IP Hot Topic On ISC West’s First Day

My first day of ISC West on Wednesday was all about IP technology and how the move of security to the network is affecting the industry.

The day started out with a press breakfast with Axis Communications. And for a little bit of early morning theatre, company officials made the point that the companies IP cameras are easy to install. So easy, in fact, that it could be done on a unicycle and then blindfolded. Point well made.

And getting down to business, Axis highlighted a slate of new products, including two products on opposite ends of the spectrum -- the high-end, 5 megapixel AXIS P1347/E and the sub-$500 AXIS M1114 featuring 720p resolution.

While full-HD 1080p camera technology has been in the market for some time, Fredrik Nilsson with Axis said the company wanted to wait.

“With our focus on quality, we wanted to wait until the lenses were right,” he said. “That time is now.”

Even though security market as a whole struggled, Axis bucked the trend in 2009, earning more than $320 million, a 17 percent increase from 2008. That from a company who has more than 30,000 partners in its channel program worldwide.

Wireless technology provider Firetide announced an expansion of its offerings with a point-to-point outdoor wireless Ethernet bridge. The FWB-100, available next month in 2.4, 5 and 4.9 GHz bands, achieves a real-world 35 MBps throughput in 1 to 2 mile links.

“We really thought this new product was a natural fit for us,” said Firetide marketing manager Ksenia Coffman. “We wanted to bring our mesh expertise to a point-to-point product.”

Coffman also told me that Firetide is planning to release a MIMO-based point-to-point product later this year.

Beyond the new product, the company was showing off video from HD and thermal cameras streamed over mesh networks.

NICE Systems made news in late 2009 with the acquisition of PSIM provider Orsus. And after talking with Jacob Fox and Pat Kiernan, NICE is looking to move beyond the PSIM concept with its NICE Siutator.

Fox said that the product moves from the idea of situational awareness to situation management. Instead of just telling an operator what is occurring, NICE’s system takes it to another level by convey an operational action to the appropriate personnel.

“Situational management automates and standardized standard operational procedure,” Fox said. “That leads to no more variation in response. Our product goes far past PSIM. Without situational management you just don’t get much.”

During a press briefing with IMS Research, the company had some intriguing numbers about IP video and its future. While the analog video market dropped 7 percent in 2009, the network video market was up a strong 25 percent during the same time.

Analysts from the firm said that while megapixel camera growth is strong, high definition video is the emerging format of choice in the market.

But the recession has pushed back the IP camera market for the long term. The firm expects the ‘tipping point’ of IP video, where more than half of market revenue will come from network cameras, to occur in the 2013-2014 timeframe. That’s a year later than previously expected.

And while there were drops in the security market in Europe and North America, the markets in Brazil, Asia and India are showing strong growth according to IMS.

When thinking of iris recognition, I usually think of having to stand still for a certain time in one place to correctly register the biometric information. But products from Global Rainmakers make standing still for iris recognition irrelevant.

The company’s flagship product, the HBOX, offers a throughput of up to 50 people per minute, a pretty impressive figure. And all of the products from the company are IP based and definitely not a bandwidth hog. Steve  Hanna from the company told me that each scan only transfers a miniscule 2 KB across the network.

My second day of ISC West today is just as busy and I’ll report back soon with what I’ve learned after talking with some of the major companies in the industry. As always, feel free to follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/BrentDirks for up-to-the-date information and news.

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

New Products

  • 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.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.