Web Exclusive Stories

CEDIA Expo 2018 Recap: Mass Market Embraces Technologies – Make Money with Services

helen@bedrocklearning.com (Helen M. Heneveld) — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 10:00:00 -0400

Once again nearly 20,000 professionals zealous about audio, video, smart home technologies, and electronics in general, converged September 6-8, at the San Diego Convention Center for CEDIA Expo 2018 .

Unraveling Video Compression: The Benefits and Drawbacks of H.265

scallyt@bnpmedia.com (Tim A. Scally) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 15:03:00 -0400

As camera technology continues to improve, clogged bandwidth becomes an increasing problem. Video compression formats have come a long way in helping to solve these issues, but is the latest format, H.265, right for you?

Client-Driven Service: How One Company Keeps Its Fingers on the Pulse of Customer Needs

scallyt@bnpmedia.com (Tim A. Scally) — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:28:00 -0400

In a technology-rich environment such as that of the security industry, it is easy to let technology drive company management. Salient System’s president explains how allowing customer needs to drive your company is more effective.

Companies You Should Know: RTTG

Sun, 03 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Real-Time Technology Group (RTTG), Flemington, N.J., delivers secure, fully hosted and managed technology solutions for mission-critical information challenges: personal identity verification, professional certification and credential management, and other custom-developed security solutions.

ADT Creates Halloween Themed Security System Ad

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:00:00 -0400

ADT gets into the holiday season and creates a fun Halloween themed security system ad

The Best Defense Is a Proactive Solution

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:13:00 -0400

There is far more to an effective security solution strategy than installing a few cameras and hoping for the best. When it comes to cameras or security systems, Rhedonda Cox, executive director of S.E.A.L. Security Solutions often comes across two types of people: people who have no idea about cameras and security systems or people who think they know everything. Cox says S.E.A.L. offers both types a real education.

Remote Guarding 101

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0400

A growing video service dealers, integrators and central stations can offer is video guard services, which are designed to deliver the benefits of an on-site guard without requiring customers to incur the expense of an on-site employee.

SDM Dealer of the Year: Past Winners

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:41:00 -0400

Curious about who has won in the past? Over the last 38 years an incredible range of dealers have impressed SDM with their unmistakable success, innovation, use of industry best practices, and notable growth and accomplishments. Each year the winners are truly a snapshot of what is great about the industry.

More Access Coming for Texans in Need of Background Checks

Thu, 21 May 2015 17:08:21 -0400

The Department of Public Safety’s Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) program will soon expand its current network of 93 enrollment facilities to include 55 new locations — specifically in more rural areas — where secure and convenient fingerprint-based background checks will be provided at IdentoGO Centers by MorphoTrust USA (Safran), Billerica, Mass. Texas awarded the contract to MorphoTrust, making it the first state to implement the company’s new, state-of-the-art commercial enrollment platform.

TycoIS Brings Mobile Solution to Toshiba

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:32:21 -0400

With Texas market headquarters in San Antonio, Toshiba Business Solutions (USA) Inc. (TBS) — a subsidiary of Toshiba America Business Solutions — employs approximately 1,100 people and provides application solutions including industrial power systems, transmission and distribution systems, and lighting systems to a wide range of industries. The company was in the process of relocating its Texas market headquarters and had an aggressive timeline for moving into both the new headquarters and a secondary location.

ASIS Foundation Offers Full-Tuition Scholarships

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 12:01:24 -0400

The ASIS Foundation will offer 10 security industry professionals the opportunity to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree from its academic partner, University of Phoenix.

Morpho Maestro Speeds Remote ID in Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 10:05:06 -0400

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office successfully deployed a mobile identification solution that allows officers to capture and search fingerprints against state and national FBI databases from any location. The solution, supplied by the U.S. company MorphoTrak, part of the global Morpho (Safran) group of companies, consists of a Morpho Maestro gateway for system communications and 65 cell phone-size MorphoIDent mobile devices for capturing fingerprints in the field.

Delaware College Boosts Life Safety With Emergency Communication

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 10:50:00 -0500

Delaware Technical and Community College offers educational opportunities for the community, including career/general development, transfer education, workforce training, and lifelong learning. Life safety is a priority for the 147-acre Owens Campus in Georgetown, which spans 10 different buildings and educates over 5,000 students. In order to maintain a high standard of safety, the college decided to install new fire alarm systems with emergency communications (ECS) and mass notification (MNS) capabilities.

