Digital Watchdog (Kaltech enterprises) - Experts & Thought Leaders

The PSA Network (PSA), the world's largest consortium of professional systems integrators, will host its annual convention October 14–17 in Marco Island, Florida, at the JW Marriott Beach Resort. The event is exclusive to PSA's network of security integration members and owners. Attendees will travel from across the country to attend top-tier education sessions, network with peers and participate in planned excursions in paradise. PSA Convention 2024 “Our team has worked hard to ensure PSA Convention 2024 is an exceptional event,” said Matt Barnette, president and CEO of PSA. “From the educational lineup to the networking opportunities, PSA members will be impressed. We cannot wait to see the impactful conversations and collaborations that will emerge.”  Data-driven insights Jeremy Bess and Patrick Luce will assign attendees with data-driven insights to cut the noise Josh Linkner will headline PSA Convention with his keynote address on how small, everyday innovations can drive oversized results. In this inspiring, timely and high-impact keynote, Linkner will show attendees how to de-risk the creative process, build the capacity to unlock breakthrough transformations and gain the creative confidence to take responsible risks. Likewise, economists Jeremy Bess and Patrick Luce will empower attendees with data-driven insights to cut through the noise. The presentation will connect the microeconomic dynamics of the security markets with the core economic phenomena that PSA integrators deal with every day. Key technology partners Another excellent dynamic of PSA Convention is the opportunity for integrators to make personal connections with key technology partners. Sponsors of this year's event include: Aiphone Ai-RGUS AirSight Altronix AMAG Technoogy Arxys ASSA ABLOY BCD Bosch Security and Safety Systems ComNet by acre security Digital Watchdog Hanwha Vision HID IML Security Solutions LenelS2 Pelco SECLOCK Snellings Walters Velasea VICON Windy City Wire Zenitel Zitko If they are a PSA member interested in attending PSA Convention 2024, visit the PSA Convention website. Registration includes a three-night hotel stay if they register before September 23. 

The PSA Network (PSA), the world’s largest consortium of professional systems integrators, announced the 12 recipients of the Technology Partner Achievement Awards at PSA TEC 2024 (TEC) in Dallas, Texas. PSA awarded Johnson Controls Security Products with the Nova Award for achieving the highest partner sales and Hanwha Vision with the Superstar Technology Partner of the Year Achievement Award for their exceptional partnership. Remarkable achievements  “Our success is deeply intertwined with the contributions of our technology partners," said Matt Barnette, president and CEO of the PSA Network. "Their invaluable support enables us to deliver exceptional educational opportunities, unparalleled networking advantages and a wealth of essential resources to our members. It's a privilege to honour their remarkable achievements through these awards, and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership for continued success.” Partnership with PSA technology partners  PSA Partner Program (P3) partners received league plaques, adding to the carnival of excellence The PSA Technology Partner Achievement Awards recognise outstanding manufacturers, distributors and service providers based on customer service, shipping support, lead generation returns, product performance and cybersecurity precautions. Additionally, PSA Partner Program (P3) partners received partnership plaques, adding to the celebration of excellence within the industry. "Over the past three years the partnership with PSA technology partners has looked different," said Brittany Board, director of technology partners of the PSA Network. "We have increased our communications and our