Category: International

HID Global has recently collaborated with VMware to drive mass adoption of mobile access to digital and physical places by adding HID Mobile Access® for opening buildings and doors to VMware Workspace ONE, an intelligence-driven digital workspace platform for managing any app on any device. The collaboration will make it possible for Workspace ONE users, for the first time, to more securely open doors with their smartphones as part of a unified mobile experience that also enables them to access applications, computers, networks, data and cloud-based services. Workspace ONE is an industry leader in unified endpoint management (UEM) and the collaboration with HID will fuel even broader interest and uptake by enterprise organizations focused on blending physical and digital employee experiences with technology. “Adding physical access control capabilities to Workspace ONE will bring a unique element to our customers’ digital transformation journeys as we take yet another step in redefining what it means to provide empowering digital employee experiences across any application on any device,” said Tony Kueh, Vice President of Product Management, End User Computing, VMware. HID mobile credentials are delivered to Workspace ONE through the HID Origo™ cloud-based access control platform that provides a suite of integration, enablement and developer tools and services that simplify how HID partners and a growing community of new developers and resellers bring mobile access control solutions to market. The platform also streamlines mobile ID replenishment over the air when employees lose or must replace their smartphones and other mobile devices. “The collaboration between two of the leading companies in the fields of cybersecurity and physical security will help accelerate the use of converged physical and logical access control on mobile devices,” said Hilding Arrehed, Vice President of Cloud Services, Physical Access Control, HID Global, “The solution underscores HID’s and VMware’s shared commitment to bring to market one of the industry’s first unified access control solution for a user base of this size.” VMware recently completed a pilot of their platform integration at VMware facilities using Bluetooth-enabled HID iCLASS SE® readers and mobile IDs. The HID Mobile Access application programming interfaces (APIs) and software developer kits (SDKs) provided VMware with direct access to HID access control hardware, speeding integration and pilot execution. The incubation of this technology partnership has validated the benefits of converged physical and logical access control on mobile devices including a more seamless, convenient and intuitive experience for users with improved security and administrative efficiency. Users accessed buildings, rooms and other spaces by tapping their mobile device to a reader at the door, and also unlocked doors from a distance using ‘twist and go’ bile gesture technology or by simply swiping to unlock their phones as they approached. Workspace ONE integrates access control, application management and multi-platform endpoint management into a single platform and is available as a cloud service or on-premises deployment. IDC named the platform the 2018 Leader in Enterprise Mobility Management, and Gartner placed it in its leader quadrant for unified endpoint management (UEM).  

Dahua Hubble panoramic network camera received the prestigious Golden Cauldron Award at the recently held CPSE 2019 in Shenzhen, China. It fully affirms Dahua Technology’s technical dedication and reputation in the video surveillance field. As the only product award in the public safety industry authorized by CPSE, the Golden Cauldron Award is undoubtedly of great importance with professional evaluation team’s overall assessment on quality, performance, market performance, application value and other product factors.   As a new generation of Dahua ultra HD panoramic network camera family, Dahua Hubble panoramic network camera inherits the family’s classic combination of fast-moving PTZ and multi-sensor design, with eight independent concave windows to avoid occlusion caused by rain and snow. To ensure imaging effect, eight 4/3 inch target surface (1920×1080) CMOS sensors are used together with a 1.8 inch large target surface star-level sensor on the ball to deliver a clear and bright performance at night, providing a 24-hour monitoring capability. The key highlights of Dahua Hubble panoramic network camera are its multi-sensor splicing and dynamic tracking technologies. Featuring Dahua Technology’s splicing and tracking algorithms and face recognition algorithm, the camera can realize high-point monitoring via 360 degree seamless splicing. While enjoying large scenes, users can also use the AR platform to realize panoramic AR function that can identify moving trajectories of people and vehicles. Additionally, its real-time screen connection also allows users to obtain timely information of people within the panoramic view, and enables intelligent warning and stereoscopic command to assist video surveillance. The products are widely used in public security, safe cities, government, schools, airports, residential areas and other scenes with large angle of view. Its efficient intelligent applications on scenes, including integrated monitoring and perimeter defense, can help application needs of various industries, achieving an end-toend solution-based application innovation.  

