Kuwait News

The global installed base of cloud-based home management services is projected to grow to 44.6 million at the end of 2018 Cloud-based home management systems that allow users to remotely control household features like lighting and air conditioning are set for rapid growth in the coming years, with the installed base set to rise by a factor of eight from 2013 to 2018. The global installed base of cloud-based home management services is projected to grow to 44.6 million at...

Bosch Security Systems has received factory certification from Lenel Systems International for the integration of more of the company’s Internet protocol (IP) cameras with the Lenel Network Video Recorder (NVR) 7.0, as well as certification for additional recording solutions with the OnGuard® access control system v6.6. This expanded certification supports viewing live and recorded video from Bosch IP cameras using Lenel NVR systems, and display of video and Intelligent Video Analysis...

Traditionally, security systems have been designed with the cameras in mind first then with added consideration for the infrastructure and cabling components. But this is old-school analogue thinking. Milestone Systems CEO Lars Thinggaard states that a security system can be designed for more than just protecting assets by starting with specifications for digital video management software (VMS) at the core of the solution. By thinking 'digital', an IP network video system can...

We keep hearing about the “Internet of Things” (IoT) and wondering how it will impact the physical security industry. It turns out the Federal government is working now to direct development and testing of such systems with an eye toward a variety of future applications. The U.S. government calls such technology “Cyber-Physical Systems” (CPS) and is looking for ways they can be used to improve safety, sustainability, efficiency, mobility and the overall quality of life....

IHS also expects that open standards will begin to take shape for the access control industry in 2014 The electronic access control industry saw many changes in 2013 and the next 12 months should be no different. According to IHS Technology, the access control industry could begin to see rapid changes in the short to medium term. In an historically slow moving market (compared with video surveillance) the access control market has seen many new entrants, such as Axis, as well...

“Lifestyle services” become the norm with home security: One of the trends driving growth in the home security market is the concept of “lifestyle services”.  Home security systems today can offer new benefits and features that go beyond protection to also encompass convenience. All the home security companies are now embracing ways they can expand system functionality to enhance their customer’s safety as well as lifestyle. Examples include the ability to lock...

PoE has redefined how security professionals design and deploy systems The migration from analogue infrastructure to networked systems continues to gain traction at a rapid pace given all the inherent benefits networked technology provides for video surveillance and security applications. However, there are costs involved and they can be significant, especially if the move to networked infrastructure requires the removal of existing wiring and the installation of new Ethernet...

ADT is looking to "bring the voice of the customer" into the continuing development and expansion of Z-Wave, the radio frequency (RF) communication and product-level interoperability technology that enables wireless networking of battery-powered devices in the home. ADT is the newest Principal Member of the Z-Wave Alliance consortium. Z-Wave is one of the enabling technologies of ADT’s Pulse security and home automation system, which enables a home's electronics to communicate with each o...

Every security system has a storyOur industry’s technology solutions are at work almost everywhere, if you think about it. You might see Kelvin Hughes high-resolution radar pictures providing protection for Maryland’s oyster beds. At the 2014 Oscars, Axis pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras kept watch around the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. At The Marque, an exclusive membership club in Houston, Texas, MorphoTrak 3D facial recognition technology secures access and enables the club to be &ld...

Ideal COTS solutions take cost, customisation and convenience into account Physical identity and access management (PIAM) software enables streamlined management of security identities across disparate physical security systems. In this article, Ajay Jain, President and CEO of Quantum Secure, explains that PIAM software can ensure synchronised and policy-based on- and off-boarding of each individual identity by integrating physical with logical systems. It would also ascer...

Privacy or Security? Privacy: Does it really exist? Does it matter? You still hear about privacy concerns in our market, but in many ways the privacy ship has sailed. A session on privacy at ISC West reminded me how much privacy expectations have changed in the era of Facebook. Now people think nothing of posting personal information in a public forum that clearly identifies who they are. What a shift from the days when anonymous screen names both protected identities and encouraged greater can...

There seems to be genuine uncertainty amongst manufacturers at the future direction for HD, low-latency video provision Growing slice of the $13 billion video surveillance equipment market or small-time niche which can never keep up with the double-digit growth rates for network surveillance? It’s a very different outlook for HD CCTV technology, depending on who you speak to. There are those who see the growing revenues and a viable alternative to HD IP cameras for many...

From being a buzzword today, Big Data is poised to have a large impact on the physical security market with numerous practical applications in preventing and fighting crime. I’ve been hearing a lot about "Big Data" and its impact on the physical security market. Wikipedia tells us that Big Data involves using larger and larger sets of data points to find correlations that can “spot business trends, determine quality of research, prevent diseases, link legal citations, combat crime,...

Bon Securs Hospital, Galway, has integrated the SALTO XS4 Locker Lock into the drug and medicine cabinets used within a new build extension to the hospital to control when and by whom patient medication can be accessed.Bon Secours Hospital Galway is a 120 bed acute care facility, providing a wide range of surgical and medical services. It is part of the Bon Secours Health System, the largest private healthcare provider in Ireland, and currently admits 18,000 patients per annum, comprising 6,000...

The mechanical lock industry is experiencing an increased penetration of Chinese suppliers into the international market Despite the growing popularity of access control systems driving the adoption of electronic locking devices, mechanical locks are not projected to falter any time soon. Mechanical locks are forecast to have a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% from 2013 to 2017, a new report from IHS. While access control is driving the penetration of elect...

