Impressive Crowds, Products Mark ISC West's Second Day

• By Megan Weadock
• Mar 26, 2010

The second day of ISC West dawned to the same impressive crowds as the opening morning, and everywhere I looked, I saw busy exhibitors and countless customers (not to mention the occasional harried industry journalist). From the looks of the show floor, business is definitely booming again -- let’s just hope the trend continues through the rest of the year.

The number of new products being introduced this week is simply dizzying. Panasonic System Networks Co. was showing off several interesting new solutions. First off was the VC500, a visual communication solution that I know would vastly improve my company’s teleconferences. The system provides real-time, full HD video and 360-degree HD audio.

During a demonstration of the VC500, I spoke with remote Panasonic employees as if they were sitting right next to me. The HD audio is unmatched; crystal clear even on the busy show floor, it even eliminates the cross-talk problem, when one person speaking cuts everyone else off. And the video is truly impressive. It’s capable of picking up more detail on a $5 bill than you can see with your bare eye.

Cristine Amirian, Panasonic’s vice president of marketing, pointed out that solutions like the VC500 provide such precise evidentiary-grade images and audio that they have the potential to be used in courts of law. Authorities could even use the video for police line-ups, which would enable victims to identify suspects remotely.

Another interesting product I encountered is the iEvac fire escape hood from Elmridge Protection Products. It’s the only such product to pass ANSI/ISEA 110-2003 certification, and it’s also designated as a Qualified Anti-terrorism Technology by the Department of Homeland Security. The hood protects against toxic gasses, particulates and physical hazards like flammability and radiant heat. (In fact, the iEvac is capable of withstanding radiant heat up to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit) Ira Gurvitch from Elmridge demonstrated how fast and easy the hood is for users -- making me wish my office was stocked with them.

The Security Industry Association’s Best New Product this year, Sarnoff’s Iris on the Move, definitely caught my eye. The iris recognition solution can provide high-throughput identification for border or transportation security and critical infrastructure facilities. Bobby Farma, Sarnoff’s director of business development, explained that IOM will help minimize queuing and, in airport installations, could do away with paper tickets altogether. The flexibility of the system is impressive; since it’s backend-agnostic, it can be integrated into many kinds of new and existing identification systems.

Although today is only a half-day at the show, there’s still plenty to see. Make sure to check out as many new products as possible.