processes with the technology partners which has led to higher involvement within the network. This change showcases why we value these partnerships and want to acknowledge their success among the PSA integrators." Three categories More than 300 systems integrators, owners and members in the PSA Network voted across the following three categories:  Superstar Technology Partner of the Year Achievement   Star Technology Partner Achievement   Star MSP Technology Partner Achievement   Customer Excellence Awards The Customer Excellence Awards voted upon by the PSA Customer Success team included: Customer Excellence Individual Award   Customer Excellence Team Award  The Full List of Winners Nova Technology Partner:   Johnson Controls Security Products Superstar Technology Partner of the Year Achievement:   Hanwha Vision  Star Technology Partner Achievement:   3MillID  Alarm.com  Altronix Corporation  BCD  LifeSafety Power  Windy City Wire  Zenitel   Star MSP Technology Partner Achievement:   OpenEye   Customer Excellence Individual Award:   Beth Taylor, ScanSource Customer Excellence Team Award:   Windy City Wire  P3 Partnership Plaques:  3MillID  acre security  Aiphone  Allegion  Altronix Corporation  Alvarado  AMAG Technology  ASSA ABLOY  BCD  Bosch  ComNet by acre  Digital Watchdog  Eagle Eye Networks  Hanwha Vision  HID  Identiv  Johnson Controls Security Products  LenelS2  LifeSafety Power  March Networks  Milestone Systems  OpenEye  Salient Systems  Windy City Wire  Zenitel 

The PSA Network, the world’s largest consortium of professional systems integrators announced the lineup of sponsors for PSA TEC 2024 (TEC) in Dallas, Texas, May 13-17.  PSA TEC 2024 "PSA TEC 2024 will again be the most powerful event for security integrators, and we have an incredible group of technology partner sponsors that enable PSA to exceed expectations in delivering high-quality educational offerings, networking, and exclusive engagement with prominent industry pioneers,” said Matt Barnette, president and CEO of the PSA Network. “PSA unites elite security integrators with the strongest technology partners in the industry, and we look forward to PSA TEC being a platform for creating enduring connections.”   Educational content and networking opportunities Over the four days, integrators will meet one-on-one with technology partners during TEC Talks TEC 2024 is exclusive to PSA owners, members, and sponsors providing premier educational content and networking opportunities between integrators and technology partners.  Over the four days, integrators will meet one-on-one with technology partners during TEC Talks and visit gold, silver, and bronze and tabletop sponsors for product showcases, demonstrations, and meetings.  Event sponsors The sponsors are industry-pioneering manufacturers and solutions providers including:   Gold Altronix Corporation AMAG Technology Hanwha Vision Johnson Controls   Silver   ASSA ABLOY Bosch Security and Safety Systems Eagle Eye Networks HID LenelS2 March Networks Milestone Systems ProdataKey   Bronze  3millID Acre Security Aiphone Alarm.com/Shooter Detection Systems Allegion Alvarado BCD ComNet by acre Digital Watchdog Farpointe Data Guetebrück USA Identiv IML Security Supply Intel i-PRO LifeSafety Power Louroe Electronics OpenEye Safety Technology International SECLOCK Solutions360 Velsea Windy City Wire Zenitel   Tabletop  ALConsulting D-Tools Plante Moran Snellings Walters Insurance Agency SPRX Swell System Surveyor WeSuite Zitko Member support and engagement "We are truly grateful to our PSA TEC 2024 sponsors for their incredible support and engagement with our members,” said Brittany Board, director of technology partners for the PSA Network. “Their contributions are invaluable, and PSA TEC wouldn’t be the same without them.”  Registration for TEC is open to PSA members and provides access to all networking events, meals, and conference courses. 

