SecurityInfoWatch.com Blogs

In Security Dealer magazine, one topic we try to cover often is the whole “convergence” issue as it relates to dealers/integrators needing to become educated about IP networks in order to provide cutting-edge physical security solutions now and into the future. With this topic in mind, I’ve been asking some people at the ASIS show what their thoughts are regarding how a security dealer/integrator should approach the increasingly important topic of learning information technology (specifically IP networks).

I’ve received some varying responses, but the common thread seemed to be that dealers/integrators of different sizes will likely have different strategies. From a practical standpoint, there isn’t a cookie-cutter strategy that can be used by every dealer/integrator company of every shape and size regarding a strategy of handling IT-intensive projects. If you’re a large dealer/integrator, then it likely makes sense to bring the IT knowledge in-house and do the projects on your own. If you’re a small dealer/integrator, then perhaps the thing to do is partner with another company or hire a consultant.

In today’s world of constant media coverage, it can become a little too easy to over-hype or exaggerate a problem or trend—and that’s certainly something I try to avoid. But on the other hand, a journalist does want to appropriately identify important trends and, if a problem is foreseen, sound the warning. There’s a fine line between providing a service to your readers and unnecessarily fear-mongering (or perhaps “nagging” is a better term) them into making a change.

When it comes to security dealers and integrators, what do you see as some various strategies that could be used in order to avoid losing out on an increasing number of physical security installs where IP networks are involved? Do you think dealers/integrators should have a “sense of urgency” when it comes to learning IP?

-Greg

Being a trade journalist, a lot of people assume I just get to wander around the exhibit floor looking for that next hot technology or killer app (actually most of a security trade journalist’s time is spent poolside with models and actresses). The most common question I hear at these tradeshows is ”What did you see that just blew your mind out there?”

Needless to say, most people who ask this question are probably not interested to hear about the time I spent checking out a two-channel video encoder with built-in analytics or the integrated access control-video system. Those are indeed impressive, I say, and I mean it, but they want to be stunned as if they just left a Cirque du Soleil performance.

So here’s what I saw that was just stunning: An automatic ray gun combined with a surveillance camera that can spot terrorists at 400 feet and zap them out of existence faster than you can “explosives belt”. Best of all, it’s entirely legal for use on civilian properties, has never had a false alarm and costs less than most wide dynamic range color PTZ domes!

What booth can you see the ray gun? Well, to come clean, most trade journalists don’t spend their time poolside with actresses, and there’s also no ray gun here at the show. But what is really pretty cool is the depth at which our industry can push existing technologies.

Cases in point:

Over at Johnson Controls they have a number of fire-like things you probably would write off as bizarre booth decorations. But they’re not decorations at all. The company is testing out some technology that would use cameras to identify fires by the flames, the reflections of flames or even by the smoke, and the goal is to do it before traditional smoke detectors could sound the alarm. Is it proven or fully functional? Maybe not, but what cutting edge technology really ever is all of the above? Give it a look at booth 2861.

FLIR’s thermal imaging cameras aren’t exactly predicated on brand-new technology. In fact, the company license its core technology at the sensor level from Honeywell which came up with the concept (which is WAY to complicated to explain on a blog) decades ago. What they’ve been able to do is to push that technology further and further. While all of their new gear for thermal vision (which is not night vision, as it can be used in day or night, and even through fog and other weather conditions) builds upon existing technology, it’s still pretty neat to be able to look through a long-range camera at a ridge with power transmission equipment on it that is miles away and see every thing distinctively. Side note: It’s also prety neat to look through a set of military-grade thermal imaging binoculars and watch a guy come out of his house and settle into a poolside lounge chair — especially when the naked eye can’t even see the house.

So until I find those camera/ray gun units, we’ll keep looking for the real technologies which are grounded in common safety and security needs.

[Above: even when a thermal video feed from FLIR is captured subsequently by a cheap-o digital camera in the hands of an unskilled photographer like this blogger, the clarity still looks good. Trust me that this imager looked dead clear in real life…]

Exactly a year ago in my weekly recap, I wrote about the news that Boeing had landed the Secure Borders Initiative (SBInet) contract to build a virtual fence using things like radar, surveillance cameras, a command and control system, field sensor and more. Now, a year later, they’re catching heat in the national media and from DHS Secretary Chertoff himself over their slow timeline, which would have put them into preliminary testing phases with DHS about three months ago.

