IP Camera Systems and Surveillance Blog

VCA and Safe/Smart Cities: Applications of the Future

Posted on December 3, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

Cities are getting smarter and safer, thanks to VCA and video surveillance. But before we get started, let’s define the difference between VMS and VCA which is actually a trick question since Video Content Analysis (VCA) stems from algorithms written into Video Management Software (VMS).

Also, known as Video Analysis, VCA analyzes streaming surveillance video to detect spatial and temporal events.

The earliest applications were used to alert security personnel to the real time presence of intruders, loiterers, unattended packages, and cars in a no park zone.

Surveillance News Flash!

Posted on November 17, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

It’s always rewarding to find that one of the technologies we specialize in has been cited in a story. Wednesday, November 12 was just such a day.

An article in The Journal News which covers our area, New York’s lower Hudson Valley bore the headline Harrison Cops Bust Cul-de-sac Burglary Ring.

The arrests came after a two-month long investigation by the Harrison, NY Police, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Organized Crime Division, and the Special Investigation Squad of the Bergen County, NJ Prosecutor’s Office into what grew to be twenty-five break-ins in the tri-state area. The burglary ring would strike the expensive homes between 10 AM and 1 PM, when no one appeared to be at home, to steal jewelry and other property, often hauling away safes that contained them.

Seven burglary suspects were taken into custody as well as a Diamond District Dealer who was acting as ring leader and “fence.” The capture could not have happened without the cooperative effort of the three agencies who trailed the suspects for weeks into nearby New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, using the latest forensic technology to obtain evidence – video from IP security cameras, and information obtained from police license plate readers.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons 4

Posted on November 17, 2014June 1, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

“Lexophile” is a word used to describe those who have a love for words, such as “you can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish”, or “to write with a broken pencil is pointless.” Here are some examples:

When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles U.C.L.A.

The batteries were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

A will is a dead giveaway.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

When you’ve seen one shopping center you’ve seen a mall.

Police were called to a daycare center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

Digital Doorman on Duty

Posted on November 12, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

One of the draws of the luxury apartment buildings on New York’s Park and Fifth Avenues has been the access control provided by uniformed doormen; trusted employees who know every resident by sight and can be counted on to screen all visitors and grant them access only after announcing them and gaining permission over the apartment’s intercom.

The cost for such security: co-op and condo prices that reach into the two-digit millions. But there’s an alternative for those of us who cannot afford to live in such luxury – a digital doorman.

Long Range IR PTZ Cameras – How Long is Long?

Posted on November 4, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

IP surveillance cameras are ubiquitous today. Everyone who sets foot out his door is well aware that somewhere, sometime on his journey he will enter into and out of several cameras’ fields of view.

Since very few everyday security cameras are covert, one has only to look several feet up at buildings, light poles, retail store ceilings to see this is true. There is a reason for this – the sight of a surveillance camera can be beneficial in deterring crime.

But there are also cameras capable of surveying an area, sight unseen, from, literally, miles away. These surveillance cameras fall under the heading, long-range cameras.

Physical Security Systems

Posted on October 31, 2014June 1, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

A physical security system is a collection of equipment and software that provides security and safety. It can use a variety of network-attached devices as well as a number of software products that can be integrated to provide a unified solution.

To be more specific, the integration of the latest video management software (VMS), with door access control software, and emergency paging software along with IP cameras, IP sensors, IP door readers, and IP paging amplifiers can provide a very complete physical security system. These IP based security systems provide similar capability to Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software at much less cost.

Are IP Cameras Better Than Analog CCTV Cameras?

Posted on October 24, 2014June 1, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Comparison of IP Cameras and Analog Cameras

Why should I use an IP camera when the analog cameras are so much cheaper?

That’s a question we get especially from those people who have been using analog CCTV (closed-circuit TV) systems for many years. Actually CCTV has been around for over 45 years. Olean, NY was the first municipality in the US to use cameras on its main street to help reduce crime (according to Wikipedia this was back in 1968).

Not only have the analog CCTV systems been around for a very long time, but they also haven’t really changed from their original capability. Well yes, they have gotten much cheaper, and there are efforts to use higher resolution cameras, but their capability hasn’t changed. The first systems were based on the TV standards established by the National Television System Committee (NTSC). The standard indicated that there should be 525 vertical TV lines, with a frame rate of 30 frames per second. Take a look at our video, How the Video Camera Works.

Wireless IP Security Cameras and Perimeter Protection

Posted on October 22, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

The question is Who needs wireless IP security cameras?

The answer is schools, transport companies, oil companies, entertainment venues, and construction sites.

Wireless IP cameras are the perfect solution to the problem of monitoring areas beyond the scope of traditional network cameras.

They can be mounted close to their intended subject and connect to high performance radios with directional antennas that use their own wireless protocol to stream high bandwidth video to the VMS.

(For a detailed explanation of how wireless IP cameras work, see our earlier post)

Emergency IP Paging Using Panic Buttons

Posted on October 20, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

Emergency paging increases safety because it provides immediate notification of dangerous situations. By adding panic buttons, you can make these emergency pages very quickly.

Push the button and the paging system will let everyone know that the school is in lockdown, or that they should exit the building. These prerecorded announcements can cover many emergency situations.

Of course, you don’t have to use just the panic buttons, a person can still make a manual announcement. Since IP Paging systems connect to your network, they can handle many different emergency situations. They also can be used not only in one building, but in multiple buildings, or even on multiple campuses.

Here’s how to add an emergency IP paging system that includes panic buttons to your organization.

Technical Jokes and Cartoons 3A

Posted on October 15, 2014March 18, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

We included the latest technical topics as well as some classic jokes from Henny Youngman, a comedian who was popular years ago. He was known for his “one-liners”. for example,

I’ve been in love with the same woman for forty-one years. If my wife finds out, she’ll kill me.
Henny Youngman