Easy does it!

Spending four days trekking around the world’s most successful security show is not only taxing on the feet but also on the brain … Unless you take good notes and collect up all the catalogues it’s difficult to remember the differences between one DVR and the next when you get back to base.

Certainly, this year’s IFSEC presented a veritable feast of digital recording options to suite every application and every installer’s pocket.

“So many DVRs this year” was a comment I heard more than once. The same could have been said for cameras.

However, unless you were one of those boys who didn’t dream of being let loose in a toy shop, the choices were limitless … everything from web cams costing peanuts to thermal imaging cameras costing thousands.

And while last year’s IFSEC seemed to be brimming with innovative technology, this year’s exhibitors seemed to be sending out two overriding messages … “Integrate everything” and “Keep it simple”.

Certainly the award winning ideas from last year … panoramic CCTV images, hand held monitoring systems, IP transmission … were built upon (an official launch for Vista’s eclipse, the revolutionary 360 deg camera that you read about first in Security Installer, folks!)

While this year’s innovations were noteworthy in themselves (see opposite), IFSEC 2005 seemed to me to be more concerned with getting across some important industry messages.

Intruder alarms re-think

As if to emphasise the drastic changes that need to be made in intruder alarms, the Best of the Best winner in the IFSEC Innovation Awards was the appropriately titled “Easy Series” of alarm panels from Bosch.

Having sat on the judging panel for these awards I can verify that the product was chosen entirely on its own merits as a new and refreshingly simple concept.

However the very next day, the BSIA launched a major new strategy on the future of intruder alarms (see page 15) and one of the overriding messages was that systems were just too complicated for users – why else would there be so many false alarms caused by user error?

You would assume that making a product as easy to install and use as possible would be the aim of every manufacturer. But thinking back on some of the over-specified intruder products we’ve seen over the years at Security Installer, I’m not sure that’s been the case.

With this new strategy in place I’m sure we will see more simple, user-friendly intruder alarm kits like the Easy Series being launched, and that’s got be a good thing for the intruder sector and for installers.

Euro compliant kit

Having predicted in the show programme that a whole “raft” of Euro-compliant kit would be launched, I was surprised to see that the raft was more of a dinghy!

Yes, major intruder system manufacturers had labelled their kit Euro-compliant-to-grade-whatever but some were noticeable by their absence.

In a climate where installers are looking to manufacturers for guidance, it is confusing when some launch Euro-compliant kit and others hold back until certain issues have been resolved. Only time will tell which is the best policy?

However installers looking to see what kit covered what grade were not disappointed. Some manufacturers, particularly Pyronix, Honeywell and Texecom, were very upfront with their Euro-compliant status, giving installers a good idea of what they have to install at what EN grade.

Simplicity is the message

The theme of “keeping it simple” was also reflected in new kit from CCTV manufacturer Baxall and access control manufacturer, TDSI.

The Baxall Vivid DVR is “extremely” easy to install with an automatic 31 day recording set-up … just plug it in and leave it to operate.

TDSI, a company usually associated with high spec products, identified a need for entry-level access control which was easy to install and operate. They came up with MicroGarde a 1-2 door system for customers who thought access control was too complicated.

Integration is the key

The growing importance of integration was apparent from all manufacturers. There is a general feeling that stand-alone systems cannot achieve the full potential of a security system and that security should be looked at holistically.

Integration of intruder alarms, access control and CCTV was a recurring message from many exhibitors.

From an installer’s point of view, integration – whether it be true integration of systems or simply the installer being responsible for all security at a particular site – can bring big financial advantages. Few installation companies these days can afford to say “We don’t do access … we don’t do perimeter …” and, increasingly, “We don’t do fire…”

An existing contract is an open door to more business. Customers want a single point of contract for all their security needs and developing existing contracts is the surest way to easy profits for installers.

Wise distributors have recognised this (Norbain now distributes intruder alarms) and at the show I saw a number of manufacturers had added new sectors to their product offering … just as installers want to offer a single stop shop to their clients, manufacturers are recognising the benefits from offering a widened range to their installer customers.

So get connected …

The term integration is taken to extremes with DM’s NetVu Connected.

I had an interesting meeting with Mike Newton, founder of Dedicated Micros, and CEO of the AD group … now twice voted entrepreneur of the year (see news page 7).

He explained that this software is now at the heart of all DM products including the new DS2 DVR, leading to reduced installation and commissioning time for installers. It guarantees that products are compatible right across the AD group … from ATM machines to aerospace … fire systems to traffic control.

As AD has had phenomenal success in recent years, industry observers will find the company eminently watchable for indications of where security is going.

An IT industry?

