INDUSTRY FOCUS

How Deep is Deep Learning?

At the start of every new year, I get a sampling of what new technologies are going to be introduced. Most of the time, I’m in way over my head. Sometimes I understand and relate to the solution, the technology and what it all means.

I met John Carter several years ago. I remember it was during the winter, because at the end of the work day the skies were getting dark and I was trying to find his office in the North Dallas area. John had a very cool new technology that he wanted to show me. First, you should know that he is a rocket scientist and worked for NASA for a few years. I’m not a rocket scientist, never worked for NASA, and had no idea what I was getting myself into.

It was rocket science.

I’ve kept in touch with John over the years, and a few weeks ago I get a call to have a chat with him on the phone. We talked for 30 minutes and I found I was swimming in the deep waters of deep learning. I swam fast enough to ask for another 30 minutes. We talked again, and I was more prepared.

We’re seeing amazing advancements in Artificial Intelligence and its ability to design complex machine learning, also known as artificial neural networks (ANN). Why is this important? The day will come when cars will drive autonomously, when security systems will be able to spot or identify a terror suspect, and when applied to physical security, situational awareness is enhanced by identifying anomalous events.

The more I talk to John, the more I learn. As humans, we have the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling. That activity is reported to our brain, allowing us to make decisions on how to proceed from one activity to another. ANN works similarly, but makes decisions based on logic and with constant evaluation.

When I asked for another 30 minutes of John’s time, I had you, the reader, in mind and asked him to share his thoughts on what I felt was a game changer. I invited John to write our cover story in this issue of Security Today, because I know he understands how leveraging AI will recognize certain conditions that increase a threat to a facility, and to the people inside. I’m thinking security on a K-12 campus and the valuable assets, otherwise known as students.

I believe you will enjoy his story, because it is a game changer.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2019 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Live from GSX 2024: Post-Show Recap

    Another great edition of GSX is in the books! We’d like to thank our great partners for this years event, NAPCO, LVT, Eagle Eye Networks and Hirsch, for working with us and allowing us to highlight some of the great solutions the companies were showcasing during the crowded show. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Research: Cybersecurity Success Hinges on Full Organizational Support

    Cybersecurity is the top technology priority for the vast majority of organizations, but moving from aspiration to reality requires a top-to-bottom commitment that many companies have yet to make, according to new research released today by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the technology industry and workforce. Read Now

  • Live from GSX 2024: Day 3 Recap

    And GSX 2024 in Orlando, is officially in the books! I’d like to extend a hearty congratulations and a sincere thank-you to our partners in this year’s Live From program—NAPCO, Eagle Eye Networks, Hirsch, and LVT. Even though the show’s over, keep an eye on our GSX 2024 Live landing page for continued news and developments related to this year’s vast array of exhibitors and products. And if you’d like to learn more about our Live From program, please drop us a line—we’d love to work with you in Las Vegas at ISC West 2025. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Bringing New Goods to Market

    The 2024 version of GSX brought with it a race to outrun incoming hurricane Helene. With it’s eye on Orlando, it seems to have shifted and those security professionals still in Orlando now have a fighting chance to get out town. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

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.” 3

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises. 3

  • 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. 3