Author: dtaitano
GA Department Of Natural Resources Invests In Cameras
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials say body-mounted cameras for police officers in its law enforcement branch were a good investment. Officers like wearing the devices, called Vidmics, because they assure police an accurate depiction of interactions with citizens, Major Stephen Adams told the Gainesville Times. “It provides a good tool to reduce complaints from the public, to protect the officer and to protect the public,” Adams said. “There’s no recounting what happened — you watch the complaint.” The devices can guard the public from abusive police practices while protecting officers from false accusations, said staff attorney for the Georgia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, Chad Brock. The ACLU supports the use of the devices with proper safeguards, he said. “There shouldn’t be a policy where the officer can selectively turn off the recording. We would want to get a full picture, in guarding against abusive processes,” Brock said. The department has about 150 Vidmics and officers aren’t required to tell citizens they’re talking to that they’re being recorded, Adams said. In accordance with state guidelines, he added that the Department of Natural Resources keeps the footage on file for five years. The ACLU would like to see the data storage policies tweaked, Brock said. “We would want to see data retention policies that require police to destroy any of the video surveillance within a reasonable time for a routine encounter — three days to two weeks — unless there was a reason for […]
Source www.timesfreepress.com
Forensics Expert Says ?Original Files? Are Missing From Security Cameras At Dead Georgia Teen?s School
By Arturo Garcia Friday, November 22, 2013 17:40 EST Forensic expert tells CNN there’s missing footage from dead Georgia teen’s gym [CNN] At least an hour of footage is missing from each of the four surveillance cameras at Kendrick Johnson’s high school, and the original footage showing how the Georgia teenager died might be gone, CNN reported on Thursday. “Those files are not original files,” forensics video analyst Grant Fredericks told CNN. “They’re not something investigators should rely on for the truth of the video.” CNN enlisted Fredericks in order to analyze more than 290 hours of video it acquired from Lowndes County High School, where the 17-year-old was found dead in the gym in January. Local officials initially determined that he died from asphyxiation after getting trapped inside a gym mat, an argument his family has rejected. An independent autopsy ordered by the victim’s family found the cause of death to be “unexplained, apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma.” But while the Lowndes Public Schools district told CNN the video it provided was “a raw feed with no edits,” Fredericks disagreed, saying it was “altered in a number of ways, primarily in image quality and likely in dropped information, information loss. There are also a number of files that are corrupted because they’ve not been processed correctly and they’re not playable. I can’t say why they were done that way, but they were not done correctly, and they were not done thoroughly. So we’re missing information.” Specifically, two of […]
Source www.rawstory.com
Canadian Border ?Most Likely Entry Point? For Terrorists, U.S. Congress Hears
U.S. Border Patrol agents talk while at a marina on the Niagara River at the U.S.-Canada border on June 3, 2013 in Beaver Island State Park, New York. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which includes the Border Patrol, monitors the 5,525 mile long border, including Alaska, forming the longest international border between two countries in the world. OTTAWA — Canada represents the greatest threat from terrorists trying to enter the United States, a top U.S. border agent told congressional lawmakers this week. “As far as I am aware, all recent threat assessments have pointed to the northern border as the most likely point of entry into our country for terrorists,” Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, told a House of Representatives’ subcommittee on national security. Judd, who represents more than 17,000 unionized Border Patrol agents, offered no specifics in his prepared statement to the committee, hearing testimony about reforming the agents’ pay system. Still, he warned the panel that U.S. officials must not become complacent about the dangers that lurk along the border with Canada and “the ongoing threat … to the safety of the American public.” “In the early to mid-1990s, San Diego and El Paso were ground zero for both illegal immigration and drug smuggling,” he said. “In response, the border patrol threw all of its resources at those two areas without also strengthening the other areas of the border.” The thinking was that Arizona’s inhospitable climate and terrain would help deter other illegal […]
