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Month: August 2018

Delhi High Court Orders Unfreezing of SSSDC Bank Accounts

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India05 mins

The Court of Hon’ble Justice Vibhu Bakhru upheld that the communication issued by National Skill Develop Corporation (NSDC) on 9 January 2018 to the AXIS Bank directing it to freeze the bank accounts of the petitioner i.e., Security Sector Skill Development Council (SSSDC), was plainly without any authority of law and accordingly that has been set aside. The Court asked Abhinav Vashisht, the senior counsel appearing for NSDC, to indicate any provision of law that authorises his client to take such action. Mr Vashisht contended that as the petitioner was diverting the funds, and the action was taken in pursuant to the direction issued by the Government of India, it was justified. However, he was unable to cite any provision of law which authorises the Corporation to direct the bank to freeze the accounts. The principal reason for NSDC to have taken the said action stems from an allegation that the petitioner had diverted the grant given by the Government of India. SSSDC does agree that the grant was provided to them some years ago, however, they also confirm that it was fully utilised for the purpose it was given for. At the given stage, the Court didn’t consider whether the allegations made were correct or not; it just examined whether NSDC had any authority in law to direct freezing of the bank accounts of any other entity. The court, however, clarified that the order does not preclude the Corporation from initiating any action in accordance with the law including for recovering any amount, which as it claims is recoverable from the petitioner. On the other hand, the court also reserved all rights of SSSDC including their right to pursue remedies in respect to other prayers which were not processed at the stage. A notice issued by the Court in this connection was accepted by the counsel of respondents. Earlier, SSSDC filed the petition, inter alia, praying as under: a. Issue an appropriate writ of Mandamus and/ or such other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing and setting aside the impugned order dated 05.01.2018 and 09.01.2018 issued by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; and/or b. Issue an appropriate writ of Mandamus and/ or such other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing and setting aside the impugned order 09.01.2018 passed by NSDC. Arvind Datar, the senior counsel appearing for SSSDC, however, restricted the relief in the present petition to the second prayer by which SSSDC challenged the NSDC order whereby they had directed AXIS Bank to freeze the bank accounts of SSSDC. Vaibhav Gaggar, Partner, Gaggar & Partners, who represented SSSDC in the High Court Commented, “The way the proceedings went and the judgment of the Hon’ble court showed in no uncertain terms that certain bodies are clearly targeting the SSSDC and are willing to resort to means which are well beyond their powers under law in order to hurt them. It was inconceivable as to how the bodies concerned were able to get the bank to freeze accounts of SSSDC without following any law whatsoever. The judgment should go a long way in eradicating the arbitrary and strong arm measures which are sought to be resorted to by the concerned parties.”  

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Adoption of Under-display Fingerprint Sensor for Smartphones

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India05 mins

Smartphone brands are expected to increase their adoption of under-display fingerprint sensors, which allow phones to have full-screen displays with an invisible fingerprint feature, according to IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions. Shipments of smartphones using ‘underdisplay fingerprint sensor’ is forecast to reach at least 9 million units in 2018 and top 100 million units by 2019, according to the new Display Fingerprint Technology & Market Report – 2018 by IHS Markit. The market will keep growing remarkably for the next three years, led by Samsung Electronics and Chinese smartphone brands such as Vivo, Huawei and Xiaomi. By integrating the fingerprint sensor under the display of a smartphone, the phone can offer an invisible and front-side fingerprint feature with 18:9 or higher ratio full-screen displays. Applications using under-display fingerprint sensors, including the Vivo X20 and X21 and the Huawei Mate RS, were finally launched in late March. More are expected to come to market in the second half of 2018. Apple was the first to introduce fingerprint recognition as major biometric identification. It launched Touch ID on the iPhone in 2013, followed in 2015 by Android system’s native fingerprint sensing support, which has contributed to the market’s dramatic growth for the past few years. Due to its convenience and intuitive use, fingerprint recognition was applied to more than 60 percent of total smartphone shipments in 2017. User preferences for a better viewing experience gave rise to larger, full-screen displays on smartphones, but earlier models were limited to having the fingerprint sensors being placed outside the screen boundary. The introduction of rear-side fingerprint sensing came as a compromise to overcome these limitations with full-screen smartphones. Now, the under-display fingerprint solution allows for the sensor to return to the front side of the smartphone. “With Vivo and Huawei recently launching several models with the under-display fingerprint solution, it is certainly rising as a new trend,” said Calvin Hsieh, Director of Touch and User Interface Research at IHS Markit, “This also pressures Samsung Electronics, which hasn’t decided whether or not to adopt the solution in its Galaxy Note 9.” If Samsung applies the solution to the Galaxy Note 9, shipments of smartphones with the solution will hike to more than 20 million units in 2018, from the currently estimated 9 million units, IHS Markit predicts. Almost all fingerprint IC makers are interested in developing under-display fingerprint solutions because the profit margin is much higher than discrete solutions. Leading solution makers include Synaptics, Goodix, Qualcomm and Egis, followed by Samsung LSI, FPC, VkanSee, CrucialTec, BeyondEyes and FocalTech. Among panel makers, Samsung Display – with mature active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) panel manufacturing technology – takes the leading role as the under display fingerprint can be only applied to AMOLED for now, followed by BOE. The Touch Panel Market Tracker by IHS Markit provides a variety of in-depth analyses on touch panel market, including touch user interface technology, market dynamic and emerging trends.