Intrusion detection devices must maintain a delicate balance. Highly sensitive devices can cause too many false alarms, while devices with insufficient sensitivity are easily defeated by sophisticated intruders. Innovations in intrusion detection technology have enabled significant advancements in performance, resulting in excellent catch performance while virtually eliminating false alarms. In this article, Tom Mechler, Product Marketing Manager for intrusion products for Bosch Se...

Pelco is making its big comeback with renewed vigour and new lines of surveillance products to set it apart from the rest Working to Regain Momentum in a Changing Market: Most observers agree that Pelco lost momentum in the video surveillance market after the acquisition by Schneider Electric in 2007. Hervé Fages, senior vice president of Schneider Electric's video business, is looking to regain that momentum, guiding the surveillance giant in new directions as the mark...

These “critter cams” let viewers share in the daily lives of animals usually hidden in forests, groves or high atop trees Axis Communications, the global leader in network video, recently celebrates Earth Day by highlighting non-profit organisations who raise awareness of wildlife and conservation projects through live Web streams of animal habitats using Axis network cameras. These “critter cams” let viewers share in the daily lives of animals usually...

Visiting with the youngest "old company" in the security market: One of the newest companies at this year’s ISC West show is 130 years old. Allegion launched in December 2013 as a standalone, publicly-traded company following the spinoff of the commercial and residential security businesses from Ingersoll Rand. Making its high-profile debut at ISC West in Las Vegas, Allegion sponsored the kick-off ceremony and featured a big booth full of familiar brands like Schlage and Von Duprin. I ca...

Brickcom is pleased to announce the new version of the Fixed Box IP network cameras. The V5 new design includes a bunch of new hardware and software features, and is the result of the joint efforts from Brickcom's R&D team and the customers in all parts of the world. From the hardware point of view, the V5 Fixed Box cameras come with the following new features and enhancements: Real-Time Clock for the camera to maintain the accurate time even if powered off for days. Temperature Alarm f...

Security is a top priority in schools throughout the United States. The capabilities of IP video surveillance systems, in conjunction with Video Management Software (VMS) systems, make them one of the most popular and effective security tools available. In this article, Gadi Piran, President, OnSSI defines scope and structure of IP video and its advantages in improving school security in a number of ways including: superior image quality, ease of manipulation, integration capabilit...

After days of back-to-back meetings at ISC West, you start hearing some repetitive themes, but then something will surprise you. That happened to me at the NVT booth when I saw a display showing transmission of power and IP video signals over barbed wire (rather than the more familiar Cat-5 or coax cabling). Wondering about possible applications at correctional facilities (or cow pastures), I was assured the display was intended to make the point that NVT products can transmit video and power ov...

The infographic combines results from its survey with published data on security breaches and associated costs HID Global®, a worldwide leader in secure identity solutions, recently released an infographic illustrating the results of a survey it conducted on physical access control. The survey of 600 respondents revealed enterprise end users’ perceptions about change and the importance of industry best practices, and how well today’s technology and policy best...

“These are children. There is no reason to scan a kid. Just because the government can do this is no reason the government should be doing this.” The impassioned argument, quoted by The Florida Current, comes from a Florida state legislator who introduced a bill aimed at stopping public school systems from collecting biometric data on children. The ominous-sounding practice actually has a practical side – use of a fingerprint or palm scan can enable a school system to get thou...

Leading global provider of security and safety solutions, Allegion (formerly Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies), will be showcasing the very latest additions to its Briton range of architectural hardware products at The National Merchant Buying Society Ltd’s trade exhibition on Wednesday 9 April at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. A recently-introduced range of door closers from Allegion’s Briton brand, specifically designed to offer market-leading cam-action technology and high per...

The lawsuits filed by HID Global and ASSA ABLOY were amicably settled HID Global, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, recently announced that it has settled patent-infringement lawsuits against Apollo Security, Applied Wireless IDentifications Group (AWID) Inc., and Secura Key, a division of Soundcraft, Inc. The lawsuits included HID Global’s multi-technology reader patents. “We are pleased that the lawsuits filed by HID Global and ASS...

Data overload describes both my condition in the midst of a busy trade show and the current condition of the industry itself. At an opening session at ISC West in Las Vegas, I hear that technology development now means there are more sensors and cameras providing more and better quality data all the time. As if making the case, Axis introduced a 4K “super high resolution” camera for under $1,000. Other companies also introduced 4K cameras, including Sony, Bosch, and several more. Ho...

Smart phone video played a starring role in the investigation following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. The investigation also highlighted limitations in existing systems related to incorporating crowdsourced information, including video, audio, still images and other data. What's needed, and doesn't exist yet, is a system that can unify the information – the thousands of video snippets and still images from smart phone cameras – into a “big picture” that reflects th...

Axis Communications, the world leader in network video, recently announces its first 4K resolution camera, AXIS P1428-E. The 4K standard is defined and approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and offers a video resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. The AXIS P1428-E Network Camera is the top-of-the-line model in the compact AXIS P14 Series, designed for outdoor and demanding indoor environments. The AXIS P14 Series consists of seven network camera models r...

Vicon Industries, Inc. and IQinVision, Inc., a privately held California corporation, announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement that is expected to create a global provider of integrated solutions to the video security market. Vicon is a designer and producer of video security and surveillance systems. IQinVision designs and produces high performance HD megapixel IP cameras.   The merger has been approved by the boards of directors of both comp...