Derek Rice

Closing the Gap

IP low-light cameras get better and better every day — ever closer to analog cameras in terms of low-light performance.

March 21, 2012

Low-light performance (or lack thereof) has long been the knock against high definition (HD) and megapixel cameras. And for good reason because this is also one of the few areas where these cameras have been outperformed by their good, old-fashioned analog cousins.

Storage Trends in 2012

As customers drive the move to HD and megapixel surveillance video, that shapes the types of storage options as well — up to and including cloud storage.

Derek Rice

December 14, 2011

Any discussion of advances in security video technologies has to start with resolution. It also has to end with resolution. When you think about it, each new wave of higher-capacity hard drives, video compression algorithms and other technologies are introduced specifically to deal with the challenges presented by HD and megapixel video.

A number of perceptions about PTZs exist within the marketplace. Many of these were valid at one point, and some do continue to be true today. However, there are several misperceptions that should be addressed.

Adjusting PTZ Perceptions

Derek Rice

November 1, 2011

As the industry continues to shift from standard definition to HD and megapixel video, “digital zoom” has become a major selling point. With a high-definition camera, you can continue to record an entire scene while zooming in digitally to examine a specific object or area more closely. With that in mind, there may be some in the industry who are wondering whether there’s still a place for pan tilt zoom (PTZ) cameras in security installations. Based on research and conversations with several dealers and integrators, that seems to be true, and there are a lot of reasons for that beyond digital zoom.

Tackling the Complexity of Wireless Video

Derek Rice

October 12, 2011

Developing a revenue stream from designing and installing wireless video networks takes experience over time. Counted in that experience: attention to such things as grounding, weatherproofing, channel management, antenna placement and alignment. Here’s how.

The Many Uses for LPR Technologies

License plate capture and recognition involves several different technologies that combine to create a solution for a specific application — and those applications go well beyond tolls and traffic.

Derek Rice

September 14, 2011

Given the prevalence of traffic cameras and toll plaza cameras, license plate recognition (LPR) may seem pretty straightforward: take a picture of a car, analyze it with software to determine the plate number, then compare that number against a database or store it for later forensic use. However, as is the case with any technology, the devil’s in the details. And in the LPR world, if any one of those details isn’t just right, the results can be downright useless.

Powered Up

At the foundation of a well-functioning video surveillance system are the cable, power supplies and media converters.

Derek Rice

August 15, 2011

When talking about video systems, any discussion of cabling is undoubtedly intertwined with a discussion about power and power supplies. This is especially true when the conversation steers towards running power and video signals over the same wire, whether using power over Ethernet (PoE) or another type of cable.

Office & Central Station Software Update

Back-office software can be a dealer’s best friend or their biggest nightmare. Keeping up with its evolution can help ensure the former.

Derek Rice

August 15, 2011

Software isn’t the most interesting or gripping thing to talk about. Especially back office software. But in the end, it’s something that’s absolutely necessary. Some would say that a good back office software solution is the backbone of your organization. If it’s not strong, your business won’t be either.

Sizing It Up

While the move to HD is good from a video quality standpoint, it poses a number of challenges when it comes to recording and storage. Here’s why.

Derek Rice

July 18, 2011

In the world of video recording, products and technologies march forward at an ever-dizzying pace. Many of these changes are being driven by a move to high-definition and megapixel cameras, which in turn is being driven by consumers’ expectation of high-quality video.

A great image has great value in a security application. Learn how to select a security monitor that gives your customer the best possible image — without overkill.

Worth 1,000 Words

Derek Rice

June 22, 2011

As in the consumer market, prices for flat-screen monitors for security applications continue to fall dramatically. If CRT monitors haven’t disappeared completely, then that day will come soon. Propose using CRT monitors in an application and see how long it takes your customer to burst out laughing. People just expect flat screens. That CRTs also take up more space and are less energy-efficient only serve to underscore their coming demise. In the world of flat-screen monitors, LCD monitors appear to have taken the lead over other technologies. Advances in the technology have resulted in monitors that offer improved image quality, truer color reproduction, increased clarity and better contrast — all factors that are crucial in security applications where life-or-death isn’t just a saying.