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NIST Builds Statistical Foundation for NextGeneration Forensic DNA Profiling

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India08 mins

NIST scientists have published statistical data needed for forensic DNA profiling based on a technology called Next Generation Sequencing. To do that, they sequenced forensic DNA markers for a sample population. The letters A, G, T, and C represent the building blocks of DNA. DNA is often considered the most reliable form of forensic evidence, and this reputation is based on the way DNA experts use statistics. When they compare the DNA left at a crime scene with the DNA of a suspect, experts generate statistics that describe how closely those DNA samples match. A jury can then take those match statistics into account when deciding guilt or innocence. These match statistics are reliable because they’re based on rigorous scientific research. However, that research only applies to DNA fingerprints, also called DNA profiles, that have been generated using current technology. Now, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have laid the statistical foundation for calculating match statistics when using Next Generation Sequencing, or NGS, which produces DNA profiles that can be more useful in solving some crimes. This research, which was jointly funded by NIST and the FBI, was published in Forensic Science International: Genetics. “If you’re working criminal cases, you need to be able to generate match statistics,” said Katherine Gettings, the NIST biologist who led the study, “The data we’ve published will make it possible for labs that use NGS to generate those statistics.” How to create a dna profile To generate a DNA profile, forensic labs analyze sections of DNA, called genetic markers, where the genetic code repeats itself, like a word typed over and over again. Those sections are called short tandem repeats, or STRs, and the number of repeats at each marker varies from person to person. The analyst doesn’t actually read the genetic sequence inside those markers, but just counts the number of repeats at each one. That yields a series of numbers that, like a long social security number, can be used to identify a person. STR-based profiling was developed in the 1990s, when genetic sequencing was hugely expensive. Today, NGS makes sequencing cost-effective for biomedical research and other applications. NGS can also be used to create forensic DNA profiles that, unlike traditional STR profiles, include the actual genetic sequence inside the markers. That provides a lot more data. That extra data might not be needed because in most cases, STR-based profiles contain more than enough information to reliably identify a suspect. However, if the evidence contains only a minute amount of DNA, or if the DNA has been exposed to the elements and has begun to break down, then the analyst might only get a partial profile, which may not be enough to identify a suspect. In those cases, the extra data in an NGS-based profile might help solve the case. In addition, evidence that contains a mixture of DNA from several people can be difficult to interpret. The extra data in NGS-based profiles can help in those cases as well. Calculating match statistics DNA analysts are able to calculate match statistics for STR-based profiles because scientists have measured how frequently different versions of the markers occur in the population. With those frequencies, one can calculate the chances of randomly encountering a particular DNA profile, just as he can calculate the chances of picking all the right numbers in a lottery. NIST measured those STR gene frequencies years ago using a library of DNA samples from 1,036 individuals. To calculate gene frequencies for NGSbased profiles, Gettings and her co-authors cracked open the freezer that contained the original samples, which were anonymized and donated by people who consented to their DNA being used for research. The scientists generated NGS-based profiles for them by sequencing 27 markers – the core set of 20 included in most DNA profiles in the U.S. plus seven others. They then calculated the frequencies for the various genetic sequences found at each marker. It might be surprising that scientists can estimate gene frequencies from such a small library of samples. However, the NIST team was measuring frequencies not for the full profiles, but for the individual markers. Since they sequenced 27 markers, with each marker occurring twice per sample, the number of markers tested wasn’t 1,036, but more than 55,000 Although NIST has now published the data needed to generate match statistics for NGS-based profiles, other hurdles must still be cleared before the new technology sees widespread use in forensics. For instance, labs will have to develop ways to manage the greater amounts of data produced by NGS. They will also have to implement operating procedures and quality controls for the new technology. “Still, while much work remains,” said Peter Vallone, the Research Chemist who leads NIST’s Forensic Genetics Research, “We’re laying the foundation for the future.”