With innovation continuing in HD CCTV, analogue video surveillancemay be around for some time What’s your stance on the analogue-to-IP video migration? When will it happen? Will analogue go away entirely? Talk to any security company and they’ll admit they love the simplicity of the installation and setup of analogue cameras. They know how to deploy it quickly, saving labour costs and also, can use the familiar and ever-present coaxial cabling network. That’s the here and now, and with innovation continuing in HD CCTV, this product category may be around for some time. HD analogue: Fastest growing segment in the surveillance industry Whether you agree or disagree, HD analogue is still a viable part of video surveillance installations. According to 2015 research by IHS Technology, the ‘Video Surveillance Camera Installed Base Report’ for 2014 indicated HD analogue as the fastest growing segment in the surveillance industry. It’s been a slow march by security companies over the last decade to fully embrace IP video surveillance. True, higher resolution cameras provide better images and the ability to see greater detail, but this may be a product category set to co-exist with analogue for the near future. Innovation continues in the HD CCTV product category. Digital Watchdog™ is expected to release in May 2016 the first Analogue High Definition (AHD) multi-sensor 6MP panoramic camera that uses existing coaxial cables to transmit crystal clear detailed 1080p images at up to 30fps. Savings in existing surveillance infrastructure Mark Espenschied, Director of Marketing, Digital Watchdog, Cerritos, California, says HD over coaxial technology represents a smart return on investment for the security contractor. “How do you justify ignoring an investment in coaxial cabling or the expense of removing and replacing it? Yes, new construction likely includes the Cat5/6 cabling for an IP network, so adding a new surveillance system may simply mean taking advantage of what is there, much like we have seen with the adoption of VoIP: phones and surveillance equipment are just more things to add to the network. However, end users may not be in a hurry to abandon their investments in coaxial in order to get the better image quality,” he says. A large amount of existing coaxial in the world is being transitioned toHD video over coaxial, not new IP surveillance systems Innovations in analogue  Espenschied cites these innovations as further driving analogue's continued use: Three HD over analogue standards, AHD, TVI and CVI, all support incredible signal reach. In fact, with AHD or TVI, you could run a cable from the ground to the tip of the Empire State Building and still have cable left over with a viewable/recordable signal using RG-59 cable. That’s up to 450 metres. Like IP, 1080p resolution is now becoming the standard for analogue surveillance, the starting place. HD analogue cameras at 3 megapixels and 5 megapixels are on their way to distributors now. The recorders for HD analogue are also technological marvels, supporting all previous analogue cameras plus one or more of the HD analogue standards. So the issue of “this only works with that” is going away. Multi-sensor panoramic cameras have lately hit the mainstream in IP video surveillance after only a couple of manufacturers did the heavy lifting for several years. Amazingly, there are now multi-sensor HD analogue cameras available that provide the same value proposition: you can see more with a single installation, reducing all associated installation costs for a surveillance system because you can install fewer cameras to get the same or better coverage. That is the key to understanding the value of multi-sensor cameras (or “many cameras in one housing”) to compare the overall cost of the system, not just the cost of the camera. And even though we refer to this equipment as analogue, the recorders use hard drives and are all capable of connecting to the Internet, allowing you to view and manage your system for anywhere via a PC program or mobile app. Only time will tell how long analogue video surveillance systems will serve the physical security industry. But here’s the bottom line: according to research reports, there’s lots of existing coaxial in the world and a good deal is being transitioned to HD video over coaxial, not new IP surveillance systems.

We all know that security video cameras are becoming smarter. The IP cameras at the edge of today’s video surveillance systems contain computer chips that can potentially change how cameras are used. However, despite the changing technology and greater intelligence at the edge, today’s systems mostly use video cameras for one thing – to provide video. In some cases, the cameras provide hours and hours of video that no one will ever watch.  Re-examining the role of video cameras Prism Skylabs is helping to drive a re-evaluation of the role of video cameras in the market. Founded in 2011, the San Francisco cloud service company thinks of IP cameras as sensors that are capable of providing a range of data that can be managed and processed in the cloud to provide more useful information to end-user customers. Prism’s current implementations of the “software as a service” approach focuses on retail merchandising and marketing applications, but Prism Co-Founder and Senior Vice President Bob Cutting sees many other opportunities too.  