The next killer app for NFC will not be mobile payments

Editor / Provider: Smart Card Alliance | Updated: 5/20/2013 | Article type: Hot Topics

With half a billion NFC-enabled handsets expected to hit the market in the next year, according to an ABI Research report released in March 2013, industry experts agreed that the major first step to broad NFC adoption has been accomplished. But discussion and debate continued as to what the killer app will be to get the technology to take off. Experts concurred in a recent meeting that the next NFC application might not even be mobile payments anymore.

Applications like wine tracking and device pairing that fulfill unmet needs and simplify activities may be the “world-winning NFC solutions,” according to Koichi Tagawa of Sony and Chairman of the NFC Forum. In another example, Tagawa noted that Japanese airlines using NFC can board a 450-person plane in only 15 minutes, as opposed to the standard boarding process for a 150-person plane without NFC in 40 minutes.

Other experts agreed that loyalty programs and offers are great first steps for consumers to use NFC technology.

Lynne Barton, VP of Marketing with Jamba Juice, which has been participating in the Isis Mobile Wallet pilots, said that NFC creates “more meaningful and personal conversations with customers.” She said that she “sees a future with NFC, but it will take consumers a little bit of time to get there,” adding that coupons and offers are “the gateway” to get consumers using the technology.

Lydia Martinez, Store Marketing Specialist at Whole Foods, concurred that “for the short term, loyalty and the value of the couponing is the gateway for people.” She said that the appeal of NFC is to help “drive brand and drive loyalty while giving customers a faster experience.” Martinez described an upcoming holistic marketing campaign where NFC-enabled coupons and loyalty will work with in-store displays and social media to promote local farmers and producers.

NFC should “create, communicate and deliver value to customers,” said Mohamed Awad of Broadcom and Vice Chairman of the NFC Forum. He said that creating value for NFC is about “simplifying with the way we act with the more and more sophisticated set of microcontrollers around us.” To this end, Awad described several use cases where organizations are communicating the value of products to customers by differentiating with NFC, including smart home appliances, interactive games, travel services, opt-in magazine ads, and even tombstones.

Other experts discussed mobile security features that could allow consumers to become more confident in using their devices for more sensitive transactions. Sebastian Taveau, Validity's CTO, described a vision of fingerprint biometrics providing consumers with a fast and secure way to unlock the NFC applications on their mobile devices. Citing that 90 percent of user-generated passwords are vulnerable to hacking due to being stored centrally in the cloud, Siva Narendra, Tyfone CEO said, “Consumers demand convenience and expect security.” Narendra unveiled Tyfone's new Connected Smart Card that enables the secure storage and use of multiple IDs that can be placed in a microSD, a key-chain, an iPhone case, or a wearable device.

But while speakers and panelists didn't reach consensus on what the so-called “killer app” for NFC will be, speakers conveyed the great potential for NFC including mobile payments in the longer term. When asked the question “Is NFC dead?” compared to alternate technologies such as cloud payments, Glenbrook Partners Consultant Allen Weinberg stressed that all these technologies are still in the early days and it is too soon to make judgments on what mobile commerce technologies will be the winners and losers. “At the end of the day, we don't have a widespread, commercialized anything yet,” he said.

Tennessee rehabilitation center keeps recovering residents in check

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by Qnap Security | Updated: 5/20/2013 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Recovery Ranch, located in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., is a special rehabilitation center for clients with addictive, eating or mood disorders, or in need of psychosomatic recovery for improved quality of life. The ranch employs 160 therapists and administrative personnel, serving more than 75 clients at a time, with 24/7 care for different treatments; hence, it is a large facility with residents of diverse backgrounds.

The ranch encompasses two sites: the main campus with two buildings and a new campus with six buildings, individually located one mile apart. On land stretching over 2,000 acres and multiple campuses, it is necessary to have a powerful surveillance system to secure the community and archive records of any incidents that occur. The two original buildings, dated back to late 1800s, were not designed with network wiring. Also, they had unstable power supplies due to the age of the buildings and the location in a rural area, where bad weather could easily cause a power outage. Therefore, wireless became very important, and a good mechanism to sustain system power supply was essential, too.