Systems integration is the main hang up, according DHS spokesman Russ Knocke, although Boeing describes it as “some remaining technical issues”. News to Boeing: “remaining technical issues” are what you find during the subsequent user testing processes; “major” technical issues are those things that keep you from turning it over to the customer for acceptance testing. It’s apparently a serious enough issue for Chertoff to publicly announce that the government is withholding payment on the system until the project gets moving forward again.

There’s no doubt that integration of a project at this level isn’t a simple thing or even something that can be rushed on a tight timeline (which the project was on from the start), and I don’t write these words to criticize Boeing for their efforts, but we’ve all seen complex systems that combine a multitude of sensors, so we know it can be done. Come on, Boeing, we’re rooting for you because this is the kind of industry project that proves to system specifiers everywhere that our industry has the software, integration and communications expertise which it claims to have.

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, opening morning at the Javits Center, where the jointly held ISC East and InfoSecurityNY were being held. Traffic was surprisingly good.

Inside the show, I ran into Clive Gillon of Transdyn, an integrator and engineering firm offering integrated traffic management and video systems.

I had a minute to visit with the crew at Watec, checking out some of their miniature CCD cameras and board cameras. Despite the small sizes of the cameras, the images were surprisingly good.

I popped over to the press office to meet the guys from CoviSec (Coastal Video Security), who were up from Florida to introduce its Alcatraz product line. Pictured above are two interesting products. On the right is a laptop-like DVR and LCD screen combo that’s perfect for small businesses (convenience stores, perhaps) where space is at a premium. It can be optioned for either USB back-up or with a CD writer. On the left is the ALC-4825ON, with super-LEDs for infrared night vision extending over 300 feet. The camera includes a 25x optical zoom and will be priced around $900 for dealers, allowing for very affordable long-distance night vision. Also introduces was the D-series DVRs (again, very affordable) with JPEG200 and H.264 compression.

Ok, the “white trucks” that our industry uses don’t tend to get much attention from the trade press, but I must say that I was impressed by Adrian Steel’s design for the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon mid-size pick-up truck. They seem to be taking the 4-door version of the truck and adding custom metal work and a nice cap. Hot features include the slide-out tray option in the bed, two large flip-up access panels on the truck cap, use of the 4-door design to create an integrated storage compartment with dual side access and an integrated tool box. They also had the AstroBody system on display (AstroBody is a cooperative partner with Adrian) for those looking for the convenience of a mid-size pickup and the storage capacity of a full-size van.

 

There was nothing covert about these ladies from Brickhouse Security. The firm does GPS tracking, covert surveillance and counter-surveillance. It’s used Teydo/FindWhere’s GPS tracking solution.

Speaking of GPS tracking, I popped by the FindWhere booth (parent company is Teydo) to see their integrated web-based software system for tracking GPS devices that could be associated with people or assets. The system uses Microsoft’s mapping system (very similar to Google maps, if you know that technology) and can give updates on a GPS device’s location. It’s great for executive protection or for private investigation. It’s not applicable for fleet management, however.

Proving that ISC East isn’t only an “alarm” show, Optellios was showcasing the Fiber Patrol solution that can detect fence intrusions thanks to a fiber optic wire threaded along with the fence material.

The “drool factor” award for ISC East should go to ADI which was promoting its BMW giveaway. 10 bonus points and an “attaboy” to the first blog reader who can tell me what model this is (post answers in the comments). If you want to win, give your ADI rep a call or check in at an ADI store for details.

Thirsty for a sip of wine or gin? You’re going to have to pay for it. BottleLox has a bottle-top locking system combined with electronic article surveillance (EAS).

I thought you might like to see this 360 degree camera from Sentry 360 Security. It’s a 3-megapixel analog camera (they also have an IP camera with 5 megapixels) with built in image processing, video analytics and preset tour capabilities.

No matter what kind of really hot technology is in the booths nearby, attendees to ISC East regularly flood the tables at Bad Dog Tools to watch the guys drill through glass, steel and maybe even kryptonite. By the end of the show, everything in the booth is guaranteed to have at least one fresh hole drilled through it. Best bet when visiting Bad Dog? Keep your hands behind you, like the gentleman with the red bag.

Eastern CCTV’s booth: Mini dome cameras, DVR systems, and more.

