Emerging Technologies


Digital Health Records May Increase Identity Theft

President Obama has proposed sweeping reform of the nation's healthcare system and said he believes all medical records should be computerized and standardized within five years. The President hopes this will result in increased quality of care, decreased costs, and creation of thousands of new jobs. Todd Feinman, a published security expert and CEO of Identity Finder , cautions, however, that electronic medical records add higher risk of identity theft unless they are carefully protected.

Twittering with Disaster

Get your tweets, status updates and blogs ready— it's time to get into the social networking loop. That's because online tools like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace aren't just for high school students and techies anymore.

A Transitional Period

IP-based video surveillance has grown at a pace of 30 to 40 percent annually over the last few years. Analog video has shown significantly lower growth rates—thus, the technological shift from analog to digital surveillance is now in full swing.

An AES in the Hole

It's no secret that government facilities must have airtight security systems and protocols in place for protecting communications.

Industry Perspective

We're all familiar with compression technology, and the improved version of MPEG-4 has been bandied about for months. We wanted to know more about H.264, so we sat down with Luke Zitterkopf of Trium Technologies to ask a few questions.

Pivot3 Wins Best In Show At SIA’s New Product Showcase

Pivot3 won SIA’s Best in Show Award at the 2009 New Product Showcase for its Serverless Computer storage solution at ISC West. Pivot3 provides clustered architecture that delivers large-scale, high-bandwidth storage using off-the-shelf hardware components combined with specialized software.

In a Blur

The security industry has been undergoing a series of advancements in low-light surveillance. Nonetheless, image quality in these situations does not compare to the quality of daytime surveillance.

Solar Targets

Europe's large photovoltaic power stations represent significant investments and require effective protection against theft and vandalism. With the specific needs of this emerging market in mind, Geutebruck has teamed up with physical security specialist Haverkamp GmbH and system integrator Akera Security GmbH to supply customized, all-in-one PV power station security solutions.



The World of Wireless

As security risks increase, the need to visually monitor and record events in the most remote areas becomes even greater. Moreover, the value of video surveillance has grown significantly with the introduction of intelligent motion, temperature and sound sensors.

Turkish City Uses WiMAX-Powered Backhaul For Country’s Largest Video Surveillance Network

Proxim Wireless Corp., a provider of end-to-end broadband wireless systems recently announced that it has provided the wireless backhaul for Turkey's largest video surveillance network in the port city of Bodrum.

Rich and Famous

High-end estates present a multitude of challenges for the modern security provider or integrator. In addition to the sheer size of many of these compounds, families with children are often in the mix. Issues like broadly varied threats, the wide range of residential locations and the residential nature of the facility all complicate the job of the security professional.

Fair Warning

Ask a group of physical security managers what their most critical security priority is, and not many would answer fire detection and prevention. However, according to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 3,000 lives and more than $10.6 billion dollars in damages were attributed to fires in the United States last year alone. A catastrophic fire can cause loss of life, damage to assets and inventory, and lost productivity due to downtime. In fact, according to KPMG, 40 percent of businesses that suffer a catastrophic disaster, such as a major fire, go out of business in less than two years.

The Eyes Have It

If the security market in 2009 is anything like the one in 2008, it will be brimming with technology to help protect people, property and assets. Thanks in part to the digital revolution, end users can choose from a variety of technical solutions ranging from basic stand-alone video surveillance, alarm intrusion or card access systems to comprehensive and integrated enterprise-wide IP-based systems.

All for One

As analog technology continues to recede into the background, so goes the VCR and the simplicity of push-and-play video. In its place is the mighty DVR. Though this has been a welcomed change for entertainment enthusiasts, it has proved to be problematic for law enforcement, namely forensic video analysts, whose job is to secure video surveillance evidence.

Learning to Adapt

A new type of video surveillance technology called adaptive learning video analytics is revolutionizing physical security with its ability to analyze input from hundreds or even thousands of security cameras and provide alerts to potential threats as they occur.

Banking on Megapixel

Emprise Bank is a name well known in Kansas for leadership, integrity and service to its customers and to the community. Headquartered in Wichita, the privately owned bank has more than 40 locations in 20 communities across the state. Its culture of commitment and customer service is strongly instilled in its nearly 500 staff members.

Into the Ethernet

Over the past several years, much attention has been paid to the development and deployment of IP-based video surveillance systems. However, the rate of adoption has been slowed in part by the heavy bandwidth consumption of video streams and their resulting adverse impact on the network.

On Alert

Students at Washington, D.C.’s prestigious George Mason University pass their years with plenty to worry about.

Connecting the Dots

The evolution of video surveillance systems to IP-based systems will be application-, budget- and choice-based.

Lending a Hand

It’s been clear for a long time now that user names and passwords are simply not enough to ensure secure authentication in enterprise applications.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.