Moreover, Recovery Ranch required 16 to 18 cameras installed around the campuses and a system able to store videos for two to three months. Prior to the installation, Recovery Ranch surveyed CCTV and DVR solutions, but all lacked advanced management functions and did not have sufficient storage capacity.

Road to Recovery
In the end, Recovery Ranch turned to the Qnap VioStor NVR surveillance system because of its robust, IP-based design and the many unique management features. Two units of VioStor NVR VS-6020 Pro, powered by dual-core Intel Atom processor, were installed on each campus, monitoring 25 VIVOTEK fixed domes and Mobotix fisheye cameras. “Qnap NVRs definitely play a central role in the video security for Recovery Ranch, as this is a one-stop solution that is well-integrated with multiple brands of IP cameras and hence can fulfill very diverse indoor/outdoor monitoring requirements,” said Jeff Chase, IT Manager. “Moreover, the system is very scalable in camera deployment, and with free software updates, it is open to more features at no additional cost, making it a future-proof investment for many years to come.”

The VS-6020 Pro supports high-quality H.264, MPEG-4, M-JPEG and MxPEG recording, and can efficiently stream videos wirelessly while maintaining high-megapixel image quality. In addition, the 6-bay VS-6020 Pro accommodates up to 24-TB storage capacity to satisfy Recovery Ranch's needs of storing videos for up to three months. The VS-6020 Pro also solves the problem of unexpected power outage. With support for UPS devices, the VS-6020 Pro is programmed with USB-connected UPS to ensure 24/7 service. Detailed event logs of system warning, network disconnection and the UPS status are also recorded for diagnosis. What Recovery Ranch favored most was the intelligent video analytics. By using the motion detection algorithm in playback mode, the security administrator can set up areas of interest and time frames for the NVR to automatically find events of interest. It is, overall, less labor-intensive than manually watching each channel at 16x fast-forward play. It is quick to review — for example, an individual, in a specific area, at a certain time of the day — the day's video, and reviewing evidence is more efficient than ever.

Since the two units of VioStor NVR VS-6020 Pro were installed, the ranch has required little maintenance. The Linux-based operating system and RAID storage volume are very reliable; at the same time, it is more power-efficient than running the VMS server on a PC. Therefore, Recovery Ranch does not have to keep the PC running 100-percent of the time. It shows power consumption changes from 200W to 43W (with six HDDs installed) in average, resulting in up to five times of savings in utility. “The VS-6020 Pro is an easy-to-use and intuitive product, enabling the security administrator to fully utilize the features of the surveillance system. We can spend less time on IT, and more time on running the center,” Chase concluded.

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Bosch introduces integration partner program

Editor / Provider: Bosch Security Systems | Updated: 5/17/2013 | Article type: Security 50

With the presentation of its Integration Partner Program (IPP) at the security trade fair, Bosch Security Systems moves to a whole new level in terms of providing interoperable solutions that fit any application's specific needs. The web-based platform assists customers in effortlessly identifying compatible video surveillance hardware or software solutions that will seamlessly interoperate with the existing Bosch installation. Furthermore, the program helps developers and other experts to design compatible solutions by ease of use integration tools and samples. All third party solutions already listed in the portal have successfully undergone stringent quality checks by Bosch.

The need for compatible partner products and systems
“The security market has become extremely diverse and complex, especially since the switch to IP solutions,” says David Lenot, Business Development Manager EMEA at Bosch Security Systems. “Different applications can have very heterogeneous surveillance requirements and customers are increasingly asking for unique solutions. In addition to this, comprehensive systems also have to be expandable at any point in time, which is why their composition needs to be a flexible one. With the help of IPP, owners can at once identify compatible partner products and systems that are a perfect match for installed Bosch equipment while adding unlimited features and services.”

