Hospital Goes Digital
Henry Brothers Electronics, Inc., a subsidiary of Diversified Security Solutions, Inc., recently installed the DX-TL5000U DVR from Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Irvine, CA. The hospital operates a large, integrated security system with its satellite hospital in Mission Viejo, CA, using more than 100 cameras in the two facilities. Both are currently undergoing major construction for expansion, and the hospital wanted to expand into networked digital recording. The DX-TL5000U provides speeds of 960 pictures per second for live images and 240 PPS for recorded images, and permits each of the 16 video inputs to be set individually.
Firms Team to Develop Integrated Biometric Solution
Phoenix Technologies Ltd. and Cogent Systems will jointly develop and market an integrated biometric solution that will tie Cogent’s biometric software directly to Phoenix TrustedConnector device identification software. Tying the biometric reader to the core system software provides for stronger multifactor authentication and enhanced security, the companies report. The client-side software will be compatible with both integrated biometric devices and USB peripheral readers.
Phoenix and Cogent will also work together to establish an industry body that will promote standards for biometric sensors. The companies plan to invite other industry leaders to participate in defining the standards in an effort to promote and expedite the adoption of biometric technology, and foster stronger end-to-end security objectives and innovation.
Partnership Provides Thermal Imaging Surveillance
FLIR Systems, Inc. and ObjectVideo have entered into a strategic alliance to provide advanced intelligent thermal imaging surveillance, the companies report. Under the agreement, FLIR will embed ObjectVideo’s intelligent video software into selected ThermoVision security and surveillance products. FLIR’s ThermoVision imaging provides high-contrast imagery independent of lighting conditions and obscurants such as smoke, fog and haze, while ObjectVideo’s software provides means to identify threats, the companies add. ObjectVideo’s surveillance algorithms, based on artificial intelligence, are embedded into each cameras firmware. This enables each camera to detect threats and send alerts independent of human monitoring.
General Electric’s Security business has joined the Implementers’ Forum Board of Directors of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc., a global industry consortium that creates international specifications for high-speed powerline networking products and services. The Alliance has three Promoter’s Groups focused on the development and promotion of compatible, interrelated powerline communications standards for high-performance in-home data networking and content distribution (HomePlug 1.0 and AV), to-the-home access technology (HomePlug BPL), and within-the-home infrastructure and inter-appliance communication (HomePlug Command and Control). With HomePlug technology as the baseline for home networking, content distribution and home automation, HomePlug-enabled products from leading companies like GE will be able to communicate with other consumer electronics products, personal computer platforms, security systems and general-purpose appliances, simply by plugging them into an electrical outlet, HomePlug reports.
Business Units Merge within
Honeywell will combine its Access Systems and Video Systems business units to form the Honeywell Systems Group. The name change is the result of an increased effort to provide dealer partners with an integrated solution including both video and access components, according to the company.
The Honeywell Systems Group is now able to more easily join efforts with other business units, such as Honeywell Process Solutions, the firm adds. The Honeywell Systems Group will be headed by John Lorenty, who was recently named president of the division, and will be headquartered in Louisville, KY.
In related news, Honeywell also recently announced a name change for NexWatch, which is now known as Honeywell Integrated Security.
Blood Vessel Authentication System Gets UL Approval
The VA-100G finger Blood Vessel Authenticator System from iAccess Systems, Inc. has been tested and passed the requirements contained in the Underwriter Laboratory (UL) Specification UL294 for Standard Access Control Systems. The VA-100G is the first finger Blood Vessel Authentication device to be introduced in the Americas, according to the company. It is available as a stand-alone unit or as a node in a network. It can also interface with third-party access control systems. Standard systems support 800 users with an optional expansion to 3,000 users. Entry/Exit Management software provides auditing and reporting functions.
Attendance Figures
The ASIS International celebrated its 51st Annual Seminar and Exhibits, held September 12 through 15 in Orlando, FL, with record-breaking attendance. According to event organizers, ASIS attracted more than 19,600 people this year—a four-percent increase over last year. The 52nd Annual Seminar and Exhibits will be held September 25-28, 2006 in San Diego, CA. According to ASIS, more than 80 percent of the booths have already been committed for that exhibit.
ISC East’s second run in New York proved successful, reporting 8,716 attendees from 55 countries, an estimated three percent over 2004’s show attendance. The dates for ISC East 2006 will be Oct. 24-25, and it will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, NY. Plans are already underway for the upcoming ISC West in Las Vegas, April 5-7, 2006.
COMPANY Secures $100 Million LOAN
Interface Security Systems LLC and The Greater Alarm Company have secured a $100 million senior loan from CapitalSource Finance LLC to fund an aggressive growth strategy throughout the upper and lower Mississippi Valley, Texas and California.
“The recent trends in the security industry indicate that well-capitalized alarm companies and systems integrators have the opportunity for dramatic growth,” states Michael Shaw, chief executive officer of Interface. “Interface is excited about its strategic position in the market and the potential to continue its expansion through a more aggressive acquisition and internal growth plan.”
