IP Camera Systems and Surveillance Blog

IP Camera Systems and the Police – Partners in Crime

Posted on August 7, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

Telephone system, highway system, transit system, heating system, cooling system. We talk about systems all the time, but just what is a system? Merriam-Webster.com defines a system as a group of devices or artificial objects, or an organization, forming a network especially for distributing something or serving a common purpose.

This holds true for IP camera systems too. Their common purpose is to provide situational awareness. But this is possible only if the cameras are working together, and optimally placed.

IP Camera Systems Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth

Posted on August 7, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

It’s been nearly two years since militants, armed with grenades and anti-aircraft weapons, stormed the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, killing the US ambassador to Libya and three others. However, the man suspected of orchestrating the attack was finally captured in Benghazi in mid-June. Last week, Ahmed Abu Khattala appeared in federal court in Washington DC court to face formal charges of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, resulting in a death. It’s not going to be an easy trial, but fortunately, the country has the benefit of IP camera systems fighting the good fight.

A Report from the Field

Posted on August 7, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

Syracuse PD – Home Grown Cameras

You’ve heard of baby booms, well the Syracuse NY police department is in the midst of a camera boom. They began installing surveillance IP camera systems in 2011 and the total number has grown to over 40, and counting. If all goes as planned, Syracuse will add 20 more by summer’s end.

Three Pointers to Help Get the Most Out of Your IP Camera Surveillance System

Posted on August 6, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

IP surveillance camera systems are here to stay. You know it. We know it. Criminals know it. The Police know it. As we mentioned in our last post, the surveillance video can be supremely valuable to the police— or it can be totally worthless. To summon more of the former, and less of the latter, police department after police department has taken to giving advice and offering assistance to citizens wishing to install cameras. They all cite the same three factors that can make or break a video’s forensic value.

line of sight
lighting
maintenance

Evolution of Access Control: From the Keys in Your Pocket to The Eyes on Your Face

Posted on July 30, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

Remember when access control was limited to fitting a key into a lock and turning? You know the drill. You probably used one to lock your door this morning, and you’ll use it again when you go home this evening. Turn it one way you retract the deadbolt that holds the door closed and gains access. Turn it the other way, you fit it back into place, denying access to anyone without a key. Unfortunately, the lock and key system is an ancient innovation that is not up to the challenge of many of today’s security needs; this is where we need to upgrade to IP camera systems, electronic access cards, biometrics, and other modern technology.

An LA Experiment in Surveillance

Posted on July 23, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

How do Wide Area Surveillance systems measure up to IP camera surveillance systems?

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department wanted to determine if Wide Area Surveillance would work for them. According to the Center For Investigative Reporting, they chose Compton, an area long plagued by crime as their “lab”.

Expanded Replay Review? An IP Thing?

Posted on July 21, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

Are IP Cameras part of Major League Baseball’s expanded replay review? It seems like I was just counting the days until Pitchers and Catchers would be reporting to spring training. It would be a promise that the end of the horrendous winter of 2014, and its polar vortex would be coming to an end. Now, all of a sudden, we’re halfway through the 2014 baseball season!

Now for the Jokes 1

Posted on July 15, 2014March 24, 2021 by Bob Mesnik

Proverbs for Today

If at first you don’t succeed
skydiving is not for you.

Artificial intelligence is no match
for natural stupidity.

Customer: “I received the software update you sent, but I am still getting the same error message.”
Tech Support: “Did you install the update?”
Customer: “No. Oh, am I supposed to install it to get it to work?”

IP Cameras and Smartphones Provide Remote Door Access Control

Posted on July 14, 2014June 1, 2020 by Virginia Fair

Network-attached IP cameras and intercoms combine with your smartphone to create the latest technology for door access control.
By: Virginia Fair

BYOD and Convergence are two of the buzziest words around. BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device and refers to the policy many schools and businesses have adopted of allowing workers and students to work on their own laptops, smartphones, or tablets.

Convergence is defined as the merging of two or more existing technologies to produce a new application or media. For example, the collaboration of broadcast media and online services has brought the internet to TV and TV to the internet. What has made convergence a priority for so many sectors are those BYOD devices.

Understanding IP Camera Resolution Specifications

Posted on July 14, 2014June 1, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Resolution is a critical metric for selecting the right IP camera for your surveillance system. After all, if we want to be able to read the license plate on a car in the parking lot, we need to have enough resolution. But how is resolution measured? Can we rely on the manufacturer’s specification and what other factors affect the image that you finally see?

In the old days of B/W analog cameras, we used a test chart to determine the resolution of the camera. Today’s megapixel color IP cameras require more complex measurement techniques. This article will help you understand the resolution specification so you can select the best camera for your application.