Easy access to technical resources
IPP benefits partners and customers alike by providing just the right information in one place. It gives all development partners wishing to build integration tools, samples and solutions transparent and easy access to relevant resources, from documents to training. The program provides assistance across the portfolio, covering all features for integration purposes.

Customers can use the web-based “Solution Advisor” search engine to scan through existing applications, geographies or specific features to identify the right solution for the respective system. IPP helps multiply the solutions and guides the client to the matching result. Users can combine products from Bosch with leading video management devices from Genetec, Milestone, Nice and many other companies. Similarly, data storage solutions are available from a range of providers, such as NetApp, EMC and Iomega. Intergrativity is simplified by application and task-related code samples, as well as preconfigured integration packages. Additionally, the program provides a variety of technical support contacts for members and premium partners to optimize combining Bosch features or products with third-party devices and vice versa.

Beneficial partnerships for future development
Allowing a simple integration of third-party solutions has always been part of Bosch's principles. Solutions by the company are designed to be integration friendly. For example, all IP cameras and encoders run one firmware. Partners therefore can support dozens of products at the same time. With IPP, the company continues to open up its business and presents its video products in the most transparent way possible. “It is essential that innovative and technically competent suppliers of development services and series products are involved early and systematically in devising new solutions,” says Rudolf Spielberger, Head of IPP at Bosch Security Systems. In line with this philosophy, Bosch Security Systems, together with Axis Communications and Sony, also founded the international product standard ONVIF in 2008. The aim of ONVIF is to enable the integration of network video devices from different manufacturers. “IPP is thus a continuation of this way of thinking into the second decade of the 21st century.”

Bosch adds micro camera and dome to budget line

Editor / Provider: Bosch Security Systems | Updated: 5/16/2013 | Article type: Security 50

With the introduction of the micro 2000 and FLEXIDOME micro 2000 IP cameras, Bosch is once again expanding its successful network video systems portfolio. Wherever there is a need for a good product, at an affordable price, for a broad range of applications, micro 2000 IP cameras and FLEXIDOME micro 2000 IP cameras are the ideal solution. Providing more detailed images with less interference, the cameras are specifically designed for indoor areas with stable lighting, and their state of the art look sets them apart. They come in two different versions, a micro box, and a micro dome design. Beside their outstanding design, these cameras are also fully featured. The latest sensors and image processing technology from the professional security industry have been optimized for small business surveillance.

Both cameras are designed as complete networked video systems. They include a Dropbox application for remote storage of recorded activity, while also benefiting from 50 percent less storage needs in static scenes due to iDNR, saving on memory requirements, bandwidth, and costs. Furthermore, the Video Client PC software and the live viewer app from Bosch are available free of charge for reviewing live and recorded video material on a PC or mobile device from any location with Internet access.

In addition, the micro 2000 IP cameras and FLEXIDOME micro 2000 IP cameras are ONVIF conformant and compatible with software and storage solutions of third-party integrators. This is supported by the Integration Partner Program, which gives partners immediate access to online tools for easy integration of management and recording software, video analytics, monitor wall systems and cloud monitoring.

Milestone Arcus has signed ISD as first edge-based solution partner

Editor / Provider: Milestone Systems | Updated: 5/14/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Milestone Systems has signed Innovative Security Designs (ISD) as the first camera partner who will offer the robust and streamlined Milestone Arcus VMS embedded in their edge devices.

With this collaboration, Milestone and ISD mark a new era of edge storage solutions. By redefining the role of a camera, Milestone Arcus VMS embedded on ISD cameras can be a hosted edge server solution model for all IP cameras supported by Milestone.

Innovation in the security industry and technology leveraged from the consumer electronic industry are fueling the adoption of edge storage – when recorded video data is stored in a de-centralized way at the edge (on devices such as cameras connected to a network). The ability to record and manage up to a month of 1080P video on a single ISD camera meets customer expectations and requirements for distributed video storage.