Vanderbilt added three ZKTeco Biometric readers into its access control portfolio. The latest addition to the ever-growing access control portfolio comes off the back of the launch of the company’s bluetooth low energy (BLE) readers, plus the inclusion of Akuvox’s IP door entry phones into their collection of products. As with the BLE readers, the biometric readers integrate with Vanderbilt’s access control ACT Enterprise software, version 2.10 or later. The ZKTeco biometric readers that now integrate with Vanderbilt’s ACT Enterprise are the MA300, the SF420, and the SLK20R. These readers are renowned for their fast and accurate fingerprint algorithm, easy installation and connectivity, and smooth operation and management. Speaking on the MA300 fingerprint reader, Paul McCarthy, Product Manager at Vanderbilt explained, “The MA300 offers unparalleled performances by adopting an advanced ZK fingerprint algorithm for reliability, precision, and excellent matching speed. It comes in a metallic casing and is IP65 rated. This means it is resistant to water, dust and other outside damages. As such, this makes the MA300 ideal for both internal and external mounting scenarios.” Turning to the SF420, McCarthy stated, “The SF420 brings the flexibility to be installed as a standalone or with any third-party panels that support 26-bit Wiegand. Both the SF420 and MA300 possess one-touch-a-second user recognition and can store 1,500 templates. But while the SF420 can host 5,000 cards and 80,000 transactions, the MA300 can take on an additional 5,000 cards more, and 20,000 additional transactions.” Adding further weight to the advantages of the MA300, it also contains full access control features with anti-passback, an access control interface for third-party electric locks, a door sensor, an exit button, an alarm, and a doorbell. Moreover, it works with ACT Mifare Classic cards. The SF420 also works with ACT Mifare Classic cards, but only UID versions. The final addition to the portfolio is the SLK20R. For the MA300 and the SF420 to work with ACT Enterprise software, one enrollment reader, the SLK20R, is required. The SLK20R primarily operates by capturing the fingerprint template into the ACT Enterprise software, and then the template is distributed to the readers on a network via IP. These new biometric readers can be enrolled by an administrator card when the device works in standalone mode. TCP/ IP and RS485 are available so that the devices can be connected quickly and conveniently. A license is also required to work with ACT Enterprise. ACTE-Bio licenses are sold as a per door license.  

Hikvision, the world’s leading provider of innovative video security products and solutions, exhibited its latest innovative technologies, products and solutions at the recently held China Public Security Expo (CPSE) 2019 in Shenzhen. This year marked the second anniversary of Hikvision’s AI Cloud. Its presentation was dubbed ‘fusing data for a smarter world.’ It showcased its AI Cloud platform which supports integration of IoT and information network data designed to empower new intelligent applications and services. Hikvision AI Cloud is based on a distributed architecture incorporating cloud computing and edge computing. It extends artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms from the cloud to an edge domain of on-premise video recorders and servers, and further to edge nodes with security cameras and other IoT devices. The three-layer architecture supports the goal to provide a new class of smarter and faster AI-powered applications. CPSE 2019 saw a large number of AI cloud applications in action, which were created to help customers achieve their digital transformation in areas like public safety, transportation, retail, finance, logistics, community, environmental protection etc. Intelligent transportation system With AI-based video analysis technology, Hikvision’s intelligent transportation system identifies traffic violations in order to reduce the number of human injuries and fatalities. By merging video information with other systems and algorithms, traffic data can be visualized on city maps to further guide traffic and improve urban commuting. Smart retail Hikvision smart retail solutions address the challenges of retail business, and provides cutting-edge technologies such as video analytics, big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence to meet the needs of offline retailers such as shopping malls, supermarkets and brand stores. The applications cover people-counting, merchandise popularity analysis, remote patrolling of stores, cashier supervision, shelf management, unmanned containers, and more. AI-empowered cameras At Hikvision’s booth visitors also got a close look at the innovative products contributing to AI cloud projects such as radar-integrated video cameras, and multi-lens integrated cameras to meet users’ multifunctional requirements in a single scenario. Additionally, AI-equipped turbo HD 5.0 cameras, Easy IP 4.0 series with Hikvision’s AcuSense and ColorVu technologies, and the DeepinView deep learning cameras were displayed at the event. Hikvision AI open platform experience Visitors also interacted with the Hikvision AI open platform algorithm warehouse and delivery process at the event. Via an AI cloud user interface, they could experience how to select different algorithm models from the warehouse, load them on the AI camera, and perform real-time, intelligent identification and analysis of objects like potato chips, fire extinguishers, and other items. The Hikvision AI cloud was developed to solve the real-world challenges across multiple vertical markets, and to create continuous value to the end users. The cutting-edge architecture is designed to enable collaboration between partners across edge computing, industry applications, service platforms and standard systems, and much more.  

FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers, has opened a US$16 million electrical hazards and gas detection laboratory at its world renowned 1,600 acre (648 hectare) research campus in West Glocester, R.I., USA, following nearly two years of construction. Fireballs, explosions, combustible and toxic gas leaks and short circuits – industrial property hazards that can derail a business – are now daily occurrences inside of the specialized laboratory. The new facility is designed specifically for testing industrial grade electrical and gas detection equipment with greater precision and certifying those products that are explosion proof, flameproof and suitable for use in hazardous locations under extreme conditions. To handle such extreme testing, the laboratory has such features as: Two fortified concrete explosion bunkers with up to 2-foot (0.6-m) thick walls complete with military-grade blast doors strong enough to withstand the equivalent of detonating 4 pounds of TNT. Labs that can replicate some of the most corrosive and damaging environments on the planet. A test site that can handle the most toxic and combustible gases found in industry. “As industries and operations evolve, so can their electrical hazards,” said Brion Callori, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Research, “For those companies who operate in hazardous environments, explosions caused by electrical equipment can put a company out of business. There is no margin for error. This laboratory will help FM Global and its clients be well positioned to address such hazards.” Callori noted, “No other organization has built a laboratory quite like this before,” adding that the capabilities will help expedite the certification of FM Approved electrical equipment that industries depend upon so manufacturers can get them to market faster and to where those products will do the most good to protect property. The electrical hazards and gas detection laboratory will be operated by FM Approvals, an internationally recognized testing organization. The facility greatly expands the capabilities of the FM Global research campus, where for more than 50 years, scientists and engineers have been replicating warehouse-size fires, the effects of hurricane force wind storms and dust explosions to help the world’s top companies remain resilient by preventing losses before they occur. Established nearly two centuries ago, FM Global is a mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its client-owners.  

NEC face recognition technology has recently achieved the highest matching accuracy in the Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) 2018 performed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), with an error rate of 0.5% when registering 12 million people. NEC’s technology ranked No. 1 in NIST testing for the fifth time, following its top placement in the face recognition testing for video in 2017. The high performance of NEC’s technology is reflected in the test results which placed the company significantly ahead of the runner-up. In recent years, the growing convenience of biometric authentication technology, improved security awareness, and the remarkable development of artificial intelligence (AI), have driven companies around the world to begin adopting biometric authentication technology. Specifically, the use of face recognition technology is rapidly expanding across a wide range of fields throughout the world. Face recognition technologies are now being used in areas that require high reliability, convenience and long-term use such as identity verification and national infrastructure, transaction settlements, bank account establishment and passport verification. 49 organizations, including companies from the United States, China, Russia, Europe and Japan participated in the NIST’s FRVT 2018, where the evaluation of face recognition accuracy was performed. These tests are the most rigorous and fair benchmarks implemented by the NIST as each organization is required to submit and be evaluated on programs that were developed during the same period. By performing multi-stage matching, an impressive search speed of 230 million matchings per second was achieved. Furthermore, leveraging NEC’s deep learning methods to significantly reduce the identification error rate, NEC accurately matched images of a subject taken over a 10 year interval with an error rate that was 4 times lower than the runner-up. Going forward, NEC aims to further expand the scope of this technology’s application to include store transaction settlements; services in public facilities such as buses, railways, airports, city offices and hospitals; and helping to protect and care for children and the elderly. Based on the NEC Group AI and Human Rights Principles established in April of this year, NEC gives top priority to the consider ation of privacy and respect for human rights when using AI and biometric data. NEC also aims to contribute to further improvements in the usability of biometric identification and video analytics technology including face recognition. “NEC’s portfolio of biometric identification solutions, ‘Bio-IDiom,’ which includes face recognition technology, is critical to the ways that NEC is helping to build safer and more productive societies as part of the ‘NEC Value Chain Innovation’,” said Hitoshi Imaoka, NEC Fellow at NEC Corporation, “These technologies create new value by sharing information on the status of communities, things and processes across the entire value chain, and are a meaningful source of growth in our mid-term management plan 2020, and ‘NEC Safer Cities,’ which support the realization of safe, secure, efficient and equal cities.  

