You Gotta Love Chicago

I was a little nervous about coming to Chicago. Who wouldn't be with the bad press the city has been given. It's a big cit, and lots of bad things happen.

One of the good things going on right now is ASIS 2013 at McCormick Place. Exhibitors seemed to be busy and there seems to be fair amount of visitors. What I liked on my first day here was the venue. McCormick Place is incredible for a tradeshow with plenty of room and wide enough aisles to weave through traffic.

Hats off to McCormick Place for a nice venue, and hats off to ASIS for providing a shuttle service from hotels to the tradeshow floor. Yes, I'm sure not everyone is pleased, but after a successful first day of learning about what's new, I'm happy.

Big news on the first day has already been tweeted and posted to many websites. Axis Communications is getting into the access control vertical. They are not departing from IP cameras and all that represents, it's just a new market with so many possibilities.

According to Fredrik Nilsson, general manager for the Americas, the company has been testing it for the last two years at their Chelmsford, Mass., location to be certain it worked well before it was released to the public.

"Our hope is to bring more end users into the integrated market," he said. "So far, customers have accepted this new product with open arms."

The new product will ship during the fourth quarter of this year.

I also had a nice chat with Laura Mastroberti at Speco Technologies. People always ask me what products have I seen at the show that are new and worthy of a second look.

Here is one hint. Take a second look at Speco's plug and (work) play NVR, the N4NSP or N8NSP. It quickly autoloads and installs Speco's OnSIP and VIP cameras, but also will work with other cameras to detect their locations.

I like it. It's smart and simple.

Arecont Vision also brings a new product to the table at ASIS 2013. It is their SurroundVideo Omni unit. It is not your typical dome camera, but get this, it is a 4 user-configurable IP sensor in an Omni-directional solution.

Mounted on the corner of a building, it gives the end user 270 degree view, and allows a view directly beneath the housing. It offers a discrete, low profile design and true wide dynamic range up to 100dB at full resolution.

This product will be available in January 2014.

Company officials say Omnivision will be the PTZ killer.

Not new to the industry, but new to me is Galaxy Control Systems. This company has been around for 40 years and I enjoyed a visit with Rick Caruthers, their executive vice president.

Here are a couple things about Galaxy. They offer training on both the east and west coasts. A five-day class is well worth the certification, and there will be more about that in a coming issue of Security Products magazine. I'm going to delve more into that later this year with a great story coming for March issue of our Dealer Strategies publication.

Today should be an even better day at ASIS. Everyone has gotten warmed up and kicked the dust off. Let's make Wednesday even better.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.