ZeroEyes - Experts & Thought Leaders

ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the full US Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation announced that its proactive gun detection and intelligent situational awareness solution has been adopted by Cardinal Local Schools in Middlefield, Ohio to protect its students, faculty, and staff from gun-related threats. Gun-related violence Gun-related violence remains a significant and growing problem in the United States, affecting communities across the country. According to the ZeroEyes Gun Violence Research Centre, 42% of Ohio shootings analysed took place in K-12 institutions. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community,” said Jack Cunningham, superintendent of Cardinal Local Schools.  AI gun detection “With the addition of a full-time Resource Officer and security measures like locked doors, visitor sign-ins, door barricade devices, and metal detectors, we are trying to take advantage of as many steps as possible to enhance our security efforts." "ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection is a crucial part of this multi-layered security plan and provides extra reassurance that we can respond swiftly to potential gun threats.” Cardinal Local Schools The district is recognised for successfully implementing PBIS district-wide Cardinal Local Schools is a rural public district serving approximately 750 K-12 students in Geauga and Trumbull counties. Students can take college preparatory classes, fine arts classes, and college credit plus courses. Through partnerships with local factories, Cardinal Local Schools provides an engineering and manufacturing pathway for students pursuing college or workforce opportunities. The district is recognised for successfully implementing Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS) district-wide, highlighting its commitment to a safe and supportive learning environment. Intelligent situational awareness software ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness software layers onto existing digital security cameras. If a gun is identified, images are instantly shared with the ZeroEyes Operations Centre (ZOC), the industry’s only U.S.-based, fully in-house operation centre, which is staffed 24/7/365 by specially trained U.S. military and law enforcement veterans. If these experts determine the threat is valid, they dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence including visual description, gun type, and last known location to local law enforcement and university security as quickly as 3 to 5 seconds from detection. School safety standards “By integrating our AI gun detection system, Cardinal is setting a new standard for school safety,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. “Our goal is to provide peace of mind and ensure that any potential gun threats are identified and addressed before first shots are fired, helping to create a safer learning environment for everyone."

ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the full US Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, and EPS, an Ohio-based security systems integrator announced a partnership to protect schools against the threat of gun-related violence.  They also unveiled their first joint customer, the Tri-County Career Centre (TCCC) in Southeastern Ohio, which has adopted ZeroEyes’ proactive security technology to protect students, faculty, and staff. Camera placements The partnership aims to amplify customer service and extend the reach of ZeroEyes’ technology to new territories. EPS played a key role in the adoption and implementation of ZeroEyes at the TCCC, conducting site visits, identifying the most effective outdoor cameras, and working closely with ZeroEyes to determine the optimal camera placements. Public, and school safety “As a 100% family-owned business that has been operating for over 40 years throughout the US, EPS prides itself on staying ahead of the game when it comes to technology, the public, and school safety,” says EPS President Charles Wilde. “ZeroEyes’ edge technology and proven commitment to public safety fits squarely within EPS’s model. It's an impressive product, and it's only going to get better as AI continues to advance. I believe it to be a first line of defense against the school shootings that are happening throughout the US.” Comprehensive security integration services EPS specialises in custom solutions across fire detection, security, access control, and video surveillance Based in Canal Winchester, Ohio, EPS provides comprehensive security integration services from design through installation and maintenance. The company specialises in custom solutions across fire detection, security, access control, and video surveillance. “After seeing a ZeroEyes demo presented by an existing EPS client, I instantly knew we needed it as an additional layer of protection,” said Connie Altier, Superintendent of TCCC. “This technology provides a level of safety that I wasn’t even aware existed. Once I learned about it, there was no question in my mind—we had to implement it to ensure the highest level of security for our school.” TCCC Serving the community for 50+ years, TCCC educates 650 students spanning eight districts in rural Southeastern Ohio. The school offers programs for high school students and adults, and its diverse programs are designed to provide students with the critical know-how and real-world exposure needed to excel in their selected careers. TCCC is the first school in Athens County, Ohio to implement a multi-layered security system complete with security cameras, key card door access, a full-time onsite resource officer, and ZeroEyes. AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness If these experts determine that the threat is valid, they will dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence ZeroEyes' AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness software is layered on existing digital security cameras. If a gun is identified, images will instantly be shared with the ZeroEyes Operations Centre (ZOC), the industry's only U.S.-based, fully in-house operation centre, which is staffed 24/7/365 by specially trained U.S. military and law enforcement veterans. If these experts determine that the threat is valid, they will dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence, including visual description, gun type, and last known location, to local law enforcement and the school security team as quickly as 3 to 5 seconds from detection. Protection against gun-related violence “As we work toward a safer future for all, partnering with systems integrators like EPS helps us expand our reach to new areas so we can protect more people," said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. "Our solution complements EPS's model perfectly, creating a powerful duo to enhance security measures. We look forward to working together to protect the TCCC and other future joint customers against gun-related incidents.”

ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the full U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, announced that its Gun Violence Research Centre has released its Holiday Gun Incidents in Retail Facilities Report, identifying a disturbing trend involving gun-related violence in US retail locations. The research shows that, during the 2022 and 2023 holiday seasons, from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve, retail settings including malls, grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations experienced a large spike in gun-related incidents, with an average of five per day, resulting in significant injuries and fatalities. Gun Violence Research Centre  The Gun Violence Research Centre is a resource on gun violence in the United States of America, including active shooter and mass shooting incidents, spontaneous and targeted gun violence, as well as threats, hoaxes, and swatting. Its new findings reveal that the gun-related incidents recorded over the 2022 and 2023 holiday seasons resulted in 83 fatalities and 140 injuries.  Gun-related incidents  64% of incidents took place outside of retail facilities, in parking lots and entryways Incidents ranged from dispute escalations - by far the most common cause, making up nearly 40% of cases - to robberies and drive-by shootings.  Notably, 64% of incidents took place outside of retail facilities, in parking lots and entryways, and almost 55% of shooters fled the scene and were never apprehended. Financial impact Gun violence in retail settings carries long-lasting economic and social impacts beyond the immediate physical dangers. While the primary focus is correctly centered on preventing violence and saving lives, these tragic events also have a significant financial impact on businesses. Retailers face property damage, reduced foot traffic, and increased employee turnover as both customers and staff feel unsafe. ROI model The financial strain can even force permanent closures, impacting entire communities  The ZeroEyes Research Centre, in collaboration with analyst firm Gartner, has developed an ROI model that quantifies these effects, which include higher insurance premiums and potential legal costs. In severe cases, the financial strain can even force permanent closures, impacting entire communities and deterring new businesses from entering affected areas. Enhancing security measures “The rising rate of gun-related incidents in shopping areas and retail facilities is an alarming trend that requires immediate action,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and Co-Founder of ZeroEyes. He adds, “Retailers and law enforcement must collaborate to enhance security measures, especially during this peak shopping period when crowds increase and safety concerns are amplified.”

Companies at GSX 2023 emphasised new ways that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the cloud can address long-standing issues in the security market. Among the exhibitors at the event in Dallas were companies seeking creative ways to apply technology, lower costs, and make the world a safer place. Reflecting on the exhibition, here are some additional takeaways. Expanding AI at the edge  i-PRO is a company reflecting the continued expansion of edge AI capability in the security market. Today, more than half of the company’s lineup supports AI at the edge so the customer has a wide choice of form factors when seeking to leverage the feature set.  AI processing relay, extended warranty i-PRO is increasing their warranty period from 5 to 7 years, which could be a lifetime warranty in some cases I-PRO also has an “AI processing relay” device that accepts non-AI video streams and applies edge analytics. AI has progressed from a high-end technology to a feature available in a variety of cameras at different price points. i-PRO is also increasing its warranty period from 5 to 7 years, which could be a lifetime warranty in some cases depending on a customer’s refresh schedule and lifecycle management. Active Guard, MonitorCast The company’s video management system (Video Insight) is continuing to build new features including “Active Guard,” an integrated metadata sorter. Their access control platform, MonitorCast, is a Mercury-based solution that is tightly integrated with Video Insight. Their embedded recorders now have PoE built in.  “We can move at a faster pace to fill out our product line since leaving Panasonic,” says Adam Lowenstein, Director of Product Management. “We can focus our business on adapting to the market.” Emphasis on retail and other verticals  Shoplifting is a timely issue, and retail is a vertical market that got a lot of attention at GSX 2023. “We see a lot of retailers who are primarily interested in protecting employee safety, but also assets,” says Brandon Davito, Verkada’s SVP of Product and Operations. “Shrinkage is a CEO-level priority.”  “Retailers are getting more engaged with security posture, instead of letting perpetrators walk,” Davito adds. Intrusion detection Verkada has an intrusion product that will notify a central station if there is an alarm On the alarm side, Verkada has an intrusion product that will notify a central station if there is an alarm, and operators can review videos to confirm the alarm. Other capabilities seeking to discourage trespassers include sirens, strobes, and “talkdown” capabilities.  International expansion Verkada continues to expand internationally with 16 offices in all, including Sydney, Tokyo, and London. The core value proposition is to enable customers to manage their onsite infrastructure more simply, including new elements such as PTZ cameras, intercoms, and visitor management. Verkada emphasises ease of use, including a mobile application to allow access to be managed across the user base. Forging partnerships “We are committed to the channel and industry, and we continue to build relationships and expand our reach,” says Davito. Among the industry relationships is a new partnership with Convergint, which was hinted at during the show and announced later the same day. They are also expanding their partnerships with Schlage, Allegion, and ASSA ABLOY.  