Surveillance
Remote concierge brings safety and convenience to businesses and consumers
As residents of high rises in major cities know, a friendly face in the lobby makes you feel safer. The roles of doorman and concierge are sometimes performed by the same person, and sometimes those duties are performed by a team that includes security and maintenance personnel. The more the merrier, but that level of […]
Advanced video surveillance technology promises safer mass transit
The significance of video surveillance in defending national security came to light following the major role it played in the Boston Marathon and London Transit bombing investigations. Equipped with high-tech software and technologies, surveillance cameras are gradually becoming more effective in preventing potential threats and detecting crimes. And in addition to providing higher safety and security, […]
Should the TSA keep their Behavior Detection Officers?
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spends around $200 million a year on a behavioral-detection program that many believe is ineffective. The job of a behavior detection officer A behavior detection officer (BDO) is a TSA agent trained to identify suspicious behaviors, such as fidgeting, excessive sweating, and wearing heavy clothes in a warm climate. […]
Accidental discharge: Should America ban guns in public buildings?
Existing gun laws routinely come under fire following accidental discharge incidents, and a recent accidental discharge in Kentucky has added fuel to the fire, forcing lawmakers to consider whether imposing restrictions can prevent these occurences. As activist groups demand the gun owner in this case, Rep. Leslie Combs, to step down from office, accidental discharges […]
Is it time to upgrade to a smart lock?
In 2010 alone, there were over 2 million burglaries in the United States. Of these, 60 percent were forcible entry and the average loss per burglary was over $2,000. Over 70 percent of the burglaries took place on residential properties. Some of these burglaries could have been prevented with stronger, more advanced locks. The traditional lock-and-key […]
Assessing the future of video surveillance
As events like the Boston Marathon bombings occur, people are becoming more amenable to video surveillance. Today, video surveillance is no longer limited to traditional security but is also found in retail, government, transport, and other areas. The video surveillance market is expected to grow by over 12 percent globally this year, as compared to 2013, according […]
NSA’s warrantless phone surveillance program gets green light
The recent ruling by the federal court has deepened the ongoing debate about the efficacy of warrantless surveillance by the government. Under the hammer is the National Security Agency’s (NSA) phone surveillance program, in which the organization collected enormous logs of phone calls maintained under a common database. A verdict that upheld the program conflicts […]