was packed and the electrifying energy consistently included positive messages throughout the week such as ‘exceeded our expectations,’” said Mary Beth Shaughnessy, event director of ISC Security Events.

People in the security industry are passionate about their calling of providing security systems and solutions. Attendance only proved to me that providing security will never be on life support. One thing I have noticed, and was mentioned several times during ISC West conversations, the pandemic provided a means by which engineers and product managers could concentrate more on new product development.

From my travels on the show floor, I noticed several new products and amazing iterations of products that had been launched previously. Technology is ever changing, and advancing so quickly. Back on track, ISC West is soaring once again.

“SIA was inspired by the outstanding growth seen at ISC West 2022 and by seeing the energy and dedication on the show floor, in the conference sessions and at events taking place throughout the week,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson.

Perhaps as many as 20,000 attendees and exhibitors attended. I’m not naïve enough to think the pandemic is over but hoping it can now rest in peace.

This article originally appeared in the May / June 2022 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • Midtown Manhattan Shooting Kills 4, Including NYPD Officer

    Four people were killed, including a NYPD officer, in a midtown Manhattan shooting on Monday. That’s according to CNN. Read Now

Most   Popular

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.”

  • 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.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.