ISC Quest

With more than 800 companies exhibiting at the 2009 ISC West tradeshow, it’s not surprising that there’s almost too much news to report coming out of the Sands Expo Center this week. And the fascinating, innovative products on display are almost too much to wrap your mind around.

Some of the most interesting new products I’ve encountered this week include Video Flashlight from Praetorian, an intelligent surveillance solution provider. The product combines multiple video surveillance feeds to create a single-screen, real-time display of the entire environment using amazing 3-D imaging technology. The resulting visualization looks like something out of an Xbox 360 game -- perfect for military applications, such as the U.S. Marine Corps’ live-fire shoot house. In this application, Video Flashlight is used to create 3-D renderings of live-fire building clearing drills. Afterward, trainees can immediately review their performance before running the exercise again. Video Flashlight is unlike any other video surveillance technology I’ve seen before -- and it might very well be the future of that industry niche.

Just around the corner, JVC was hosting its very own shoot-out. Granted, we are way out West, but it wasn’t that kind of shoot-out. JVC was pitting one of its new megapixel cameras, the VN-X35U, against three of the company’s biggest competitors’ cameras in a unique competition to compare resolution, low-light capabilities and motion capture.

The four cameras were all recording the same colorful scene that included children’s toys and a small moving carousel. The JVC camera was clearly the winner, with a bright, clear image that truly represented the color and illumination of the scene. When the lights were turned off, JVC came out ahead again. The other cameras got fuzzy, jerky or overly dark, while the VN-X35U stayed true to form. I’m not sure if other companies are doing this kind of head-to-head comparison, but I thought it was one of the most effective tools I’ve seen at a tradeshow, and I hope to see more of it in the future.

Early Thursday morning, I met with Dean Seavers, president and CEO of GE Security, to find out the latest. The economy seems to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind at the show, and Seavers acknowledged that the security industry hasn’t escaped the impacts of the recession.

“There’s a little different mood walking around,” he said. “The economy is just bad, and it’s in an unprecedented way. … That’s why it’s so important to deliver value and functionality.”

One way in which the company is adapting to that new “value and functionality” mantra is through a renewed focus on smaller, more affordable product platforms. The newly-released TruVision cameras, DVRs and monitors are designed to offer cost-effective security solutions for stand-alone or basic integrated installations. So far, these new product lines have primarily proven attractive to small retail customers, with some users in the education vertical showing interest as well.

GE was also eager to highlight its Vigilant fire and life safety product, which, if you haven’t already heard, won the SIA New Product Showcase Judges’ Innovation Award. Vigilant is a single-source solution meant to simplify, simplify, simplify. The product integrates a range of stand-alone or networkable control panels with optional voice evacuation and intelligent detectors, modules and accessories.

Clearly, GE is one of the many companies here that are listening to the dealers’ and end users’ requests -- and positioning themselves to be a vital part of the industry, even in hard times.

About the Author

Megan Weadock is a communications specialist at Monitronics.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.