Megapixel: one word or two? Whatever, it was the most used word(s) at IFSEC 2009 – with the possible exception of “hybrid”.
Yes, megapixel is certainly a big industry “driver” and one of the major forces behind the take-up of IP.
But now, along comes “megapixel without IP”, in the shape of the HDcctv Alliance.
According to its chairman Todd Rockoff, who made a flying visit to London last week, it is the next big thing in security.
High definition images along coaxial cable is the installer’s dream, according to Rockoff.
He says that all those installers who still have not taken to IP, despite the fact it’s been around a long time now, will jump at the chance of offering their customers hi-def images using existing cabling.
He could have a point. Despite its many advantages, especially in big systems, IP technology has not had an easy ride or a welcoming reception from all installers.
Some couldn’t, or didn’t want to, acquire the skills needed to set up an IP camera system.
Some still complain about the “packetization” of compressed images affecting the frames over an occasionally congested network.
Those forward thinking installation companies that went into IP years ago have reaped the rewards, but over the last couple of years the “rip and replace” attitude towards legacy systems has given way to a much more sensible hybrid approach.
The current global belt-tightening has added more power to the hybrid idea.
The ‘third way’
Now, according to Rockoff, there is a “third way” that a lot of installers will want to go with.
With hi-def over coax, the industry could stick with cabled CCTV in the vast majority of cases with IP in those areas where it is best used.
The HDcctv Alliance doesn’t exclude IP – watch out for the term “TriBrid” to enter our lives.
The demo of this live view was simple and impressive. Because they are compression-free and going down cable, images don’t have any signalling delay.
This immediate response will, no doubt, appeal to operators using a joystick to control a speed dome.
The Alliance is currently signing up membership around the world.
I suspect this will all hinge on the cost of upgrading the selected cameras and the price of the new DVR that you’ll need (product announcements will be made this autumn).
It will also be interesting to see whether or not all that existing legacy cabling can, indeed, be used without problems.
I’ve no doubt a lot of installers will go for that catchy little phrase “zero training plug and play”.
No pun intended, but it’ll be interesting to see how this pans out. It’s sure to stir up the market – especially in those countries that, like the UK, have masses of legacy cabled systems.
Meanwhile, view Rockoff explaining about the HDcctv Alliance to Anthony Hildebrand, editor of info4security, and watch out for the September edition of Security Installer when I will be reporting on this in more depth.
Dull? Not any more!
Another big issue that will increasingly be rearing its head for installers in coming months will be 21CN – British Telecom’s switch over to its next generation network.
Yes, it did sound dull a couple of years ago. One of those issues you could easily put on the back boiler until you needed to deal with it, and get on with trying to run a business.
But that attitude has now changed in the build-up to the switch-over which starts next year and goes on for about five years.
Over the last couple of years we’ve carried a number of articles on this in Security Installer magazine (all still accessible on www.info4security.com – just key in “21CN” in the search box).
There will be an inevitable effect on alarm installers’ systems as equipment is switched at telephone exchanges.
Current thinking is that the switchover will affect digital communicators at premises with an intruder or hold-up alarm system. There will be some outages on the lead up to the night of migration which will lead to inevitable line faults in systems. There will be more outages on the night of migration.
How much real effect this will have is less clear. Some have considered this to be another “Millennium Bug” – big build up to a damp squib – and, I would think, that’s what most will be hoping for.
Luckily the BSIA, in the shape of Alex Carmichael and Dave Wilkinson, are keeping on top of this and a working group has been set up with alarm manufacturers, installers, ARCs and software providers. The BSIA will be keeping the industry informed of the progress through their website.
I can’t pretend there was a packed house at the IFSEC seminar devoted to this. I suspect that for many installers it’s still on the back boiler. But Alex and Dave report an increasing build-up of interest with calls “constant every week” from people wanting to know what effect 21CN will have.