Source www.vancouversun.com
ONVIF Plugfests Continue To Build Momentum
23-11-2013 ONVIF recently conducted its 9th Developers’ Plugfest in late September, the second largest such event, this plugfest drew more than 60 individuals representing 29 ONVIF member companies that have implemented the ONVIF specification in their IP-based physical security products. Held in San Diego, California, USA, the three-day event featured more than 3000 hours of product testing and assessment of ONVIF Profiles S for video and audio streaming, Profile G for recording and playback, as well as for devices using a combination of the two Profiles. “With Profile G nearing its final release, interest is ramping up among developers who brought several Profile G-related test devices to the plugfest,” said Canon’s Takahiro Iwasaki, Chairman of the Taskforce – Developers’ Plugfest, part of ONVIF’s Technical Services Committee. “ONVIF’s Developers’ Plugfests continue to serve as a great opportunity for companies to bring their products for testing in a trusted, supportive environment.” Following on a process begun at a plugfest in Italy last March, participants conducted User Scenario Testing, which allowed a client — connected with multiple devices such as a video management system, NVR and/or IP camera — to verify its ONVIF interoperability based on end-user scenarios. The next ONVIF Developers’ Plugfest is scheduled to take place in Japan in February. As of October 2013, ONVIF membership had grown to more than 470 companies with nearly 2,100 Profile S conformant products available to the market. Print | Email | SecurityWorldHotel.com Download the SecurityWorldHotel Year Book
Source www.securityworldhotel.com
Fernandina Beach Police Department Implements License Plate Recognition System
Longwood, FL (PRWEB) November 24, 2013 The Fernandina Beach Police Department has implemented a four-camera mobile automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) system from NDI Recognition Systems (NDI-RS). Installed on one of the department’s patrol vehicles, the ALPR system will scan license plates and check the plates against “hot lists” of vehicles that are of interest to law enforcement officers, including Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts, suspended licenses, and other types of alerts. In addition to alerting officers in the patrol unit when the cameras spot a wanted vehicle, the NDI-RS solution captures plate reads, along with location data and color pictures of each vehicle, and that information is fully searchable using NDI-RS’s Vehicle Intelligence Server and Communications Engine (VISCE) back office software. “In addition to the assistance that NDI-RS’s solutions provide for traffic enforcement, the Fernandina Beach Police Department will be able to analyze the information captured by the ALPR solution to assist with ongoing criminal investigations,” said Christopher McKissick, Director of Sales for NDI Recognition Systems. “NDI-RS’s ALPR solutions are a strategic tool to help law enforcement protect citizens, and can help identify criminal activity as it occurs, as well as providing crucial intelligence to solve cases.” About NDI Recognition Systems: NDI Recognition Systems (NDI-RS) is a global provider of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) solutions for law enforcement, homeland security, and critical infrastructure security, as well as other market sectors. With an installed base in over 40 countries, NDI-RS designs and manufactures turn-key, end-to-end LPR solutions including mobile, […]
Source www.prweb.com
Memoori Forecasts M&A Activity Between Now And 2017
http://www.asmag.com/project/BuyersGuide-ControlPanel/index.htm Print
IQinVision Releases Next Generation IQeye Alliance-Mini HD Dome
IQinVision Alliance-mini HD dome camera IQinVision’s latest Alliance-mini HD Megapixel series of dome cameras are available in H.264 vandal dome models with support for HD720p, HD1080p, and 3 MPixel resolutions, with a 5 MPixel size coming Q1 2014. The cameras feature micro SDHC on-camera storage, two-way audio with built-in microphone, true day/night with movable infrared cut filter, a 3-axis gimbal, and Power over Ethernet interface. In addition, the camera features a 1/3″ CMOS image sensor , Lightgrabber II Low-light Feature, and reaches a maximum frame rate of 30 fps. These cameras are suitable for use in multiple IP video surveillance applications. To Learn More: Contact: IQinVision Headquarters : San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA Product: Alliance-mini HD dome cameras Key Features: 1/3” CMOS image sensor, Lightgrabber II Low-light Feature, 30 fps frame rate, micro SDHC on-camera storage, two-way audio with built-in microphone. What IQinVision says: View more information the Alliance-mini cameras . View More Products | Locate a vendor or system integrator | Receive e-mail updates Share new products that you think are particularly interesting or helpful by contacting James Carroll , Senior Web Editor, Vision Systems Design. Join our LinkedIn group | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Connect on Google +