By migrating to edge storage, customers can realize the benefit of being able to save money and simplify installations by eliminating expensive servers. The combination of ISD and Milestone Arcus gives consumers even more choice by not requiring them to sacrifice legacy cameras that are not capable of edge storage. It is an open platform solution that supports multiple camera types and brands, all tied together and managed with the streamlined Milestone Arcus VMS.

According to its principal video surveillance analyst, Jon Cropley, “as this market grows and as network surveillance products penetrate smaller installations, there will be an increasing need to simplify the installation of video management software and to operate that software more easily. The combination of Milestone Arcus with ISD cameras seems to be an initiative designed to meet this need”.

Milestone Arcus VMS gives a simple to use, clean and efficient interface. The collaboration between ISD and Milestone makes configuring and recording camera output easy and user friendly. ISD's large onboard storage capacity as well as the ability to tie into other Milestone Arcus storage partners makes this a very powerful and elegant solution for redundant storage.

This partnership also means that existing Milestone XProtect customers can easily add an ISD/Milestone Arcus-enabled camera to their installations.

“It has been an absolute pleasure working together with the Incubation and Ventures team at Milestone,” says Ian Johnston, CEO of ISD. “We share a common vision of having an open and powerful solution that makes video at the edge simple and easy to deploy and operate. Our combined ability to extend the edge and be the host for other Milestone-supported camera vendors is groundbreaking.”

The collaboration and innovation extends beyond storage and video management. ISD's netSeries product line uses the same processor engines used in modern smartphones. The road map for the ISD-Milestone Arcus offerings will also include advanced third-party analytics in the cameras. Edge-based analytics solve the problem of scalability for analytic partners: adding more cameras automatically adds computing power without adding more complexity.

Like storage and video management, everything is tied together using the Milestone Arcus streamlined user interface. Other vendors who wish to partner with Milestone Arcus can tie into this ecosystem, again bringing simplicity, ease of use, and the ability for customers to choose the solutions that make sense for them.

Arecont Vision appoints VP for Europe

Editor / Provider: Arecont Vision | Updated: 5/14/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Arecont Vision has appointed surveillance industry veteran Ivo Drent as VP for Europe. Drent joins the company after more than two decades in the video security industry in positions responsible for sales management, marketing, customer support and business development.

Drent will manage Europe for Arecont Vision and will also take personal responsibility for strategic accounts, building on the company's top level relationships at key distributors, systems integrators and technology partners. Arecont Vision's European headquarters is located in Frankfurt, Germany.

Ivo Drent has spent more than 20 years in the video surveillance industry working for manufacturers such as Dedicated Micros, Pelco and IndigoVision. Drent led Pelco's EMEA operations from their office in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, managing a team of nearly 100 people who were located in various offices across Europe and the Middle East. For IndigoVision, he managed their EMEA sales, marketing and support operations. More recently, Drent has been Worldwide VP for DataDirect Networks, a manufacturer of high end storage solutions, where he was responsible for their Government and Digital Security division.

“Arecont Vision is very excited to have Ivo Drent join our management team. Ivo is a proven leader in the Europe security market and we are looking forward to even faster growth under his leadership,” said Scott Schafer, Executive VP of Arecont Vision. “Key European distributors, systems integrators and technology partners are embracing megapixel IP cameras for their ability to improve image quality, boost system functionality, lower system costs and improve the return on investment for their customers. Ivo will strengthen our relationships with these important selling partners and drive business growth throughout Europe.”

Storage specialist grows ecosystem to target surveillance applications

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by Seagate | Updated: 5/16/2013 | Article type: Tech Corner

From April 24th to the 26th, 2013, the 16th Secutech International Exhibition and Conference took place in Tapei, Tawain, once again offering a venue for security professionals to present their business value.

Alongside an array of other exhibitors, Seagate teamed with eight industry-leading surveillance vendors to display storage solutions that address a variety of surveillance usage requirements:
● IP Surveillance
● Video Analytics
● Centralized Storage
● Embedded DVR
● Video as a Service
● Surveillance in the Cloud

These demos addressed the major technological advancements that continue to change the storage industry. According to forecasts from IMS Research (recently acquired by IHS), 2013 will be the year when global network video surveillance equipment sales surpass analogue video surveillance equipment sales. Centralized storage is gaining prominence as well for its scalability and easy management. Cloud computing in surveillance is also rising, due to its relatively low cost, while Managed Video as a Service (MVaaS) and Hosted Video as a Service (HVaas) are often part of the package.