In the August issue of Security Installer, out in a few days, I report on the 21CN seminar, so make sure you read it in print or when it appears on I4S.
Sniff of suspicion
Like most people, I haven’t got time to have swine flu, but isn’t it strange how you suddenly hear coughs and sneezes amplified? A bit like buying a new car and suddenly noticing how everyone one else is driving the same model.
All eyes look up when someone clears their throat on the train. Is that guy sniffing so much because he can’t hear himself due to the volume of his iPod, or is he carrying the virus?
Is that slight raspinesss in your throat a tell tale early warning sign or did you drink too much scotch last night? Talk about bring it on.
Despite all the posters and ads, I can’t say I’ve noticed anyone change their coughing and sneezing habits, can you?
If you get it, would you selfishly try to disguise it – “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”- style – just so you can drag yourself into work in a misguided effort to protect your job?
This is not fanciful. According to this survey, one in ten people have chosen not to take a week of their annual holiday this year because they are worried they won’t have a job to return to.
The headline: “Office top summer holiday destination for Brits” is a slight exaggeration methinks, but we get the idea.
Cut the red tape
A recession and a pandemic together is a potent mix and could strike a double blow for industry – especially at the lower end of the scale like small installation firms.
According to the Federation of Small Businesses, a small firm employing only three people “could expect to have all of its workforce off for up to two weeks this autumn” – either through infection or school closure and transport problems.
I would fully support the federation’s call for a reduction in red tape inspections in high intensity infection areas during the pandemic to reduce the burden on small firms.
They also say the system by which the smallest firms are reimbursed for paying out statutory sick pay should be simplified. Business with fewer than 20 employees should be automatically entitled to repayment of sick pay during the pandemic.
If inspections are “unnecessary”, as the FSB claims, and systems are chock full of red tape they should be ditched anyway, pandemic or not.
Will crime sink or soar?
I received an analysis from an investment banking firm that was slightly more upbeat, predicting that the worst case scenario “will not be tested and that the impact on corporate Britain will be limited“.
They also consider the worst case scenario: High street with fewer shoppers but online deliveries booming; all public transport affected – from buses to planes and people steering clear of pubs, restaurants and gyms; expensive temps suddenly in great demand.
So what about the effect on crime and, consequentially the security industry?
With some sources predicting one out of three people could be affected, you might think that’s a lot of criminals out of action, but, according to this “rehearsal” for a pandemic, crime levels would soar.
We still don’t see many people walking around with face masks in the UK, as in other parts of the world.
Lucky for our CCTV operators that, as well as baseball caps and crash helmets, they have not yet had to contend with full face masks.
Despite creating a problem for security – “Police are looking for a facemask in a tracksuit” – we may yet see a lot more hygiene-masked people on the street, as is commonplace in Japan.
One plumbing firm is setting an example here. How long before we get a security installation company protecting its workforce and customers with a swine flu kit?
Digging for an angle
Given the massive potential effect of this pandemic we wouldn’t expect our old friend Bill Seddon of the garden security website Gardien, to throw up a chance to milk its news value, would we?
According to Bill, master of the news angle, there is a “Garden pandemic sweeping the UK”.
His latest press release goes on: “A new disease is striking at the heart of Britain’s gardening community – garden crime!”
According to him, there is “no room for complacency as the plague spreads.”
A bit blatant Bill – even if you do have a valid point to make.
If we are ever invaded by aliens you can expect the Gardien website to quickly follow it up: “Martians land – padlock your shed.”
Free Download: The Video Surveillance Report 2023
Discover the latest developments in the rapidly-evolving video surveillance sector by downloading the 2023 Video Surveillance Report. Over 500 responses to our survey, which come from integrators to consultants and heads of security, inform our analysis of the latest trends including AI, the state of the video surveillance market, uptake of the cloud, and the wider economic and geopolitical events impacting the sector!
Download for FREE to discover top industry insight around the latest innovations in video surveillance systems.
