We’re currently experiencing a resurgence of analog surveillance systems. Here’s where analog systems can work better than internet protocol (IP) ones!
Gunshot detection systems cannot prevent a gun from firing, but they can buy vital time to alert authorities and save lives. Read about some of the current technology behind gun detection systems in this latest blog.
Today there are cameras in many residences, almost every business, in a multitude of cities, and now even on some human bodies. The camera serves as the eye to the world when physical eyes cannot be present. The camera doesn’t sleep. The camera is a reactive piece of technology consisting of a lens, a processor, and an image sensor, and a way to output the captured image. The camera was designed initially to take an input and save that data to a storage device for review and / or to view real-time by a staff of operators who could then direct a response.
What does Microsoft Office365, Dropbox, Apple iCloud, and the future of electronic security systems have in common? Two simple words… “The Cloud”. What is the cloud? The answer to this question has eluded many, because there is no one simple answer. Talk to 10 different cloud providers, and you will get 10 different answers. It is not a puffy white thing in the sky where are dreams are held. The Cloud is a simply someone else’s data center. The cloud is someone else’s problem. It can be configured to hold different forms of digital media and data virtually. The data can be held in silos or combined. Storage and data can be added very quickly and extremely cost effective. 80% of the cloud is held by five companies, with Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) holding the majority.
We live in a world where everyone wants to hit the easy button, and generally, the cheap button. During COVID-19, pictures of home improvement stores being overrun were normal. Online retailers marked record months. Today, the world has moved to ordering everything online and has embraced the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mentality. Even commercial and industrial companies are doing more in-house work and cutting traditional trades in an effort to control quality and save money.
Spend any time on Facebook or LinkedIn in a security integrator group and you can find pictures tagged with #cctvfail. While some are funny, and others cause you to scratch your head, the real truth is that someone was paid to install that camera. Their work is a reflection on the installer, which makes these installers look bad. The work also reflects on the integrator’s brand. Poorly installed equipment becomes an eyesore with the Integrator’s name attached. Poorly installed systems also tend to create service nightmares. For recurring revenue, security installation companies should be selling maintenance contracts, but these contracts should be more of an insurance policy. If a poorly installed system results in a large number of service visits, the customer will eventually get fed up and find another installer. Repeated truck rolls also cut any recurring revenue and can lead to a loss of revenue.
By Mark Landis While JADE Learning offers continuing education classes on the intricacies of alarm systems, there is often opportunity to improve upon these existing systems. These improvements could be by covering some previously missed access points to the home or by adding life safety features to improve not only […]
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