The cloud infrastructure provides a “reliable and continuously connected way to monitor and get data from cameras that is extremely robust and reliable,” Cutting says. Information from cameras “trickles up” to the cloud where data is “pre-extracted and available,” helping retailers optimise their store designs and marketing. Prism provides a blend of complementary visual and analytics data.  "We looked at the camera andreimagined what it can do as a realsensor – a sensor with intelligencethat is cloud-ready, cloud-enabledand easy to install. How we think ofvideo has to change" Retail applications of video analytics In the retail world, the approach enables marketers and merchandisers to constantly observe and monitor retail displays and customer activity from around the world in real time. Store owners can tell, for example, if their stores opened on time. Did a new product launch effectively?  “There are hundreds of questions that retailers want to answer, and they don’t want to watch streaming video from the store,” Cutting says. “They just want answers to questions.” He says the system provides “an easy way to navigate and access data.”  If you think of a camera as an intelligent sensor, the data provided by that sensor can take many different forms (and only one of them is “streaming video,” which may not be the most useful for a specific end user need). Cutting says the data is “privacy enabled,” and does not contain personal information. Integrating with CCTV manufacturers Prism has integrated its cloud system with cameras from Digital Watchdog, and announced integration with Axis cameras at the recent ASIS International show in Anaheim. The company is also in the process of integrating with several other large camera manufacturers in the video surveillance market. Employing intelligent cameras at the edge, the company “saw overnight a shift from server-based solution to an edge-based camera solution.”  “It’s the right form factor,” says Cutting. “We looked at the camera and reimagined what it can do as a real sensor – a sensor with intelligence that is cloud-ready, cloud-enabled and easy to install. How we think of video has to change.” Role of video analytics in store security Security cameras are capable of providing up to a dozen additional outputs, combining data with visual elements, says Cutting. For example, intelligent cameras can count people, and can track movement of customers in a store based on defined rules. An end user can know how many people go down a certain aisle, how long they dwell in front of a display, how many people visit a certain area in a given time.  Cameras can also provide “visual summaries” of activity in a store, showing graphically who went where over a certain period of time, providing retail traffic maps, heat maps, and other visual outputs to guide store owners and managers. Cameras can also provide “visualsummaries” of activity in a store,showing graphically who wentwhere over a certain period of time,providing retail traffic maps, heatmaps, and other visual outputs toguide store owners and managers Finally, cameras can provide a variety of visual data (in addition to streaming video). These include video snapshots (high-resolution images taken periodically and delivered in high resolution to the cloud). Visual outputs might also include “background models,” which are images of retail shelves presented without the customers moving in front of them to provide a detailed view of products and how they are arranged on the shelf. There are also other types of visual outputs, such as time-lapse video, and thumbnail images taken one frame per second. In effect, the visual output is matched specifically to what the end user wants to see – and one camera can be used for multiple outputs to meet the needs of various stakeholders. (Cameras can also provide outputs focused on the needs of loss prevention and security departments.) Examples and applications of retail analytics Lolli and Pops, a 26-store candy chain, is using the system to change the candy store experience. Using the Prism Skylabs system, the company tests multiple combinations of merchandising displays, and measures the effectiveness (and maximises the benefit) of each. The company employs A/B testing – one display in one store and a different display in a second store – to measure which approach works best, in effect fine-tuning the retail experience for customers.  Another Prism customer is a large retailer deploying the system throughout Europe, leveraging the system’s ability to count, provide visual insight and understanding, and real-time visibility into the effectiveness of merchandising displays (using a 25-point checklist to ensure compliance).  Other potential end-markets include retail banking, hospitality and even casinos – “anyone who wants a better understanding of their space,” says Cutting.  He says there is a growing opportunity for physical security integrators in the area of retail analytics, and use of cameras as sensors conforms to emerging industry trends such as “Big Data” and the “Internet of Things” (IoT). He asks: “How can we break down video into core components that are IoT-friendly and that a wider audience can use?”