As technologies converge and surveillance architectures improve, surveillance needs and usage models also evolve. To meet client demands, surveillance storage will need to be purpose-built with the following key capabilities:
1. Video accuracy, which ensures maximized data integrity, in addition to accurate read-and-write metadata and control data
2. Sequential writing performance, enabling more HD and megapixels video feeds are supported and more bandwidth is available for higher resolutions
3. Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), without compromise to reliability, scalability and power efficiency in the long term
4. Video data security, including data encryption and secure erase technologies

In collaboration with renowned providers of surveillance services at this year's conference, Seagate demonstrated a wide range of surveillance-related products in different capacities, with Seagate HDDs as the core technology.

Each demo station established the importance of using the right hard drive in the particular surveillance application displayed. This lesson can vastly influence a provider's ability to offer distinguished surveillance systems with improved reliability, performance and affordability—all key elements to differentiate from competitors' offerings.

Sponsored by: 
For more information, please visit the company website.

A mission with a vision

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by VIVOTEK | Updated: 5/13/2013 | Article type: Government & Public Services

The Hajj Organization in Tehran, Iran has been organizing the Hajj Mission since 1991, providing services to Hujjaj, who are Muslim pilgrims from Iran, with the aim of promoting Hajj and serving Hujjaj by facilitating and organizing all aspects of Hajj. With its pivotal role and sizable scale in Iran, the organization requires high-security surveillance to ensure the overall safety of the Hujjaj and the daily operation of the Hajj Mission. The manager of the organization decided to install several IP cameras, and VIVOTEK cameras, with excellent quality at a reasonable cost, became the organization's first choice.

Pooya Fara Negar, VIVOTEK's distributor in Iran, provided the professional consultation and design. A total of 178 cameras were installed indoors and outdoors. Outdoor areas are covered by 11 SD8323E, 12 IP7361 and 53 IP8362 cameras, while 73 FD8161 and 27 FD8162 cameras were installed indoors. Two IP8162P cameras were installed in the official area.

The SD8323E, a network speed dome with several superior features — such as the ability to capture clear video even in environments with high-contrast lighting conditions, a weather-proof IP66-rated housing, and 360° continuous pan and 90° tilt — is an ideal camera for monitoring open indoor/outdoor spaces. Equipped with a powerful 36x zoom lens and WDR technology, the camera is also able to capture sharp images at a great distance even under challenging lighting conditions. The SD8362E was thus installed outside of the organization for monitoring the grand square in front of the building.

Bullet cameras IP7361 and IP8362, with 2-megapixel resolution, weather-proof IP67-rated housings, removable IR-cut filters and IR illuminators for superior image quality around the clock, were chosen for a wide range of outdoor applications. The IP7361 was installed in the outdoor corridor, while the IP8362 was chosen to monitor the parking lot, taking advantage of its WDR enhancements, which allow users to identify image details in extremely bright as well as dark environments.

For monitoring the building halls, the FD8161 and FD8162 were used. Featuring a 2-megapixel sensor and ePTZ functionality, these cameras are able to provide extremely wide coverage with the finest details and enable users to focus on close-up shots of different areas. Moreover, the FD8162, which also incorporates WDR capability, is able to capture clear footage even when both bright and dark areas are present in the same field of view.

As for the official area, the IP8162P — a 2-megapixel camera with several advanced features like a P-iris lens, built-in Focus Assist button for precise focus adjustment, WDR Enhanced technology for an unparalleled ability to capture detail in extremely bright and dark environments — is able to monitor a much more comprehensive area than can a standard VGA camera, allowing users to fully enjoy the HD video.