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Varsity Management Secured by Matrix

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India03 mins

Varsity Management is an innovative education system focused on learning and leadership. Varsity offers well-designed courses plans that are in sync with the state and national board curriculum. Based on the re-engineered learning patterns, these plans help teachers provide multisensory learning and develop social and thinking skills in students. Varsity Management is empowering 3,85,000+ students annually with its presence across 465+ schools pan-India. The main requirement of the organization was to bring its time-attendance under the same network umbrella. Varsity Management Pvt Ltd wanted to manage time-attendance of more than 15,000 employees at 100+ locations across India. Initially, they were using traditional Varsity Management Secured Matrix Assists Reputed Educational Institute of Hyderabad with Centralized Time-Attendance Solution methods for attendance marking. As a result, they were facing many problems in maintaining records of the same. Hence, they required an efficient system for maintaining and recording accurate attendance data of staff members. They required a biometric hardware solution that could precisely capture employees’ attendance. Moreover, they needed instant SMS notifications for certain events like missing in/ out punch, attendance summary etc Solution Matrix meticulously studied the needs of the institute along with its regional partner Vigilant Technologies. Having discussed in depth with Varsity’s team, Matrix offered its comprehensive time-attendance solution for managing and tracking staff movement from a single place. Matrix has installed 130 biometric time-attendance terminals COSEC DOOR FOT V3 whereby HR/ Admin could easily track attendance of all employees and generate different types of reports for timely salary payment. Now users are updated instantly on different events like missing in/ out punch, attendance summary etc. when it occurs. Results Centralized monitoring and control. Efficient time-attendance management. Quick and easy salary calculations. Improved productivity. Customized reports.

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MOBOTIX MOVE with Additional Features

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India04 mins

  MOBOTIX has launched MOBOTIX MOVE, a new video surveillance camera family that supplements its current portfolio allowing end customers to benefit from additional features to meet a wider range of indoor and outdoor use cases. Customers can now obtain MOBOTIX MOVE products as they provide standards-based technology as well as products with unique MOBOTIX features from a single trusted source backed by industry leading quality and reliability.   The new MOBOTIX MOVE series are the first MOBOTIX cameras to support both the ONVIF S and G profiles with video streaming at 3 and 4MP resolution up to 30 frames per second. Available in 4 models including bullet, vandal proof bullet and fixed dome, and two speed domes; all models are PoE powered and IP66/ IK10 rated for flexible deployment. “MOBOTIX MOVE is a recognition that we need to bring the same level of MOBOTIX expertise to a wider range of projects that have a specific requirement,” explains Thomas Lausten, Chief Executive Officer of MOBOTIX, “We listened to our global customers and integrators and created a new product family that delivers standards-based features while retaining the build quality, reliability and innovation that MOBOTIX is renowned for within the security and access control market.” MOBOTIX MOVE is also the first MOBOTIX camera range with motorised varifocal lenses, high speed mechanical pan-tilt-zoom, speed domes and wide dynamic range sensors at up to 4MP resolution. The built-in software offers smart event functions, remote zoom and focus plus iris control on autofocus lens. Each device includes a built-in SD card slot and certain models have integrated IR LED illumination. The true day/ night feature with integrated movable IR cut filter technology provides colour images at day time and monochrome infrared sensitive images at night. With full ONVIF support, MOBOTIX MOVE cameras can natively support the widest range of video management software and NVR devices including PTZ control, audio, multicasting and relay outputs. “With the addition of MOBOTIX MOVE, our customers now have more choice without compromising on quality,” said Lausten, “All MOBOTIX MOVE products are specified and tested by MOBOTIX in Germany and manufactured under supervision. Our customers can be sure that we won’t lose our product DNA and all MOBOTIX MOVE branded devices are delivered and supported according to the same high-quality standards our customers expect.” All MOBOTIX MOVE devices can be controlled via integrated web GUI using PC based browsers and will also be natively supported in the upcoming 2.0 version of MOBOTIX Management Center due for release in Q4 of 2018.

