Articles by Derek Rice

The primary thing for security integrators to know about today’s video management systems (VMS) can be summed up in just a few words: these solutions are no longer commodities, but have evolved into fully functional business and security management hubs.

As integrated systems become more common in security, one of the more recent buzzwords gaining traction in the industry is “unified systems.” There is a general understanding that this has something to do with systems that work together well, but first things first: What, exactly, is a unified system?

The strengths of thermal cameras for use in video surveillance have been well-documented, most notably their reliance on heat signatures alone to “see.”

The demand for video surveillance, combined with continued advancements in technology and resolution, is driving most of the demand for video storage solutions.

The last few years have brought significant advances in 180- and 360-degree panoramic camera technology, along with increasingly affordable price points.

Video management systems (VMS) have been evolving for several years, starting out as proprietary, closed solutions offered by manufacturers that would work only with their cameras and/or recorders.

When it comes to new advances in video analytics, it’s not so much a question of what but more a question of how — as in how the technologies changed and how they’re being used for innovative applications.

The concept of the cloud has been around for about half a century.

Rapid change has been a constant within the industry for the past few years, and change remains a main part of “business as usual” for security professionals and end users alike.

As the old adage says, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and there may be few areas where this is more applicable than in video surveillance.