Source www.vision-systems.com
CaughtOnCamera: ATM Theft
Security camera video captured the theft as the suspects are seen attaching a chain to an ATM inside the store and pulling it out with the van. Along with the video from the ATM theft, police also released photos of a white Dodge Charger that is believed to have been involved in the theft of the van. BOSSIER CITY, LA – The Bossier City Police Department and Bossier Crime Stoppers are asking the public for help with catching the suspects responsible for using a stolen van to steal an automated teller machine from a local store overnight. The incident occurred just before 2 a.m. todayThursday at the Dixie Mart gas station in the 3700 block of Industrial Drive. Security camera video captured the theft as the suspects are seen attaching a chain to an ATM inside the store and pulling it out with the van. The suspects then loaded the ATM into the van and drove off. The van was recovered Thursday morning at a local apartment complex with the ATM inside but the money had been removed. Police say the van had been stolen overnight from a local business before it was used in the theft. The owners located the van by use of a tracking system upon noticing it missing. Along with the video from the ATM theft, police also released photos of a vehicle that is believed to have been involved in the theft of the van. It’s a white Dodger Charger. All of its wheels […]
Source www.ksla.com
Fujitsu And PulseWallet Team Up For Biometric Payments
pulsewallet November 20, 2013 – Fujitsu Frontech North America and PulseWallet have announced a new relationship utilizing Fujitsu’s PalmSecure biometric technology for biometric payments. According to the companies, PulseWallet is paperless, storing transactions, transaction history, membership cards as well as promotions in a virtual customer profile. Now, under this new partnership, PulseWallet terminals aim to replace consumer credit and debit cards with palm-scanning technology. “From the very beginning, we were looking for an extremely secure and highly accurate form of strong biometric authentication technology to integrate with our solution. Customer registration has to work smoothly for all consumers and verification at POS must occur quickly,” Aimann Rasheed, co-founder and CEO of PulseWallet said. “We evaluated other forms of biometric authentication and we were most impressed with Fujitsu’s PalmSecure technology because of its speed, accuracy and flexibility.” PalmSecure sensors use near-infrared light to capture a user’s palm vein pattern without the need for contact with the sensor. “We are very proud to be partnering with PulseWallet and that they have chosen PalmSecure technology as a value-added benefit to their solution,” Randy Fox, senior director, currency handling and identification product solutions at Fujitsu Frontech North America said. “We are also extremely supportive of their green initiative. Fujitsu has been an eco-friendly company for over 30-years, with a true commitment to developing and delivering solutions that limit impact on the environment.” Payment systems are widely regarded to be the next big wave of biometric integrations, and many biometric wallet applications and solutions are […]
Source www.biometricupdate.com
VIVOTEK Launches Miniature H.264 1-CH Video Server
VIVOTEK announced the launch of its miniature H.264 1-CH video server VS8100. With its compact size and power sharing feature, VS8100 is an ideal option for front-end installations and discreet surveillance applications, such as homes, offices, retail stores, banks, and city surveillance, allowing for easy migration from an analog to digital surveillance system. With the evolution of network technology and a substantial increase in demand for high resolution image quality, IP cameras are the driving force behind transformation in the security market. While the IP camera market is continuing to expand, the transition from analog takes time when considering the existence of currently-installed legacy systems. VIVOTEK’s video servers act as a reliable and user-friendly facilitator for the transition from CCTV to IP-Based Surveillance. Through VIVOTEK’s video servers, data received from analog camera can be encoded by VIVOTEK’s self developed advanced codec system and broadcast via an IP network for monitoring and recording. VIVOTEK VS8100’s compact size, no larger than that of a human finger, means that minimal footprint is required to deploy the technology in a variety of applications. The power sharing feature also makes installation easy by allowing the unit to share power with an existing 12V DC power supply from an analog camera. The high-performance H.264 compression format is able to reduce video file sizes, enabling bandwidth efficiency maximization and storage capacity optimization. In addition, by supporting multiple simultaneous streams, the video streams can be transmitted in either H.264 or MJPEG formats for versatile applications. Together with […]