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Elbit Systems Hermes 900 StarLiner

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India04 mins

Elbit Systems commences global marketing of the Hermes™ 900 StarLiner, a powerful and trend setting Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that features adverse weather capabilities and is fully compliant with NATO’s Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4671, qualifying it to be safely integrated into civilian airspace and fly in the same environment with manned aircraft. Concluding an extensive year-long flying schedule, the Hermes 900 StarLiner has been performing civil aviation authority certified flights in Masada National Park, Israel. Aseries of the Hermes 900 StarLiner (known as Hermes 900 HFE in the Swiss program) is currently being assembled for the Swiss Armed Forces and is scheduled to be delivered and integrated into Switzerland NAS during 2019. Security events such as the dismantling of ISIS and diverse geo-political tensions have caused European countries to re-orient defense efforts from involvement in far-away conflicts to coping with intensifying homeland and border security challenges. This shift has resulted in a growing demand for advanced yet mature UAS that can be safely integrated into civilian airspace and provide the technological capabilities that are required to effectively and safely perform complex homeland and border security missions. Drawing on the legacy of the widely operational Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 and their proven technologies, Elbit Systems has conducted an extensive multiyear R&D effort focusing on producing a mature UAS that complies with civilian airspace regulations and can be safely integrated into European NAS. Meeting the strict safety and certification requirements of non-segregated airspace regulations required all the components of Hermes 900 StarLiner to be designed in full compliance with STANAG 4671, and to incorporate the most advanced aviation technologies including cooperative and non-cooperative detect & avoid systems, train avoidance warning system, automatic take-off and landing in near zero visibility, redundant broad bandwidth line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) data link, and adverse weather capabilities such as de-icing and direct lightning strike sustainment. These technological enhancements allow the aircraft to operate in both visual and instrument meteorological conditions, and its powerful heavy fuel engine provides improved climb rate, extended endurance and higher ceiling and maximum speed.   Elad Aharonson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR Division, commented,” “Anticipating the rising security need for operating unmanned aircraft in the same environment with civilian manned aircraft enabled us to achieve this breakthrough. We are committed to maintain our approach of technological innovation based on an extensive operational experience and provide our customers with advanced yet mature systems that enhance effectiveness and safety when coping with the evolving national security needs”.

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Securing & Revitalizing ‘The District’ Detroit

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India04 mins

Ilitch Holdings, Inc. has selected Motorola Solutions and Avigilon Corporation, a Motorola Solutions company, to help enhance customer experience and safety at its landmark properties in Detroit. Ilitch sought to reinvigorate its home city, Detroit, by investing in public infrastructure and local businesses, and by promoting public safety in and around its state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, offices and retailers throughout ‘The District’ Detroit, a $1.4B sports and entertainment destination located in downtown Detroit. Ilitch in partnership with security integrator Identify, Inc., installed a complete Avigilon security solution powered by video analytics that includes more than 1,600 Avigilon cameras, Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software and Avigilon’s Access Control Manager (ACM) system. The complete solution enables security operators to quickly detect, search and verify critical events to save valuable time and effort during investigations. It uses Motorola Solutions’ MOTOTRBO™ professional two-way radios to communicate across its properties including Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park and Fox Theater. When a suspicious activity is flagged using the Avigilon solution, security staff can quickly contact each other using MOTOTRBO radios and take immediate action to keep visitors to The District Detroit safe. “We’re proud to see downtown Detroit thriving and our top priority is to create a safe and welcoming environment for our guests and local community,” said Tim Sopha, Director of Corporate Security for Ilitch Holdings, Inc., “We chose Avigilon and Motorola Solutions because together they provide us with a unique system for public safety that allows us to monitor, communicate and respond more effectively.” “The District Detroit is making an incredible impact on the city of Detroit by attracting new visitors from throughout the region where they can take part in this immersive sports and entertainment experience,” said James Henderson, Avigilon’s President and Chief Operating Officer, “This project is an excellent example of how Avigilon and Motorola Solutions’ technologies work together to provide a new level of public safety.” Little Caesars Arena and Comerica Park are U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act certified. As part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act (SAFETY) encourages the creation and use of anti-terrorism technologies and practices. To enhance fan experience and safety, as well as to comply with SAFETY Act certification, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. selected Avigilon for its SAFETY Act designated technologies.

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Videonetics Unveiled AI & Deep Learning Enabled Visual Computing Platform at IFSEC

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India02 mins

Videonetics announced its entry into the European market by unveiling the world’s leading AI and deep learning enabled visual computing platform at the recently concluded IFSEC International in London. Commenting on the grand success, Dr Tinku Acharya, Founder & MD of Videonetics said, “This year was our first experience with IFSEC International. We garnered huge response throughout the three days with record high footfalls ranging from manufacturers, distributors, installers, integrators, consultants to end users. IFSEC International provided an excellent opportunity to launch our AI and deep learning enabled visual computing platform which was well received and appreciated by the consultants, end users and system integrators. We were excited to see the response and the keenness shown by them towards our platform.” Continuing to bring the indigenous innovations and technological advances to the global market, Videonetics has been setting new benchmarks in the field of security and surveillance by using their patented intellectual property.