Working with other verticals They offer new features for K -12 schools, and a new alarm platform is easier to deploy and manage Verkada has also found success across multiple other verticals, notably healthcare, where they integrate with an electronic medical records system. They offer new features for K-12 schools, and a new alarm platform is easier to deploy and manage. They are integrating wireless locks to secure interior doors in schools, looking to secure the perimeter, and installing guest management systems. Transitioning the mid-market to the cloud  Salient is squarely focused on the “mid-market,” a large swath of systems somewhere between small businesses and enterprise-level systems. Pure cloud systems are not as attractive to this market, which has a built-out infrastructure of on-premise systems. Adding a camera to an existing system is easier and less expensive than tying it to the cloud. Benefits of cloud It’s a market that may not be ready for the pure cloud, but there are benefits to be realised from adding a cloud element to existing systems. “We are continuing to augment our premise-based solutions with added cloud capabilities and flexibility,” says Sanjay Challa, Salient’s Chief Product Officer.  The feedback Salient hears from their customers is “I want to own my data.” The hybrid cloud approach offers the right mix of control, flexibility, and unit economics. Cloud add-on capabilities We want to provide the flexibility for customers to go full-cloud as it becomes more economically attractive" Cloud add-on capabilities include bringing more intelligence about system operation to the user via the cloud. Over time, Salient expects to sell more cloud-centric offerings based on feedback from integrators and customers. “We want to provide the flexibility for customers to go full-cloud as it becomes more economically attractive over time,” says Challa.  Vaidio AI technology Salient seeks to be a transition pioneer to help customers realise the path to the cloud. Their approach is “crawl, walk, run,” and helping customers make the transition at each stage. Salient has added AI to its product offering, incorporating Vaidio AI technology from IronYun into a powerful suite and broad array of on-premise analytics, which are gaining traction. The seamless approach makes it easy for customers to embrace AI analytics, although Salient remains broadly committed to open systems. Addressing ‘soft’ features for integrators AMAG is in the process of enhancing its product line with the next generation of access control panels. However, “product” is just part of the new developments at AMAG. In addition to “hard” features (such as products), the company is looking to improve its “soft” features, too; that is, how they work with the integrator channel. Integrator channel Rebuilding a process to make your organisation more efficient, is relatively easy; it just takes a lot of persistence" “We have the depth of our legacy customer base we can learn from, we just need to close the feedback loop quicker,” says Kyle Gordon, AMAG’s Executive Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing, and commercial Excellence, who acknowledges the value of reinstating face-to-face meetings after COVID. “We are laser-focused on nurturing our integrator channel,” he says.  “Developing new features takes time, but rebuilding a process to make your organisation more efficient, that’s relatively easy; it just takes a lot of persistence,” says Gordon. More cohesive internal communication is another useful tool, he says.  Disrupting the cloud based on price  Wasabi is working to make cloud applications less expensive by offering a “disruptive” price on cloud storage, $6.99 per terabyte per month (80% less than hyperscalers). Contending “hyperscalers” like AWS are charging too much for cloud storage, Wasabi is using its own intellectual property and server equipment co-located in data centres around the world. Wasabi sells “hot cloud storage,” which refers to the fact that they only have one tier of storage and data is always accessible. In contrast, a company such as AWS might charge an “egress fee” for access to data stored in a “colder” tier.  Cloud storage “We saw that several video surveillance companies had not yet adopted cloud storage, and we saw an opportunity to make it easy to use,” said Drew Schlussel, Wasabi’s Senior Director of Product Marketing. “We just install a little bit of software that allows them to store data in the cloud and bring it back from the cloud.” Performance, protection (cybersecurity), and price Wasabi works with integrators, resellers, and distributors and also integrates with VMS companies Wasabi works with integrators, resellers, and distributors and also integrates with VMS companies such as Genetec and Milestone. Emphasising performance, protection (cybersecurity), and price, their data centres are certified to SOC 2 and ISO 27001 standards.  Faster throughput for weapons detection Xtract One is a young company focusing on weapons detection in a time of accelerated concern about gun issues post-COVID. Founded in Canada and based on technology developed at McMaster University, Xtract One has found a niche in providing weapons detection at stadiums and arenas. These customers already have budgets, and it is easy to shift the money to a newer, faster technology. Madison Square Garden in New York City is among its customers.  