ISC West is back in a big way in 2022, taking Las Vegas by storm with a level of attendance and enthusiasm that makes it seem like 2019 all over again. There are few face masks to get in the way of long-overdue person-to-person communications; no social distancing as the crowd gathers for the show to open on the first day.
The only remnants of the pandemic are Reed Exhibition’s stringent health and safety guidelines, evidenced by a more complex registration process and the wearing of wrist bands to designate vaccinations. “We are thrilled to be back at ISC West,” says Rick Koscinski, General Manager at Honeywell. “There has been great traffic, great energy, it’s wonderful,” he commented on the first day of the show.
Power of leveraging data
Koscinski sees data as a driving force in the future of the industry, as evidenced by trends at ISC West. Integrators see the power of leveraging data for new applications, including some outside the security marketplace. Users are looking for new ways to use data from a physical security and life safety point of view, and even in related areas such as energy management (e.g., HVAC), which is also part of the broader Honeywell corporate offering.
Terms such as artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning are used more broadly than ever at this year’s show
“Information is power, and the security industry is wise to it,” he says. Cloud systems have gained momentum in the years since the last show, as have so-called ‘edge devices’ (and ‘near edge’ devices) which now contain more intelligence than ever. Terms such as artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning are used more broadly than ever at this year’s show.
Germ-sensitive environments
And these high-tech approaches are no longer restricted to higher-cost product lines; rather, they are working their way into mid-priced offerings and will likely soon be ubiquitous. Even the installed base of cameras can now be tied into AI systems, which apply greater intelligence to video feeds from cameras that are several years old.
Solutions is also a buzzword, and more companies are pointing to solutions rather than an emphasis on individual products. At the show, Aiphone is pushing service, support, and solutions rather than an emphasis on products. Hands-free intercom products, which gathered steam during the pandemic, are showing continuing positive signs, especially in germ-sensitive environments. Two-way video intercoms are also gaining momentum; among other things, they provide an intercom system that accommodates deaf users (through sign language), which can help with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
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| ISC West is back in a big way in 2022 |
Making the show possible
“It’s good to be back in person,” says Brad Kamcheff, Marketing Manager of Aiphone. “It’s good to see everyone, and the volume of people feels like we should be at the end of the pandemic, but there is still some anxiety.” Kamcheff applauded Reed Exhibitions for making the show possible. “It’s better than last July (when a delayed 2021 show was held).”
Returning to the show after three years, Pervez Siddiqui, Vice-President, Offerings and Transformation at Genetec, sees changes in the market. There are many new players, for example, and some are well funded. Siddiqui also sees enthusiasm in the market about what ‘could be.’ Clearly, security is a gateway to many Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Safeguarding crucial information
A concurrent issue as the industry expands into new applications is privacy
“We (in the security industry) are sitting on some of the richest data any company could want. We are capturing more and more information through access control and video, and people have caught onto the fact that we are capturing data for one function, but they can leverage it in different ways.”
A concurrent issue as the industry expands into new applications is privacy. The industry must be mindful of the need to ensure safeguards and manage carefully who has access to what information “We need to build those safeguards into our products,” says Siddiqui. A keyword is trust.
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| There is no better evidence of the industry’s bright future than a successful ISC West 2022 |
Serving multiple applications
Salient is one of the companies looking to ‘Go Beyond Security’ when approaching how customers use their products. Often, an end-user may be using video only for security and surveillance. However, there are many additional opportunities to use data throughout an enterprise, whether to unlock business intelligence, drive positive outcomes, or otherwise mitigate risk. The metadata from a camera feed can serve multiple applications without privacy concerns.
A broadening product mix, more intelligence, and a greater focus on solutions and customer outcomes suggest a security industry that is exiting the pandemic stronger than ever. There is no better evidence of the industry’s bright future than a robust and successful ISC West 2022.
Welcome back.
