Code Blue Corporation - Experts & Thought Leaders

Solis Energy Inc., a manufacturer of outdoor power systems for the industrial automation and control, transportation, telecommunication, security, and government markets, announced that the company will be showcasing its wide range of power solutions at GSX 2021 taking place on September 27th – 29th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. As one of the largest security trade shows in the world, GSX offers an event that unites global security professionals and delivers the very latest in cutting-edge technology, and a chance to learn from industry pioneers. GSX sets the stage for Solis Energy to provide the security industry with a display and overview of its power supply solutions, including the Solar Power Plant, Continuous Power Bridge, and Outdoor UPSs. Solis continues to deliver value to its customers by joining forces with pioneering solution providers, such as Siklu Communications, Axis Communications, Code Blue, and Cradlepoint, who will be present at Solis’s booth #1769. Lightpole Power Taps Some of its power solutions include solar generators, outdoor battery backup systems, and a suite of power management components including PoE injectors, DC to DC converters, and Lightpole Power Taps. Solis Energy has been committed to developing innovative, reliable products that provide customers with flexible solutions Solis Energy products are made to last, and installations can be found on all habitable continents and climates ranging from mild to harsh, ensuring that critical energy is running to security systems even in the most extreme conditions. For sixteen years, Solis Energy has been committed to developing innovative, reliable products that provide customers with flexible solutions that take control of their outdoor power requirements. Field proven solutions “After the previous, unusual year we have all encountered, Solis Energy is excited to be exhibiting alongside our valued technology partners at GSX – especially with the show taking place in our own backyard in Florida,” states Robert Reynolds, President of Solis Energy. “We’re looking forward to a tremendous event where we can meet face-to-face and share the latest technology of the security world with some of the best in the business.” Attendees can stop by booth #1769, to see the latest power solutions and discuss field proven solutions with its team of experts. Solis has achieved great success in several city-wide, large-scale security and surveillance projects working with Siklu, Axis, and other technology partners. The company continues to set the bar high by delivering complete, field proven solutions to customers across a broad range of vertical markets and offers solutions that are high quality, durable, versatile, and scalable. 

Code Blue Corporation is pleased to announce a number of upgrades and additions to its catalog of industry pioneering emergency communication solutions to provide even more options to customers looking to improve safety and security at their location. CB 2-e Help Point solution upgrade As first exhibited at the Global Security Expo 2019 (GSX) in September in Chicago, USA, the CB 2-e has been redesigned to make it easier to install and more economical. One of Code Blue’s most popular wall-mounted Help Points, the CB 2-e will feature a lightweight, two-piece design that makes installation and maintenance easy for a single person. Additionally, CB 2-e delivers a 4-inch depth that is slim enough to be ADA compliant on any wall, making it an ideal match for high-traffic areas like parking garages and building entrances. Code Blue also is announcing the release of the CB RT, a durable, freestanding pedestal CB 4-s hooded call box The CB 4-s, Code Blue’s hooded call box, and the former CB 6-s, which will now be known as the Surface Mount Enclosure, have been updated as well to be lighter and more economical without sacrificing any of the durability that is synonymous with all Code Blue products. Code Blue also is announcing the release of the CB RT, a durable, freestanding pedestal that can reliably house either the IP5000 VoIP or IA4100 analog hands-free speakerphones. For more than 30 years, the trademarked cylindrical design of Code Blue’s signature pedestal Help Points has served as an easily identifiable means to reliably request assistance at the touch of a button. S-1000 LED Beacon/Strobe light The addition of the CB RT and its rectangular design offers another simple and cost-effective option to effectively install communication devices. Available in either wet- or power-coated paint, the CB RT is 9 feet tall and features Code Blue’s powerful S-1000 LED Beacon/Strobe light that is easily visible in open areas and large campus settings. “These improvements are a direct response to feedback from customers, who need economical choices that are easy to install, but also are durable, visible and reliable,” Director of Distribution, Code Blue Corp., Katie Petre said. “Code Blue prides itself on being the industry leader in quality and customer service, and these upgrades make reliable safety even more obtainable and attractive for both new and existing customers.” Code Blue’s new features and products will be available to order starting January 1, 2020.