Cost savings solution Xtract One can increase throughput to 30 to 50 people per entrance per minute (compared to 5 to 6 people per minute when using metal detectors). The solution doesn’t require anyone to empty their pockets and the system alarms on items beyond guns and knives. Using Xtract One allows customers to reduce the number of screening lanes and security staff, providing additional cost savings, all while getting fans through the screening process in half the time. Purpose-built sensors The system uses purpose-built sensors looking for specific characteristics, such as reflective and density properties In addition to stadiums and arenas, Xtract One, formerly Patriot One, is also getting “inbound” interest from schools, hospitals, manufacturers, and other verticals that makeup 50% of their business. “We’re on a rocket ride, mainly because the weapons issues are not going away,” says Peter Evans, CEO and Director at Xtract One. The system uses purpose-built sensors looking for specific characteristics, such as reflective and density properties, all correlated by an AI engine.  Providing early warning of violence ZeroEyes is another company focused on weapons detection. Their AI gun detection system works with video images to identify if someone is “brandishing” (carrying) a weapon. In other words, the system does not detect concealed weapons. Identifying someone carrying a weapon provides early warning of a possible violent act. Increased response with AI-enables images Images are identified by AI and sent to a monitoring centre where a human confirms the image before contacting first responders. Knowing the location of a shooter enables staff to lock entry points, move people to safety, and direct first responders. The company was founded to leverage existing camera views to stop mass shootings and gun violence by reducing response times. 

ISC East continues to flourish as the Northeast’s largest security trade show. Focused on the big Tri-State market and overall Northeast sector vs. the flagship ISC West event in Las Vegas in the spring, the International Security Conference & Exposition at New York’s Javits Center will be held Nov. 20 and 21. “Anybody who has been to the show has commented and seen the growth,” says Mary Beth Shaughnessy, Event Director, ISC Events at Reed Exhibitions. Ninety new exhibitors When the show opens, there will be around 90 new exhibitors, including Gunnebo, Mobotix, Liftmaster, Cypress Integration Solutions, SAFR from Real Networks and Security Brands. Because it is a regional show, some large companies have smaller exhibits that feature their local and regional personnelLarger exhibitors at the show include Brooklyn Low Voltage Supply (distributor), Axis Communications, DoorKing Inc., NAPCO Security Technologies, and All American Monitoring. Because it is a regional show, some large companies have smaller exhibits that feature their local and regional personnel eager to meet with security professionals from the Northeast corridor. ISC East will be co-located with the Infosecurity ISACA North America Expo and Conference. The combination provides a comprehensive approach to physical and cyber security products and services. Rapid growth in past three years The audience at ISC East is unique – about 90% of attendees do not attend ISC West. The show has seen rapid growth in the past three years, and attendees report a new energy and passion among exhibitors and attendees. By every measure, the show will be bigger than last year, while maintaining the intimate, smaller vibe of a regional show. A “Crack the Tap” cocktail reception will be held at the end of the first day on the show floor. A charity activity on the ISC East show floor will be presented in partnership with Mission 500, an organisation that works to serve the needs of children and communities in crisis. At the Mission 500 booth which will be adjacent to the Main Stage, each exhibition attendee will be invited to create a “care package” of essential hygiene items that will be delivered to children and families in need, in partnership with Volunteers of America - Greater New York. Attendees may write a note of encouragement to be included in the package they assemble. Event will highlight security startups A Nov. 20 (Wednesday) session at ISC East will highlight startup companies in a format reminiscent of television’s “Shark Tank.” Four finalists will take to the main stage and provide a seven-minute pitch about their new product or service. After the “Tech Tank” presentations, audience members vote live on their mobile app for their top choice, and the winner will be announced during the “Crack the Tap” cocktail reception.Four finalists will take to the main stage and provide a seven-minute pitch about their new product or service “It’s a programme that allows attendees to see and hear about cutting edge technologies,” says Nicole Miller, Senior Conference Manager, ISC Security Events. The four finalists, chosen from more than 40 exhibitor submissions, are Arrow Labs’ MIMS Smart Watch for mobile incident management; Cepton Technologies’ Helius Smart LiDAR System; SAFR from RealNetworks’ Facial Recognition system, and ZeroEyes’ Weapons Detection and Active Shooter Mitigation Platform. New partnership with ASIS New York Beginning in 2020, ISC East will be combined with the ASIS New York chapter’s annual conference and expo, which was held in May this year. Starting next year, the events will be rolled into one industry-wide expo and education event geared to serving the total security industry in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut). In 2020 there will be an enhanced education programme along with the combined event next fall. In recognition of the new partnership, ISC East is involving the ASIS NYC chapter in this year’s show, too, with a booth on the show floor, and promotional logos and signage. The ASIS chapter will have a table at the SIA Honors Night event on Nov. 20. “We are really involving them this year to show we are working together and partnering going forward,” says Shaughnessy.