Source www.asmag.com
CaughtOnCamera: Surveillance Video Shows Russia Plane Crash
Unable to play video. You may need to download or upgrade Adobe Flash Player. Terms of Use Privacy Policy A video taken by a Kazan airport security camera appears to show the moment that a plane crashed on Sunday killing all 50 people on board. (Nov. 18) Source: AP
Source studio.ndnmediaservices.com
US Researchers Working On Biometric System To Completely Replace Passwords
by CBR Staff Writer | 14 November 2013 Researchers claim the use of biometric technology to eliminate the requirement of passwords would is a likely next step. Researchers at Purdue University are developing new biometrics technology, which would allow users to log into computers using iris and fingerprint scans rather than typing passwords. Being developed at the university’s International Center for Biometrics Research, the technology will enable logging into a computer or activate a smartphone by swiping their fingerprint over a sensor which will not require frequently changing passwords. International Center for Biometrics Research director Stephen Elliott was cited by Associated Press as saying that iris and fingerprint scans, as well as facial and voice recognition, are just a few of the tools that can boost security while making lives easier. “I think the average person would tell you they have too many passwords and it’s a hassle to change them all the time, and therefore they use the same password for lots of things, which inherently makes that easier to break,” Elliott added. According to researchers, soldiers in Iraq carry handheld devices that enable scanning fingerprints, retinas and faces and evaluate them with identities in the database Researchers noted that the use of biometric technology to eliminate the requirement of passwords would be a natural next step.
Source www.cbronline.com
Prison Beatings Lawsuit Will Move Forward
Banner Written by Blake Hodge Friday, 15 November 2013 13:10 RALEIGH –A federal judge wants to hear more about allegations inmates were severely beaten by guards at North Carolina’s Central Prison. Eight inmates filed suit alleging guards at the prison would take the handcuffed prisoners out of sight of security cameras and beat them. Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle ordered that the case will go forward, after the state had asked the case be dismissed. Lawyers for North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services will now have access to state records and be allowed to conduct interviews with prison staff in preparation for the upcoming trial. One lawyer, Elizabeth Simpson, says, “What he said, is that we have presented enough that we should be able to get discovery and we should be able to have a chance to prove our case. What the state wanted to do was to shut it down. And Judge Boyle said no, let’s go forward, let’s find out what happened.” The lawsuit alleges officers beat inmates,resulting in inmate injuries that include broken bones, concussions, and a shattered hip. Last Updated on Friday, 15 November 2013 13:17 Banner Banner
Source www.ncnn.com
Spring-Ford SB Approves Security Cameras At Ram Stadium
The plan is part of a larger upgrade of district security cameras. The Spring-Ford Area School District Board of Directors voted on Oct. 28 to approve the addition of cameras in Ram Stadium as part of a district-wide security upgrade. These cameras, expected to cost roughly $22,000, will be added to the $206,489 approved for a security system upgrade that was approved in September. Roughly $300,000 is in reserve for the project. Dehnert objected to the project at the Sept. 23, saying that he would rather see a comprehensive plan for all cameras and security in the district in place before purchasing systems piecemeal. “One of the problems we have today is that we have a piecemeal system that does not work,” Dehnert said. Board members Willard Cromley, Bernard Pettit, Dawn Heine, Ed Dressler and Clara Gudolonis voted in favor of installing the cameras in the stadium; Tom DiBello, Joe Ciresi, Mark Dehnert and Julie Mullin voted against the measure, according to the Pottstown Mercury . In September, DiBello agreed that a comprehensive plan on safety was necessary so that the cameras could fit into larger-scale plan. Currently, the plan is to convert the district’s security cameras to a digital system, and then to install additional cameras. According to The Mercury, other sports teams that use the stadium, such as the Spring City Legion, are unable to contribute to the project.