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NEC Intelligent Transport System in Ahmedabad

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India06 mins

NEC Technologies India together with NEC Corporation has implemented intelligent transportation management system (ITMS)/ automatic fare collection system (AFCS) for BRT system in Ahmedabad with Smart City Ahmedabad Development Limited (SCADL). NEC in consortium with nCode Solutions (A GNFC Company) was awarded this project by SCADL to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing bus rapid transit (BRT) system and city bus service with the help of most advanced cutting edge global technologies with the objective of providing seamless, fast, reliable, safe and convenient public transportation system to the citizens of Ahmedabad. This is one of the many techno smart initiatives being taken by SCADL to make Ahmedabad a truly citizen friendly and world class smart city. The system for BRT is now fully operational while the service for the city buses (AMTS) is expected to be operational in the following month. BRTS and AMTS are the lifelines of Ahmedabad serving 150 thousand BRTS passengers and 600 thousand AMTS passengers daily. This ITMS project will upgrade 230 BRT buses, 158 BRT stations, 850 AMTS buses and 11 major city bus stations. NEC has implemented many world class cutting edge technologies like automatic fare collection system (AFCS), automatic vehicle location system (AVLS), passenger information system (PIS), vehicle planning scheduling & dispatch (VPSD) and depot management system (DMS), apart from dedicated Mobile App and Web Portal for both BRT and city bus service, and also entrusted with the operations and maintenance of all these systems for next 7 years. Use of advanced ICT and cashless services in the city are the two main components of the smart city projects envisaged by the GoI. Under this new system being implemented by NEC, passengers can use smart phones and Rupay based common mobility payment smart cards for fare payment at BRT stations and inside the city buses. Automatic fare gates equipped with validators at BRT stations will ensure most convenient and foolproof access to the BRT buses for authorized commuters. Advanced GPS tracking units installed in all buses will enable the real time tracking and monitoring of all these buses from central command center. Real time PIS system installed in buses and at bus stations will provide accurate and timely information regarding expected time of arrival (ETA) of next bus, announcement and display of next bus stop and many similar useful information to commuters. Other advanced systems like VPSD and DMS will help bus operation agencies to optimize their resources and assets resulting in overall operational efficiency of the public transport system in Ahmedabad. “Efficient and sustainable public transport system equipped with modern technology such as ITMS/ AFCS with cashless payment is the need of the hour in view of smart city mission of the Govt. of India. We hope that ITMS and AFCS systems implemented by NEC will make our bus operations more efficient and help us in providing world class public transport service to commuters in Ahmedabad. We have also integrated the Rupay based Janmitra card with AFC system by NEC making it convenient for commuters to travel seamlessly across BRT and AMTS buses. In future we plan to extend the reach of this card to other modes of public transport in the city like taxis and Metro as well,” said Rakesh Shankar, IAS and CEO Smart City Ahmedabad Development Ltd. “In order to satisfy growing demand, NEC will utilize its extensive experience with traffic systems, both domestically and internationally, to introduce and integrate a variety of traffic systems to comprehensively support the achievement of a safer and more accurate bus service in Ahmedabad,” said Takayuki Inaba, Managing Director, NEC Technologies India.

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Hikvision Training Program in Punjab’s Patiala and Chandigarh

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink India02 mins

Hikvision has recently organized training programs in Punjab’s Patiala and Chandigarh cities to impart security product knowledge and training – first on 22nd June at Hotel Shourya, Patiala; and the second on 23rd at Hotel JW Marriott, Chandigarh. A comprehensive product introduction, live demos and training program were the key highlights of the event that got overwhelming response from the security professionals in both cities. It was a great experience for Hikvision team to meet with potential partners and SIs. This was instrumental in building trust and confidence for the quality and services offered by Hikvision. Ashish P. Dhakan, CEO and MD, Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd., said in his introductory note, “The future of the security market in India is very bright due to robust growth prospects. Hikvision is the world’s leading provider of innovative video surveillance products and solutions. We are offering the latest products and innovative technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, big data, IoT (Internet of Things). The Hikvision Training Program is our initiative to impart training and product knowledge to the security professional community.” Hikvision team organized the Training Program in Patiala and Chandigarh in association with its respective regional distributors Bandagee Computers and Bright Computers. The events were one of the firsts in the regions hence they got overwhelming response from the security professionals.

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