Sacred, Secured
Access to all of these cameras is via a private Intranet. VIVOTEK's stand-alone NVR enables the Hajj Organization to record, monitor and manage video data simultaneously through the Internet. Both live video feeds and recorded video footage are centrally managed.

William Ku, VP of International Business at VIVOTEK, stated: “We are so glad to have the chance to enhance the security of the Hajj Organization. I believe that VIVOTEK cameras with their superior quality are able to meet the client's needs by providing clear footage and accurate event tracking around the place. Also, the Hajj Organization can monitor the status of all cameras and storage in real time and manage videos in a centralized way. We are expecting to provide more security support to the Hajj Organization in the future.”

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Assa Abloy unveils RF-shielding openings

Editor / Provider: Assa Abloy | Updated: 5/10/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Radio frequency shielding has come a long way since its inception by Michael Faraday in 1836. The method involves the use of copper shielding to absorb radio and magnetic waves in buildings where blocking these emissions from interference is critical. Ceco Door , Curries, Fleming, and Security Metal Products have developed an RF shielding door and frame opening for use in MRI rooms, test labs, emergency call centers, data and IT storage, RFID scanning areas, government, and military facilities. The conductive surfaces of the opening help to restrict interference from local RF transmitters (such as radio towers, radar, and broadcasting units), and, in turn, avoid the compromise of confidential information.

The RF opening consists of the door and frame (up to 4'0'x8'0') with shielded seals and surfaces, a Pemko threshold, conductive caulk, installation instructions, and expert customer support to assist in installing and maintaining this innovative product.

The Assa Abloy Door Group brands have put this product through rigorous testing prior to release, and have certified the opening using Military Standard Attenuation Measurements, as developed by the Department of Defense. The assembly is designed to provide RFI/EMI shielding of 40db at 10 kHz-10 GHz per MIL-STD-285 and was third party certified.

Hybrid versions of this product are available, making the RF shielding opening a one of a kind innovation. The opening is offered with a sound rating of up to STC 50, a fire rating of up to 90 minutes, and a bullet rating up to level 8. Special options such as blast resistance and lead lining can also be produced with the RF shielded opening.

The launch of RF shielding openings aims to assist facility managers, architects, healthcare professionals, and military members with privacy protection where it's needed most, leaving the end user feeling safe and sound.

What's trending in 2013?

Editor / Provider: Judy Lin, asmag.com | Updated: 5/8/2013 | Article type: Hot Topics

Secutech International 2013, one of the largest trade shows in the security world, successfully concluded on April 26. Here are some of the key findings from the show floor interviews.

1. IP Rocks
IP-based video surveillance products accounted for the majority of items displayed at the exhibition, while HD-SDI products remained a minority. Of the 23 video surveillance manufacturers sampled, 16 companies featured IP products at the show, including Dynacolor, Dahua Technology, Itx, Mobotix and others. Hikvision Digital Technology and four other companies were promoting analog cameras, while Hi Sharp and Win4net were the only companies highlighting HD-SDI products. Most manufacturers are still promoting IP cameras, due to a smaller demand for HD-SDI cameras, and few related products and accessories, said Ray Chan, Director of Sales for APAC, Infinova. HD-SDI also requires larger storage, and the required frame rate is still playing catch-up, Chan continued. A technician from Fuho Technology echoed the sentiment, stating while HD-SDI products offer better image quality than analog cameras, market demand has remained low because of the lack of supporting appliances and hardware compared to analog or IP systems. Some manufacturers are trying to compensate this by promoting new HD-SDI cabling products, such as Win4net's Clebo HD-SDI PoC solution that can extend HD-SDI data transmission for more than 2 kilometers.

2. Light Sensitivity
The majority of low-light network cameras displayed at the show came with 1.3-megapixel resolution; only a few were 3-megapixel models. Shany's SNC-WD2131MSA and Yoko Technology's RYK-IPBX010 featured 1.3-megapixel low-light cameras, while Zavio's D7320 was a 3-megapixel camera. The limitations of network bandwidth and market demand are driving the sales of 1.3-megapixel low-light cameras, said Steven Mao, PM for Digital Surveillance Product Planning, Yoko Technology. Two trends in WDR network cameras were also observed, with some manufacturers such as Brickcom using software to enhance images and others, including Zavio, developing their own WDR sensors.

