ip door control Archives

Mobile Credentials the New Key for Door Access Control

Posted on May 13, 2019April 12, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Mobile phones are the new Credential

mobile credential door access illustration

Have we reached the tipping point? Will our smartphones become our new door key? It all depends on the number of smartphones in the population. One survey indicates that 81% of the US population owns a smartphone. As the percentage increases, there will be enough smartphones to enable the use of mobile keys. It is quite likely that this will happen in the near future.

If everyone in your organization, apartment complex or school has a smartphone, you have reached the tipping point. You can use your smartphone as a mobile credential to open your doors.

Many smartphones use biometrics to unlock the phone. This security feature can make them more secure than carrying a card credential. This article describes how mobile credentials work in access control systems.

An IP Prescription for Hospitals

Posted on April 18, 2016August 13, 2024 by Virginia Fair

How IP Camera Systems and IP Access Control Systems Increase Safety in Hospitals

By Virginia Fair

The following appeared on NBCLA.com, the website of the Los Angeles NBC affiliate station.

“A man who allegedly dressed as a nurse to fool security personnel was arrested for stealing medical supplies from a Fountain Valley Hospital, police announced Monday. The suspect is accused of stealing from Fountain Valley Regional Hospital three separate times since May.”

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital is not alone. According to the 2012 Crime and Security Trends Survey, underwritten by the Foundation of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS), the crime rate of hospitals rose by close to 37 percent in just two years, from slightly less than 15,000 in 2010 to over 20,500 in 2012. This increase occurred in all crime categories: larceny, theft, simple assault, vandalism, rape and sexual assault. The highest-ever number of homicides occurred, as well, with 8 reported by responding hospitals.

How Technology Can Help in Active Shooter Situations

Posted on October 19, 2015March 22, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

This article was updated on 2/18/2018

We have seen more and more incidences on school campuses that involve active shooters. In the wake of this violence many colleges, universities, and elementary schools are searching for ways to respond to this threat.

There has been a lot of discussion about how to react. With the latest tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the discussion continues. Emma Gonzalez, a senior at the high school, provided excellent perspective on the situation when she said, “Since the time of the Founding Fathers and since they added the Second Amendment to the Constitution, our guns have developed at a rate that leaves me dizzy. The guns have changed, but our laws have not”.

Of course, the best way to prevent these tragedies is to prevent the gunman from getting the guns. Unfortunately, it is not easy to do. The only thing we can offer is advice on how technology can help.

How the Computer Works in IP Cameras

Posted on July 20, 2015March 23, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Computers are all around us. These sneaky little critters are not only on our desks, they are in our phones, cash registers, refrigerators, stoves. They are also in IP cameras, door access control readers, and network attached paging amplifiers. The world is certainly getting smarter, but have you ever thought about how these computers actually work? Probably not. And, you’re probably saying, ‘Why do I need to know any of this?

Bloomberg Business Week recently published a complete issue dedicated to “Coding”. Why go to the bother? Well the Business Week article says that learning about technology, is good, it’s important, and sometimes essential for helping you keep your job.

Here’s some basic information that could help you stay current. It will help take the magic out of the computer technology we use every day.

Integration of Audio and Video in IP Camera Systems

Posted on June 2, 2015March 23, 2020 by Bob Mesnik

Back in 1927 audiences were amazed by the latest motion picture technology. The “Jazz Singer” was the first full-length motion picture to incorporate synchronized dialogue. The new “talkies” had come of age. Today we are seeing the introduction of audio into our video security systems. The confluence of IP cameras, IP intercoms, and IP paging systems are enabling more versatile security and control systems.

IP camera systems have been around since 1996. They changed the way CCTV surveillance cameras transported and recorded the video. IP cameras have included two-way audio for many years, but this capability was not used effectively. Adding audio was not as easy as it appeared. There were many problems to be solved, including audio feedback, background noise, and microphone sensitivity. The addition of special audio filters and feedback control made this technology more viable. Today we see new opportunities created by adding intercoms to IP camera systems. Intercoms can also be integrated with IP door access control readers, providing a complete door control system.