This linked-up world is, of course, all down to IP technology – a subject that brings either fear and loathing or excitement and anticipation of big profits to installers. It would be interesting to have picked a bunch of installers from ten years ago and transported them to this year’s IFSEC. They would have been bowled over by the way the industry has IT’d itself in a short space of time.

The exhibition was bursting with IP networking concepts from both new entrants into the security arena and established manufacturers (mostly CCTV, but I did see an interesting audio/video entry system via IP from BC Technology).

Along the lines of installer take-up of IP, I had a meeting with Ray Mauritsson, CEO of Axis Communications, who said that UK installers were very positive towards IP and in any competition with IT integrators they needed to capitalise on their strengths in areas such as risk assessment, site surveys and specification of equipment. However, he recommended partnering up with integrators was the way forward for traditional installers. He also predicted that network cameras would represent half the total camera volume within two years. More of that interesting interview in our next edition ...

Awards for innovation

While my admiration went out to those young installers working against the clock to put in systems as part of the Apprentice Skills Challenge, trekking around the exhibition for four days is also thirsty work … which is why the Security Installer editorial team were grateful to Panasonic, Norbain, Pelco and Honeywell, for inviting us to let our hair down at their evening events. However, the evening event which is a pivotal part of the security year is the IFSEC Security Industry Innovation Awards, which gives exhibitors a chance to relax together after the first day of the show while honouring the most notable new products.

From a shortlist of 27 finalists, six products were named as winners. They were

Access Management Systems: Cyberlock and Cyberkey

This is a family of lock cylinders that displace existing mechanical cylinders to give real time access management control without the need for wiring or a permanent power supply. The power to update the chip in each cylinder comes from the battery in the Cyberkey which also contains the access rights for the keyholder. An audit record is also maintained.

Honeywell: Lobbyworks

The Lobbyworks Suite is said to provide an innovative, technology-based solution to visitor management that outperforms paper-based solutions and is easy to use. The system can be used on the company’s intranet and visitors can register themselves via touchscreens or via their own business cards in a freestanding kiosk where passes can be printed. It can identify, screen and track all visitors and identify unwanted or banned visitors.

ASSA: Evolution Electromechanical locks

For the first time, a lockcase range gives electromechanical or mechanical control from either side of the door. Because of this, accessories are interchangeable and because there is a need for only one door preparation, it can take advantage of hindsight. Evolution is the first lockcase range that incorporates a hook bolt as standard throughout, increasing a door’s resistance to attack.

Vista: eclipse

Described as a breakthrough in 360deg camera technology (and Best Tested by us in May), the Vista eclipse captures a single fisheye image that generates two completely independent analogue outputs which can display any combination of image view. It delivers continuous panoramic vision and offers installation and maintenance savings by employing multiple “virtual cameras” to replace several conventional cameras. Completely “stand-alone”, it has intelligent video processing embedded in.

IP Control Systems: Ingenium IP lock controller

The Ingenium is described as the “world’s first native IP access control solution to harness the Power over Ethernet standard IEEE802.3af”. Requiring no local power, it actuates a range of electrical locking mechanisms using Power over Ethernet (800mA max). It is designed to be compatible with customers’ existing networks and integrates to IP CCTV and IP telephony networks.

And the Best of the Best …

Bosch: Easy Series

This intruder alarm control panel for residential and small business applications offers such simple installation and set up that reading manuals is not required. The small text-free panel has colour coded terminal strips with additional visualisation of each connection by easily understandable symbols. Installers can define up to eight points and connect up to four external signalling devices, an internal PSU, a tamper switch and up to four control centres. A plug in voice manual is available in 20+ languages.

New awards

The event, sponsored by Baxall, also saw the presentation of awards in new project and export categories.

The Most Innovative UK Security Project or Installation was won by Concept Smoke Screen for its installations using billowing smoke and piercing white noise at more than 200 Boots edge-of-town stores.

The Most Innovative International Security Project or Installation went to Dedicated Micros for the TransVu digital surveillance system on Dutch trains.

New Exporter of the Year went to WebWayOne and Exporter of the Year went to Integrated Design.

Gimmee gimmee gimmicks

The gimmicks and silly gifts were not quite as apparent as in recent years … according to one exhibitor, that reflected the increasing professionalism and “seriousness” of the industry.

Instead of the usual squeezy sperms and yo-yo’s, I came back with some very useful USB sticks and a cerebrally challenging Rubik’s Cube.

Despite this alleged seriousness, Neurodynamics seemed to be attracting capacity crowds, perhaps more interested in watching the pole dancers than checking out the security equipment!

We, of course, brought back details of hundreds of new products and we will be featuring them – and Bench Testing some – in future edition of Security Installer. Many of the new DVRs are included in our feature on page 51.

All in all, another memorable show for installers ... whether you know what you want to see or are just window shopping, it’s the best security “toy shop” in the world.