Source limerick.patch.com
Steve Duin: Portland Police Re-Dedicate Themselves To Video Surveillance
They were walking, Bill Merritt and Peggy McClure, in the damp shadow of the communication tower atop Council Crest when they bumped into a crew laboring over a manhole and the underground fiber-optic cable that rolls down the hillside. What’s going on? they asked. “A dedicated line,” one of the ditch-diggers said, “running from the tower down to the Portland police station.” “Great,” McClure said. “So, that means we’ll have quicker response time on 9-1-1 calls?” Not at all, she was told. This line was dedicated to something else altogether. “Police surveillance. It will pick up signals from police-operated aircraft. Which are sorta like manned drones.” Merritt and McClure have been together for 20 years and married for the last seven, most of which they spent abroad while McClure was managing Peace Corps operations in Botswana and Morocco. For all they knew, this broadband operation had already been vetted in council sessions, neighborhood meetings and newspaper columns. “We’ve been out of the loop,” Merritt conceded. “But what are we surveilling?” Whatever strikes the fancy of Portland police, it turns out. And once those fiber-optic connections are completed at the Portland Building, the bureau will be able to stream the video to anyone who wants it. “We do not have drones. We are not getting drones. Period,” Sgt. Pete Simpson insisted Thursday. The bureau’s Cessnas, on the other hand, have been around for years: “We use them for tactical situations. Block searches. Missing persons. If we’re doing a gang cool-down […]
Source www.oregonlive.com
DA Trumpets Upgraded Security At Western Psych
TribLIVE By Margaret Harding Published: Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, 12:01 a.m. Updated 17 hours ago Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. touted the security improvements made at Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic following a tour of the Oakland facility on Friday morning. “It’s outstanding,” Zappala said while standing outside the new main entrance on De Soto Street. “It’s really state of the art.” The redesigned lobby will open next week, UPMC spokeswoman Gloria Kreps said. Many of the upgrades are ones Zappala sought in the aftermath of a fatal shooting in the clinic on March 8, 2012. Former graduate student John Shick, 30, opened fire in the building, killing a worker and wounding five others before University of Pittsburgh police fatally shot him. Zappala’s office hired consulting firms J.P. Hudson & Associates and Condortech Services to review safety procedures in response to the incident. A Condortech report released in November 2012 recommended UPMC spend $2.1 million on security upgrades at Western Psych. Some of the improvements include: relocating and upgrading the main security command and operations center, installing all-in-one security card and fingerprint readers for staff and installing a new video surveillance system, among others. “The doors on the first floor lock down, so your movement is restricted,” Zappala said. “Shick could move through the entire first floor. They’ve stopped that.” Kreps said the security enhancements include: an armed officer always on duty, a walk-through magnetometer in the lobby all visitors must pass through upon entering the building, […]
Source triblive.com
Guards At Canadian Prisons Videoed Hitting Inmates
TORONTO, Nov. 15 (UPI) — Security cameras at prisons in Ontario and Quebec recorded guards hitting inmates, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The CBC, in a report Thursday, said it and Radio Canada had obtained the videos. While the guards whose actions were videotaped have been dismissed and even criminally charged, surveillance cameras are not universal inside Canadian prisons, the CBC said. Howard Sapers, Canada’s federal prison watchdog, also said in a report that the cameras are ineffective about 70 percent of the time because of poor quality, breakdowns and incompatible systems. Inmate advocates say the country needs to install security cameras throughout its prison system and to make sure their recordings are usable. “It’s terrorism. I mean these guys are abusing their authority and they’re terrorizing people who are under their control,” Kevin Egan, a lawyer in Ontario said of the beatings. “The purpose of our prison system is to rehabilitate. And it may be that it’s not just inmates that need to be rehabilitated, but the guards.” Jean-Claude Van Damme performs ‘epic split’ in Volvo ad British couple leaves sassy apology note to burglars $10 million bra unveiled at Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Sony launches PlayStation 4; Hundreds in line Brandi Brandt faces drug charges in Australia Lily Allen rejects ‘Hard Out Here’ racism claims Outback comes to West Texas when pet kangaroo gets loose in Midland County Jerry Lawler challenges Andy Kaufman to rematch — if he’s alive London firefighters urge ‘common sense’ after penis freed […]
Source www.upi.com