Video cameras were big news at the ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits in Atlanta, but the eagerly anticipated new 4K Ultra-HD cameras took a back seat to other camera innovations, including a rash of new panoramic view cameras in various flavours and types (including faster frame rates) and a renewed emphasis on cameras as intelligent system components. Samsung announced its new Open Platform program that leverages the added computing capacity of Samsung’s WiseNetIII computer chip inside each camera to enable third party partners to add new features and functionalities at the edge. The Open Platform program can be compared to the “apps” approach familiar to smartphone and tablet consumers. In effect, new third party software can be loaded onto the camera, for example by an integrator, after a camera is purchased or even after it is installed. Even some Samsung cameras that are already deployed in the field can be updated via firmware to enable them to use the new approach. We’ve been hearing for several years about the possibility of using “apps” to expand the functionality of intelligent cameras at the edge, but Samsung seems to be ready to make it happen, which is appropriate given the prominence of the Samsung brand in the consumer apps world. At the show, three third party suppliers – Agent VI (video analytics), Veracity (storage) and PlateSmart (license plate recognition) – displayed how their applications can be embedded and work on the computer chips inside Samsung cameras to expand capabilities at the edge. Another supplier, Digital Watchdog, emphasised the idea of camera intelligence using the phrase “Camera as a System (CaaS).” The idea is to simplify security systems by turning the camera into its own server. Digital Watchdog’s new MEGApix CaaS cameras each function both as a camera and recorder, eliminating the need for a dedicated server. The company also provided a technology demonstration of camera views from a panoramic camera that uses four 4K (or 1080p) sensors and provides video at 30 frames per second (fps). We’ve been hearing forseveral years about thepossibility of using “apps”to expand the functionalityof intelligent cameras at theedge, but Samsung seemsto be ready to make it happen Arecont Vision, a pioneer in panoramic view cameras, showed its new SurroundVideo Omni camera with four user-configurable sensors in an omni-directional all-in-one solution. True wide dynamic range (WDR) up to 100dB at full resolution enables clear views in shaded or bright light conditions. Arecont Vision also continues to roll out cameras that use its STELLAR low-light technology, and has a 5 megapixel MegaBall series with panomorph lenses. Its MegaVideo 4K camera, provided as a technology demonstration, features 8.3 megapixel images at 30 fps. Other suppliers that highlighted panoramic view cameras included Panasonic, which featured its ULTRA 360 panoramic indoor and outdoor IP66-rated weather and vandal-resistant fixed dome cameras built on Panasonic’s 12 MP 4K ULTRA HD engine. The new ULTRA 360 doubles the resolution of previous generation 360 cameras, producing a 9 megapixel 3K fisheye image at 15fps and a 4 megapixel fisheye image at 30fps, with software dewarping. Axis featured the Q6000-E, an outdoor-ready 360-degree network camera that integrates seamlessly with a PTZ dome network camera. Operators can optically zoom in on details of interest with high precision while at the same time being able to maintain an overview of large areas of up to 215,000 sq. ft. – about the size of four football fields. Mobotix introduced an indoor version of its 180-degree panoramic view camera – the new i25. A new player in the panoramic camera arena is Scallop Imaging, which offers a 5-sensor panoramic camera that offers both 720p HD total panoramic views for situational awareness and full-resolution (5,120x1,280 pixel) partial views that capture detail. The cameras don’t even look like cameras, more like sensors or even molding (they come in different finishes to fit various décors, from wood grain to faux stone). The new Panasonic ULTRA360 doubles the resolutionof previous generation 360cameras, producing a 9megapixel 3K fisheye imageat 15fps and a 4 megapixelfisheye image at 30fps,with software dewarping But ASIS wasn’t just about cameras – far from it. I saw many other interesting things, too, including a perimeter security robot at the Senstar booth. It was keeping watch near one of the entrances to the show floor, traveling back and forth along a monorail. A first-of-its-kind autonomous perimeter surveillance robot, RoboGuard constantly patrols a secured perimeter. It conducts regular inspections of the fence line and can respond promptly to suspected intrusions. A complete system consists of autonomous robots, each covering up to 1 kilometer (0.6 mi), with a battery charging station for every two robots. One target market is prisons, where the technology could take the place of human guards at the perimeter (and works 24 hours a day with no coffee breaks); it makes the ROI calculations easy. Senstar is addressing cybersecurity challenges of IP-based physical security systems, too, with the Tungsten cybersecurity-hardened managed Ethernet switches that can protect physical security networks, SCADA-based systems and safe-city applications from cyberattacks. More and better integration, more partnering among suppliers, new features driven by end user demands – these were also trends I kept hearing about at ASIS. I did several in-depth interviews with industry leaders during the show, which I will be sharing in the weeks to come. Great show all around, and plenty more to unpack and share over the next several weeks.