Code Blue Corporation once again will be returning as a sponsor for National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM) in September. During NCSAM, Clery Center will partner with colleges, universities and other organisations to provide professional development opportunities that address the background of certain campus safety areas and strategies for talking about those areas with campus community members. Raising college campus awareness “For more than 30 years, student safety has been at the core of Code Blue’s mission and it remains a top priority today,” Code Blue Director of Distribution Katie Petre said. “We are proud to continue our support of Clery Center and the vital work it does to raise awareness on college campuses around the nation.” In 2018, more than 500 individuals from 409 colleges participated in NCSAM’s free webinar series NCSAM was unanimously approved by Congress in 2008 to encourage a public conversation on important topics in violence prevention at the nation’s colleges and universities. In 2018, more than 500 individuals from 409 colleges participated in NCSAM’s free webinar series, with access to additional tools and resources. Campus safety through education Clery Center is a national non-profit organisation focused on promoting college and university campus safety through education, awareness, policy, and prevention initiatives. “This year’s theme of ‘Bridging the Gap’ focuses on connecting theory to practice in areas campuses often find confusing or challenging,” said Laura Egan, Clery Center Senior Director of Programs. “Through providing subject matter experts across the field in our webinars and hands-on resources like our flowcharts and tools, Clery Center highlights the questions that need answers and provides applicable ways to put the answers into practice.”

It’s not hard to see why more and more locations are requesting security solutions that operate on an open system. Selecting products and platforms that utilise open standards—Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), HTTP, IEEE, RESTful APIs, etc.—provide additional levels of interoperability, scalability and versatility that give organisations the flexibility they want to be proactive with safety and security. Unfortunately, creating the right solution today isn’t quite as simple as reading a product sheet or specification. In the past, end users frequently were forced to pick hardware and software products that were proprietary to each individual manufacturer, meaning pieces of technology often didn’t have the ability to talk and interact with products that didn’t also carry its brand name. In the future, all systems likely will be open in some form and will provide a litany of connectivity options with little-to-no additional development time and resources. But until that day is here, it is important to manage the expectations for stakeholders involved with the project appropriately, knowing that the current security landscape has not yet evolved to the point that all systems are truly open. The current security space can resemble its past almost as much as its future Consumer technology expectations To be fair, the end user’s expectations are often set by what they see happening with consumer technology and not by what is currently available in the security marketplace. There, technological advancements can seem to happen overnight. The apps on your smartphone, for instance, perform almost instantaneous updates, even while you are not actively using it. As convenient as that may be with social media or gaming apps, this also can signal a system that regularly requires fixes and patches, a scenario that would not provide stakeholders with the advanced level of reliability that is demanded for adequate safety with commercial security products, in large part because it will expose locations to numerous liability issues. As a result, the current security space can resemble its past almost as much as its future. Decreased potential for compatibility Make no mistake, there are certainly many products available today that can easily integrate into open platforms, only in a more limited capacity. An IP desk phone, for example, could easily connect to another IP PBX system that can then place basic calls. But as the customer’s demand for additional sophisticated options increases—diagnostics, event triggers, location identification, etc.—the potential for compatibility decreases. When it comes to security, this is due to the fact that two products or systems rarely expose similar functionality using the same technology or language. Take this example, for instance: Manufacturer A sells a product that contains Features X and Y; Manufacturer B offers one with Y and Z. The customer therefore assumes - or may even be sold - a solution where X, Y and Z can all be configured. Pairing the two may give you interoperability with Feature Y fairly easily (if they are implemented the same way), but X and Z will not happen without an additional investment that may be difficult to procure. It benefits all parties to have a common understanding of the project from the very beginning Many manufacturers offer a list of ‘integration partners’ they are compatible with, but may not match the end user’s expectations Meeting end user expectations The devil, however, is in the details, a message that isn’t always effectively communicated to end users. Excusing it all off with the old idiom ‘It’s all Greek to me’ only sets up the project for potentially expensive revisions later on – costs that the integrator often has to eat. Therefore, it benefits all parties to have a common understanding of the project from the very beginning. Given the current state of the consumer marketplace, it is vital for integrators to understand the reality of the products they are considering before seeking out potential solutions. Many manufacturers offer a list of ‘integration partners’ they are compatible with, but these scenarios will carry a predefined scope that may not match the end user’s expectations. Assessing compatibility  To understand the full options available, a copy of a manufacturer’s Software Development Kit (SDK) needs to be requested, which should include detailed information about the