You can tell this photo was taken on Wednesday due to the blue skies (Tuesday was wet for much of the day). I love the contrast of the image: Dozens of small steel-concrete bollards and concrete planter-barriers protecting what would seem to be massive vehicle-stopping concrete bollards. Actually, I’m told those are part of the convention center’s heating system. There’s a lesson here with the landscaping that anti-vehicle protection doesn’t have to be particularly ugly. It’s a reminder of the need for security to work with architects and landscapers when implementing vehicle-blocking devices.

A Wednesday morning highlight: the Emerging Markets panel discussion with (left to right) SIA’s Richard Chace, Reed Exhibitions’ Dean Russo, Lehman Brothers Jeff Kessler, and Joanne Thornton of the Stanford Washington Research Group. This session sifted through the numbers to help manufacturers and integrators pull together a game plan for China, Russia, Brazil and other top emerging markets.

The crew from Security Dealer and SecurityInfoWatch.com made it to Honeywell’s booth to see a demonstration of the Total Connect system, which links Vista panels, GSM and iGSM communicators with a variety of sensors as well as video cameras for the “totally connected” home or small business.

Cell phones aren’t just for games, music and text messaging any more. They’re also good for video surveillance. The Honeywell Total Connect can send images and video for the purpose of verification or just to check on your child coming home from school.

Also in the Honeywell booth: Former NY Knicks guard John Starks was signing autographs. Apologies for the blurry photo, but tradeshow photography isn’t a slam dunk.

What’s a security show without the Pelco Mobile Product Showcase truck? Their location right outside Javits was a nice a place for CCTV installing integrators to escape the tradeshow noise and get a lock on hot video technologies.

iControl’s web-based system and connection technology now links up with GE Security’s Simon alarm panels, and will be offered through Monitronics (among others). President/CEO Reza Raji was on hand to showcase this technology for extending the reach of home security and monitoring.

Video surveillance without having to run the wires is the theme at VisualGate Systems, which uses powerline video transmission. Generally, this technology is considered for temporary security needs or for facilities where boring holes through walls to run cables isn’t acceptable.

On Wednesday afternoon (second and final day of the show), the “bar” at Northern Video was a highly popular hangout for everyone worn out from carrying around bags of vendor handouts and product information DVDs.

–Geoff

So the ISC East show in New York began today. Early on the foot traffic was a bit light (rainy weather could have contributed to this), but later in the day things picked up.

Some of the new product demos that stood out to me were NAPCO’s iSee Video as well as Honeywell’s Total Connect. Both got me to thinking about what the market might be for basic video surveillance without including alarms; or as Ken Weinstein, Senior VP program marketing, security and custom electronics, Honeywell, said, “There could be a market for people who want video before they’d consider an alarm.”

I’ll have more about the products I saw at the show in a future article/post, but for now I thought I’d share a little about my experience today in New York City. With today being the 6th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I didn’t know quite what to expect with a security show in NYC on 9/11. Would it be “just another day,” or would it feel over-hyped or somewhere in between? I had no idea.

Admittedly, as I got up and started the day, it seemed “pretty normal.” Sure, I was thinking about 9/11, but as the day went along I found much of what was going on the show floor to be business as usual. Other than stopping for a moment of silence at lunch during an NBFAA meeting, there were few 9/11 reminders.

But in the late evening, that soon started to change as I found myself, along with a few other members of the security industry and press, walking toward Ground Zero, looking up at the Twin Tower light beams in the distance. For someone like me who hasn’t been to NYC since 9/11, this was starting to feel like a big deal. For the first time today, I was feeling the magnitude of that gloomy anniversary.
When we arrived at Ground Zero, we walked around to what seemed like a makeshift memorial. I started reading some of the writings, but soon decided that I could only handle so much. It really was hard at times to make it through a few sentences without getting teary eyed.

Anyway, one thing that impacted me while looking at all the different tributes placed at this site was the sense of unity. I saw a sign showing the U.S. and Canadian flags together, saying “Side-by-Side.” I also saw a page of 8.5″x11″ paper with the following typed on it: “26 Russians were killed on 9/11. We will never forget.”

But what I’ll probably remember most was the parked fire engine in the nearby street. I could hear a firefighter talking on a microphone to a group of people in the street. He was describing to them a particularly tense moment on 9/11 when a fellow firefighter was telling him to “Run!” Apparently one of the towers was about to collapse. As this firefighter told his story, he stopped every now and then, overcome with emotion. At one point, after another long pause spent trying to regain his composure, he remarked. “I’m sorry. That’s part of the story too.”

-Greg