3. High and Low
Of the analog cameras displayed, a large number were of 700 TVLs and above. For instance, Hikvision's Picadis Exir Camera and Pishion's BRX-99P84WR were 720-TVL cameras, while Fuho's Vacron-P was a 1,000-TVL camera. The cameras target cost-conscious consumers that want better image quality close to IP cameras, but at a much lower price point, said Ian Ma, Overseas Technical Support Engineer, Hikvision. The cameras offer better images than traditional analog, and ideal for clients who are reluctant to say goodbye to their coaxial cables.

4. Easy to Install
Four- to 8-channel NVRs for SMB and home applications are mostly designed with easy setup procedures that are user-friendly. Whether its Nuuo's 8-channel NVR, that enables setup to be completed in six minutes with a click of a mouse, or Dynacolor's 4-channel NVR that automatically detects the company's cameras, the idea is to make installation hassle-free. Manufacturers are trying to make their products appealing and adoptable to the average home owner or shop keeper, who may not be tech-savvy or have the resources to hire IT specialists. Another interesting find was iCatch's latest NVR that enables consumers to use QR scanners to connect their IP cameras to the NVR.

5. Scalability Reincarnated
Installer-friendly products were not easy to miss. For example, Etherwan's ED3638 PoE switch can transmit data and electricity up to 1.8 kilometers, said Alvin Hsu, PM; Planet's BSP-300 solar-power switch is particularly suited for integrators struggling with outdoor cabling. Brickcom's FocusEasy makes life easier for installers, by beeping loudly when the camera is correctly focused; it is aimed at the hotel industry or large-scale projects that require many installations, said Anchi Chen, Marketing Administrator. All these products are designed with convenience in mind, by saving installers or system integrators valuable resources. These products are also ideal for large-scale projects and applications.

6. Value Adds
More camera and NVR manufacturers are teaming up with VCA companies to increase the added value of their products. To target the retail sector, Nuuo teamed up with Vit to add on people-counting features onto its NVR, while VIVOTEK has been cooperating with Cognimatics to add on similar people-counting features onto its IP cameras. Other common VCA features include people counting, item removal detection, and virtual fences that are targeted for retail market applications.

7. Mobility
From remotely monitoring video surveillance cameras to opening doors via NFC technology, mobile applications are increasingly prevalent. The popularity of smartphones and tablets is pushing this trend in the security sector. The majority of NVR manufacturers, such as iCatch and Nuuo, have matching mobile apps to enable remote monitoring, while newer access control systems from WFE Technology allow smartphones to open doors using NFC. Nearly all NFC access control systems are RFID-based at the show, with the exception of Hundure Technology that has promoted a Bluetooth NFC reader.

8. Hot Access
Access control manufacturers such as Pongee and WFE were promoting multicredential readers with four to five credentials targeting the banking or hotel sector. End users can choose which credentials they want to use. According to Johnson Wu, PM of Waferlock at WFE, markets that require high security, such as the banking sector, are more likely to use a combination of credentials or utilize all credentials offered.

9. Gaze Downward
Manufacturers are aiming for the mid- to low-end market with hopes of tapping into retail, home, hotel and banking applications. This was reflected with the promotion of affordable retail solutions with fewer functions, but easy installation, such as VIVOTEK's Counter Cam, a small 180-degree panoramic camera with very basic functions. Even Flir, which had traditionally manufactured high-end thermal imaging cameras, was promoting its first commercial camera, the VT602, at the show (which still costs US$190,000).

10. Emerging Opportunities
Most video surveillance manufacturers agreed that sales are particularly well in emerging markets. Dali Technology and Merit  LILIN both responded sales were particularly well in Middle East, while NVR manufacturer Qnap noted sales were particularly well in Central and South America.