R.I.P. COVID-19

INDUSTRY FOCUS

R.I.P. COVID-19

By my estimation, that crazy pandemic might have slowed things down a bit for the past two years. Working from home, tele-calls and other means to keep a personal distance of at least 6 feet. COVID-19 and all its variations are still hanging around but it hasn’t stopped technology innovations.

A memory from the 2021 ISC West was a reminder of a tradeshow on life support. Things changed for the better. What’s new in security products took a huge leap forward in March during ISC West.

Above all else, it was amazing to see friends, face-to-face. So, where did this year’s tradeshow land in terms of attendance, exhibitors and overall buzz? Is the security industry resilient?

“It truly was amazing to see all our attendees, exhibitors and partners in person again! Clearly the security and public safety industry is ready to get back to face-to-face meetings, as the Show Floor was packed and the electrifying energy consistently included positive messages throughout the week such as ‘exceeded our expectations,’” said Mary Beth Shaughnessy, event director of ISC Security Events.

People in the security industry are passionate about their calling of providing security systems and solutions. Attendance only proved to me that providing security will never be on life support. One thing I have noticed, and was mentioned several times during ISC West conversations, the pandemic provided a means by which engineers and product managers could concentrate more on new product development.

From my travels on the show floor, I noticed several new products and amazing iterations of products that had been launched previously. Technology is ever changing, and advancing so quickly. Back on track, ISC West is soaring once again.

“SIA was inspired by the outstanding growth seen at ISC West 2022 and by seeing the energy and dedication on the show floor, in the conference sessions and at events taking place throughout the week,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson.

Perhaps as many as 20,000 attendees and exhibitors attended. I’m not naïve enough to think the pandemic is over but hoping it can now rest in peace.

This article originally appeared in the May / June 2022 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events

  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • 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.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.