Bank of America Looks To Biometric ATMs In New Patent Application
biometric-atm November 15, 2013 – The Bank of America has pushed through a patent application, which describes a biometric ATM system. Reported in ATM Marketplace , the patent was submitted to the USPTO in 2012, and published recently in 2013. Specifically, this patent application outlines a system for authenticating users with a combination of a pin-code and fingerprint biometrics. The design of a biometric ATM and the patent application certainly isn’t very specific, and at this point it looks like the BofA is staking out some territory for development, and doesn’t want to leave much room for competition. “[A] fingerprint scanner for use in the systems and methods of the invention may use optical fingerprint imaging, ultrasonic sensors, capacitance sensors (passive or active) and/or any other suitable method to capture the digital image of a fingerprint,” is just an example of some of the unspecific language contained in this application. “Any suitable method for PIN validation and fingerprint validation may be used to validate the input PIN and fingerprints.” It’s been widely acknowledged that payment systems and ATMs are a coming wave for biometric integrations, and it’s interesting to see the BofA making a move. There are a few places where biometric ATMs are already a reality. Reported previously , the Central Bank of Nigeria has teamed up with Dermalog for biometric POS systems as well as for biometric ATMs. Likewise, in Kenya, Tracom Services has launched a new line of fingerprint ATMs in Nairobi. Leave a Comment comments […]
Source www.biometricupdate.com
CaughtOnCamera: New Jersey Mall Surveillance Video Released
Newly released surveillance video shows and armed Richard Shoop walking calming through a mall in New Jersey before taking his own life. (Source: WNBC/CNN) PARAMUS, NJ (CNN) – Calm, cool and collected. That’s how the shooter who opened fire in a New Jersey mall appears in newly released surveillance video. On the video, Richard Shoop is seen roaming the mall, weapon in hand, moments before taking his own life. Initially, there were reports the shooter had fired at security cameras, which turned out to be untrue. Five of cameras caught the shooter, Richard Shoop, 20, as he moved through the mall firing several rounds. In the incident earlier in November, horrified shoppers hid behind doorways, panicked employees ran for their lives, as the shooter – cloaked in all black and wearing a helmet – stalked the aisles of the Garden State Plaza carrying a rifle modified to look like an AK47. Chilling 911 calls were released just last week. Caller 1: Somebody is shooting up Garden State Plaza right now. 911 operator: Somebody is shooting? Caller 1: Somebody is shooting up Garden State Plaza right now and I’m in the bathroom at (inaudible). 911 operator: OK, stay on the phone with me, sweetheart. Callers cowered in hiding spots throughout the mall. Hundreds remained trapped for hours. 911 operator: How many people are in the bathroom with you? Caller 2: There’s three. 911 operator: Are they in your store? Caller 2: Yes. Hundreds remained trapped for hours. Caller 3: I’m […]
Source www.fox19.com
IndigoVision Announces 33% Increase Camera Sales And Record First Quarter Results
By IndigoVision NewsDesk on November 15, 2013 indigovision_group_125997 IndigoVision announce record first quarter results, a 33% increase of camera sales and, several major project wins including the overlay system for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. “Market feedback on the IndigoVision cameras has been magnificent,” stated Marcus Kneen, IndigoVision Chief Executive Officer, “Our Enhanced HD cameras consistently win technical shoot-outs by delivering better quality video in even the most challenging lighting conditions and were voted one of the best new security products at the 2013 ASIS trade show in Chicago.” “IndigoVision continues to invest significantly in technology and will shortly announce the launch of a 20 Megapixel camera, the first ultra-high resolution camera that delivers the video quality that the security industry demands. Feedback from initial installations has been extremely positive with the camera outperforming competitors due to stunning picture detail and an unparalleled image speed of 120 Megapixels per second.” IndigoVision also announced major project wins for city surveillance in Malaysia, Sao Paulo International Airport and the third project for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. These project wins continue IndigoVision’s established pedigree for complex security projects and events, with IndigoVision’s technology being deployed for the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and 2010 as well as every Olympic games since 2004. Group revenues for the first quarter were 14% higher than the corresponding period last year. Margins were maintained in line with last year and, as planned, overheads increased following last year’s 30% increase in sales and pre […]
Source www.securitynewsdesk.com