possibilities for integrations with their products. A third-party development firm or contractor is fully capable of providing the same level of work as the manufacturer From there, you can compare the devices being considered to see how compatible they are with one another. Finally, it is important to consider the practical implications of financing. If the end user is seeking features that are not currently possible, then additional development will need to be contracted in order to make it happen. Some manufacturers offer design services with developers who are acclimated to their platforms that can help expedite the learning curve. However, with the right SDK and a background in the platforms being used, a third-party development firm or contractor is fully capable of providing the same level of work as the manufacturer. To understand the full options available, a copy of a manufacturer’s Software Development Kit (SDK) needs to be requested Considerations for security system integration To reiterate, any integration, no matter the scope, requires you to consider the following three questions: What does the end user want? What can the products do today? How can you bridge the gap?   It is imperative that both integrators and end users take the time to do the homework required with those three key questions to ensure they are selecting a solution that will not only work tomorrow, but also provides an appropriate layer of protection for people and assets today. Each party involved in an integration project needs to understand what exactly is available from a hardware and software standpoint This also should help mitigate any confusion or frustration that may be experienced by the customer. As much as we all would like to believe that each and every feature available is a viable option that simply isn’t feasible given the realities we face today. There will come a day when the technological advancements enjoyed by consumers around the world provide the type of experience that can be applied to security. Until that time arrives, though, each party involved in the project needs to understand what exactly is currently available from a hardware and software standpoint. The safety of everyone at that location depends on it.

The transition from analogue to IP technologies has had a large impact on the ways intercoms are used in the security industry. The analogue-to-IP transition has generated a lot of attention in the camera market, and the transition is also taking place for intercoms. Twenty years ago, Axis Communications (2N’s parent company) led the industry in converting from analogue cameras and video to IP. Integrated IP system The conversion took 15 years to achieve, but the same conversion in intercoms is happening today. This conversion will take place over the next five years as integrators, end users, IT departments and building systems are now ready for networked IP devices, according to 2N. “The benefits of an IP system are too great to ignore,” says Craig Szmania, CEO, 2N USA. Programmability, interoperability, mobile needs, video and audio quality, costs and system wide security concerns are all driving the conversion. Users want—and in fact, expect—the benefits of an integrated IP system, he says. “The past limitations on IP-based solutions really have been swept away as most dealer/integrators in the security space have embraced networked IP devices and solutions and most now lead with such solutions,” says Szmania. “IP really is the new standard in the space. Integrators have embraced the technology it has produced, new customers, new revenue streams in service and support, and new recurring monthly revenue (RMR) opportunities.” Centralised dispatch location Likewise, Internet protocol (IP) phones are the present and the future of emergency communications. They provide flexible capabilities to future-proof installations, according to Code Blue Corp. As locations continue to expand and adapt security solutions to changing conditions, IP phones will be able to grow with you. They offer unlimited scalability, more integration opportunities, and a strong user interface that allows remote accessibility and makes a wide range of features—speed, clarity, range, versatility—more dynamic. A centralised dispatch location eliminates the need to manually test each device. "Make sure that IP systems sound as good as an analogue system even while going through difficult network issues" Digital technology units are the fastest growing of Aiphone’s product lines – selling at twice the rate of just a year ago, according to Aiphone. “As the security industry continues to move to digital networks, we can provide many more capabilities, such as long-distance communication and control, mobile apps, and network paging,” says Bruce Czerwinski, U.S. General Sales Manager, Aiphone Corp. “The digital revolution is making for smarter, more integrated systems, and intercoms play a vital role.” Jim Hoffpauir, President of Zenitel North America, sees IP decentralised audio processing as a big development. “Powerful edge processing can now deliver high intelligibility without the need of a centralised server,” he says. “Users now see intelligible audio as essential to their operations and easily achievable with advanced audio edge technology.” Seamless integration with intercom stations “The IP world changes everything when it comes to networking and pulling people and locations together,” says Dan Rothrock, SVP of Global Strategic Alliances, Zenitel North America. “One small appliance can get you into the cloud and link multiple locations with hundreds of intercom stations working together seamlessly.” Zenitel’s advice is to leverage IP technology to its full extent, and to use native IP devices. It is easy to take legacy technology and add an encoder and decoder to that same old hardware, but that limits the benefits of leading edge technology advancements and even simplicity. “Make sure that IP systems sound as good as an analogue system even while going through difficult network issues,” says Hoffpauir. “This is the secret sauce clients are asking for: a networked intelligible audio platform that interoperates with their other mission-critical systems like access, video and unified communications.”