Milestone Systems is committed to protect people and assets and optimize businesses. With the Milestone Community Kickstarter Contest, they invite innovators to help create technology that will make the world a better place. Milestone Systems has built an open platform for vision-based technology software working with applications that create benefits across areas such as security, transportation, emergency response, traffic optimization, and even in wildlife. The Milestone Community Kickstarter Contest is a unique opportunity for coders, developers, individuals and organizations to discover new applications and capabilities that can ‘plug in’ to the XProtect® VMS product family. “Milestone Systems enables an open platform community that drives collaboration and innovation in the development and use of network video technology,” said Bjorn SkouEilertsen, Chief Technology Officer at Milestone, “We believe that developers will change the world. Our MIP SDK can help them do this. It offers developers the opportunity to innovate new solutions and use our powerful VMS platform as the engine.” The winning concept can be an integration, added funcMilestone Community Kickstarter Contest Inviting Developers Around the World to Innovate with their Software tionality, widget or code that extends the use of VMS in any useful capacity. Participating developers can create a visual tool, a device trigger, a base for analyzing data or to measure information that can be applied in new ways. The two requirements are that the solution is integrated with the Milestone XProtect VMS, (and possibly using the MIP SDK), and that the idea must be the contestant’s own intellectual property. “We see technology as a tool. We believe that great things can come by offering our powerful open platform software to a world of innovators to use to make their imaginations tangible. We are open to innovation and are looking for solutions we have yet to imagine that can make the world a better place,” said Jasleen Rehal, Community Engagement Manager, Milestone Systems. Three finalists will be given free entry and an exhibitor booth at the annual Milestone Integration Platform Symposium event (MIPS) in 2020, where the winner will be announced and rewarded with a prize valued at USD 65,000.  

BCDVideo has recently landed the company’s 100,000th video surveillance recording appliance. The leader in video data infrastructure and appliances for the physical security industry is celebrating 20 years in the computer industry, with over a decade in the video surveillance arena. The multinational hardware manufacturer currently records video in 75 countries worldwide under the BCDVideo brand, as well as through over 30 OEM software and camera partners, for whom they private-label systems. The 100,000th system installation was a Genetec™ Streamvault™ video appliance which will be used in the management of surveillance at an enterprise customer site in the United States. BCDVideo is a trusted leader in purpose-built video surveillance recording appliances and infrastructure. The company’s innovative video surveillance solutions portfolio includes IP video recording servers and storage, revolutionary hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI-VS), and network architecture. We are proud to provide innovation to some of the most influential names in the security industry. This mutual brand trust allows us the partnership to provide and record the video surveillance at marquee companies all over the world. BCDVideo’s Chief Executive Officer Jeff Burgess said, “CRN Magazine named BCDVideo one of North America’s top technology solutions providers, and Inc. Magazine designated BCDVideo as one of the ‘fastest-growing private companies’ in the U.S. Also in 2019, the company was honored as one of the ‘best places to work in Illinois.’”’