Cross-Border Facility Secured by Gallagher

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 07:59:35 -0500

Gallagher — a global leader in integrated access control, perimeter security, and intruder alarms — has been chosen to assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in securing a terminal cross-border facility on the West Coast. This new development will use the FIPS 201-2 compliant Gallagher PIV Solution, implementing integrated access control with video surveillance through one management platform.

Integrated Surveillance Platform Helps Ecuadorian City Share Intelligence Across Agencies, Expedite Investigations and Mitigate Crime

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:22:20 -0500

As the nation’s principle commercial and manufacturing center and home to 3.74 million people, Guayaquil, Ecuador is the capital of the Ecuadorian province of Guayas. Security and safety initiatives are spearheaded by the Guayaquil Corporation for Public Safety (Corporación para la Seguridad Ciudadana de Guayaquil, or CSCG), a non-profit municipal corporation that coordinates public safety efforts throughout the area. Video surveillance plays a key role in helping the city of Guayaquil keep its citizens and tourists safe.

University Captures Wide-Angle View of Key Hot Spots

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0500

To protect its 17,000-student population, the University of Massachusetts Boston department of public safety had invested in a campus-wide surveillance system. However, some areas of the 330,000-square-foot campus center presented physical challenges due to size, location and activity levels. The situation required technology that could more effectively capture a wide-angle view.

Argus Control Relies on ECKey for Highly Effective Inventory Control

Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:08:00 -0500

Argus Control, located in Brasilia, Brazil, was having issues with its inventory. To combat it, they turned to ECKey, Lancaster, Pa.

Qolsys Activates In-Panel Camera with Remote Software Update

Tue, 10 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0400

“Gone are the days of the rubber number pad,” says Qolsys vice president after the company announces an over-the-air software update to activate a built-in panel camera within the company’s seven-inch touchscreen panel.

Frank De Fina Exits Samsung Techwin America

Thu, 29 May 2014 00:00:00 -0400

SDMwishes the very best to Frank De Fina, executive vice president of Samsung Techwin, Ridgefield Park, N.J., who is leaving the company at the end of this week for personal reasons.

The split is “amicable,” according to De Fina, who has more than 30 years industry experience, including a 26-year run at Panasonic, where he eventually became president of Panasonic System Solutions.

Women’s Security Council Announces 2014 Women Of The Year Awards Program

Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -0500

The Women's Security Council, Tampa, Fla., a network of successful security professionals focused on promoting the advancement of women in the industry, has opened nominations for its 2014 Women of the Year awards.

Are Spiders a Nuisance for Your CCTV?

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 10:37:00 -0500

A shout out to Clinton Electronics, headquartered in Loves Park, Ill., for multi-tasking. The company both a) solved a common CCTV nuisance (spiders) and b) made us smile with its video announcing a solution.

Anixter Seeking a Buyer, Bloomberg Reports

Fri, 21 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500

Buzz is escalating that Anixter International Inc., Glenview, Ill., is actively seeking a buyer.

Wireless & the Home Market

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500

Kwikset, Lake Forest, Calif., uses Z-Wave and ZigBee — two protocols that operate in the 2.4 GHz range and feature mesh networking — on wireless products for their Bluetooth-based home security products, says Keith Brandon, Kwikset’s director of sales and marketing for residential access solutions.

Fike Corporation Names New President

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0500

Fike Corporation, Blue Springs, Mo., named a new president effective immediately.

Original Song Showcases Heart of Tuxedo Touch and Security Services

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Honeywell's original song showcases holiday spirit...and the heart of the security industry.

CEDIA Launches New Comprehensive Industry Training Website

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), Indianapolis, launched a new website and online learning portal that will serve as the go-to resource for home technology professionals, with exclusive content for CEDIA members.

Is Security Equipment to Blame? NBC Reporter Exposes School Security Flaws

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -0500

NBC had a brilliant idea to explore the state of school security. It was a simple premise: what happens when we try to walk in to a school?

Linear to Host Z-Wave Alliance Unplug Fest & Developer's Forum

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Linear LLC, Carlsbad, Calif., a provider of residential and commercial access control, security and health and wellness solutions, is hosting the Z-Wave Alliance Unplug Fest & Developers Forum session at its Carlsbad headquarters on November 12-14, 2013.