Security products showcase

Several innovative security ideas were unveiled in May at the IFSEC 2003 event held at the Birmingham NEC.

IFSEC is one of the main international security events of the year and the showcase for innovative security technology revealed a number of new ideas.

With retailers in mind, Visimetrics (UK) demonstrated its Octar digital video recorder with text-searchable Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) integration. Data from up to 16 tills or POS systems can be recorded in parallel with CCTV cameras. The text outputs from the tills are interfaced to the digital CCTV network and streamed over to the Octar EPOS system, where they're stored synchronously with the video (and optional audio) data. Sanyo also exhibited a retail-oriented security solution involving Checkpoint electronic article surveillance exit pedestals, in which alarm information is embedded into a linked-in multi-channel digital video recorder.

Control room furniture specialist Winsted had a new range of space-saving modular consoles on display, designed for use with LCD (flat screen) monitors. The firm has also produced a free CD containing information about the specification and installation of control room units such as monitors and tape storage systems. It includes advice for end users on the ISO 11064 standard for ergonomic design of control rooms.

Extreme CCTV unveiled its ZX55 integrated day & night camera, a solution for 24-hour surveillance coverage it claimed, requiring 50 Watts to power its LED illumination. The unit switches between two LXR cameras automatically, to deliver colour pictures during the day and mono images at night. The result, according to technical manager Mark Vernon, is an effective camera surveillance reach of 60 metres in complete darkness.

Asset Security, the recently formed UK and Ireland manufacturer's agent for Samsung Electronics, demonstrated its VPP observation system, designed to enable retailers, hotels, schools and other small to medium system users to link up their existing cameras to it, as well as add extra new ones. Re-using all their existing cameras in this way is claimed to allow users to expand their security at a reduced cost, whilst saving on the associated expense of pulling out and running new cabling.

The benefits of an access control system are apparent in a standard Euro-profile cylinder launched by Winkhaus. The company's Blue Chip system, which can operate stand-alone and does not require an external power supply, is said to offer all the essential features of an access control system. These include the ability to issue keys to temporary visitors such as contractors, which can be deleted rapidly if not returned on time.

Feature article by Ian Drury