Part 4 in our Intercoms in Security Series The ONVIF standard makes it simple to integrate the intercom with other ONVIF-compliant video management systems, access control solutions, and cameras Open standards are enabling new capabilities in the intercom market, some of it driven by the transition to systems based on Internet protocol (IP). Today’s most-used phrase in the intercom business is interoperability, given that the intercom is integrated with solutions such as video surveillance, access control and/or home automation, says Craig Szmania, CEO, 2N USA. Standardisation is essential to making possible integrations among different systems. Session Initiation Protocol 2N built its technology and solutions around the standard Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which makes integrations into the most popular IP telephone systems possible, affordable, and simple worldwide. There are many solutions in the market that are IP-based but proprietary in nature—not SIP-compatible without a proprietary head end or server, says Szmania. “These solutions bind consumers to use only products of one brand with difficult or non-existent integration with other solutions,” he comments. “This leads to higher costs and more complicated systems.” The most mentioned standard of the last two or three years has been ONVIF for integration with video surveillance. The ONVIF standard makes it simple to integrate the intercom with other ONVIF-compliant video management systems, access control solutions and cameras. Integrated solutions are the market-wide trend for end users, consumers, and integrators alike. By having strong standards like ONVIF and SIP, manufacturers such as 2N can provide solutions to meet these needs. The most mentioned standard of the last two or three years has been ONVIF for integration with video surveillance Seamless integration with third-party products “Integrating speakerphones and intercoms with third-party products has been one of the main evolutions we have seen in the past couple of years,” agrees David Fleming, Chief Design Officer for Code Blue Corp. “For that reason, our speakerphones take advantage of open standards like SIP to make it easier for locations to communicate with other technologies. It’s important that our customers have the flexibility to choose how they want to set up their systems. That’s why we continue to build partnerships with major security providers to ensure our products can work together.” Aiphone Corp’s products also operate on open standards. That allows them to be used with most available video and access control products. There’s a real benefit to integrators and end users knowing these systems will integrate easily, says Bruce Czerwinski, US General Sales Manager, Aiphone Corp. Of course, there are still some proprietary systems on the market that make integration difficult. "It’s important that our customers have the flexibility to choose how they want to set up their systems" Intelligible intercom audio Intercom systems must also comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, according to Aiphone. “For us, that might include the recommended height of our installations,” says Czerwinski. “The use of Braille is being required by more end users to accommodate the blind. And for the hearing-impaired, we are adding visual indicators to show that calls have been placed and received.” Laws requiring the use of intercoms in larger multi-tenant buildings are also having an impact on the market. One standard that is missing in the market is a standard benchmark for intelligibility, says Jim Hoffpauir of Zenitel. “Unfortunately, there is no standard benchmark for intelligible intercom audio. There are standards that call out the requirement to have it, but no clear path to evaluate and deploy it.” Hoffpauir says Zenitel has deployed standards for the form and function of its stations, saying: “We have shared this with our clients and our integrators. It can be demonstrated in a proof of concept if end users take the time to ask for it and deem it critical to their success.” Read our Security Intercoms series here