School shootings, especially in the United States, present an ongoing tragedy and a challenge to the security industry. We like to think we have solutions that can help, if not “solve”, the problem: but how effective are they at the end of the day? The sad answer – even after dozens of school shootings and even in the wrenching aftermath of the latest one – is that we don’t know. There is a gaping lack of knowledge and research when it comes to measuring the effectiveness of preventative measures as they relate to school shootings. A 2016 study by the Rand Corp. points to the problem: Lack of data and research on what works and what doesn’t. “Despite growth in the school safety-technology sector, rigorous research about the effectiveness of these technologies is virtually non-existent,” according to Rand (as reported in Education Week). “The field is in desperate need of more evidence on what works, and schools want this information presented to them in vetted, digestible ways to help them with procurement.” Role of early detection Early detection of weapons in the school environment can minimise the impact of school violence Early detection of weapons – and their users – in the school environment can minimise the impact of school violence. For example, ZeroEyes is an intelligent video analytics platform, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to detect weapons and recognise faces in real time. The company’s goal is to provide school administrators and decision-makers with a simple, intuitive situational awareness platform that gives first responders a tactical advantage. Data capture form to appear here! An emerging tool in campus security is audio analytics: Aggression and gunshot detection are some of the best security tools in the campus security market when it comes to detection, intervention and deterrence. Aggression detectors are capable of accurately recognising duress in a person’s voice. The software automatically and objectively detects the presence of rising human aggression, anger or fear, and subsequently warns staff by a visual alert or alarm trigger. A gunshot detector recognises firearm discharge from various firearms in different settings. Within seconds of a gunshot, the software accurately classifies and triggers an immediate notification. Emergency response technology CLASS [Crisis Lockdown Alert Status System] by Sielox is an incident and crisis management solution Emergency response in also important, and technology can play a role. For example, physical security company Sielox has adapted the idea of using a colour scheme to characterise an emergency situation into its electronic security system. CLASS [Crisis Lockdown Alert Status System] by Sielox is an incident and crisis management solution that uses a variety of colours to designate the emergency conditions in various parts of a school building – red to alert to a crisis condition and green to designate "safe/secure". Colours are displayed on a schematic of the building, and new colours have been added, too, such as yellow for “unaccounted individual", orange for “disturbance” and blue to designate a medical emergency. CLASS offers five different alert levels and eight different colours that are configurable to denote a wide variety of emergency or non-emergency situations (such as maintenance or homeroom check-in status). Emergency response in also important, and technology can play a role Non-lethal methods to suppress active shooters in schools are also emerging. For example, one remotely deployed threat suppression system drenches a perpetrator with a repulsive water-based solution, thus impairing their ability to enact violence. The solution irritates eyes, throat, lungs and skin, but does not cause permanent injury. Cleanup is easy using water and detergent. The solution is manually deployed in predetermined zones, which limits the affected areas in a building. Touch-screen control enables rapid deployment, which can also be integrated with Threat Alert buttons and/or gunshot detection. ShotSpotter gunfire tracking Gun violence is also an issue in the neighborhoods where schools are located Beyond the schools themselves, gun violence is an issue in the neighborhoods where schools are located. ShotSpotter, Inc. released data tracking gunfire in and around public K-12 school communities within ShotSpotter coverage areas during 2017. The data revealed more than 4,800 gunfire incidents occurred during school hours within a one-half mile radius of public K-12 schools and within the coverage area. There are 2,320 public K-12 schools and over 1,079,700 students within ShotSpotter coverage areas in 77 cities in the United States. The ShotSpotter study tracked and analysed data on the number of gunfire incidents that occurred at or near those schools across the time period from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. local time, Monday – Friday, including summer and holidays. On a positive note, awareness of high-profile school violence has prompted action. Schools and universities are most certainly safer than ever before. High-profile incidents, especially active shooters tragedies, have increased collective security awareness. Heightened awareness leads to safer practices, improved emergency preparedness and security technology innovations. Collaborative efforts that involve stakeholder groups, such as administrators, responders and students, are the key to a safer learning environment. Investing in technology advances in 1) access control (e.g. electronic access, visitor management) and 2) communications (e.g. duress capabilities, mass notification) is the most effective way to protect people.