Showing posts with label system integration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label system integration. Show all posts

Monday, April 11, 2016

Security: Meet the Human Interface

Electronic security, whether in the home, office, or an industrial facility, requires some means of interface between the control system and the people who use it. In some cases this means of interface is nothing more than a key switch while in other situations it can be a keyfob, an access card, or a keypad equipped with the usual numeric and function buttons (see photo #1). In some cases this human interface can take the form of a smartphone.

The most common keypad in use today provides the means whereby users can input a four-to-six digit numeric code, thus arming or disarming their alarm system. These simple human interfaces provide a series of point indicators that tell the status of the alarm system at a glance.

Additional buttons often are included that provide advanced functions, such as medical alert, hold-up, and fire. These buttons can be disabled by the alarm company where necessary.

Disabling these buttons is a ploy used when such a keypad is to be mounted in a public space where members of the general public might invoke an unwanted alarm. Such an area is the vestibule of a retail store.

Today’s Security Systems Offer Advanced Features
As time moves forward, so does the technology we use for security, and hence the human interface has grown more responsive to the many features and benefits that have evolved while becoming more simplistic over time.

Honeywell’s Lyric home controller, shown in the photo to the left, is a good example of a sophisticated, modern human interface (keypad) that offers more than just security. Besides arming, disarming, medical, panic, and fire, these systems make it possible to integrate your keyfobs and other alarm devices with a motorized garage door or outside gate.

Additional integrated components include video cameras; on keypad weather alerts with five-day forecasts; remote access to online devices, such as smartphones, desktop computers, laptops, and tablets; and control of auxiliary locks, such as Yale’s Real Living or Schlage Sense locks. Additional features include the ability to monitor pool areas, pets, water leaks, and harmful gases, such as CO and propane or natural gas.

Clearly today’s keypad has become more than just a security control device. For example, instead of hard keys that can become dirty over time, thus revealing a user’s PIN (Personal Identification Number), systems like Honeywell’s Lyric sports soft keys using an advanced touch-screen display. Systems that include all of the above new features and benefits have taken today’s alarm system from “wait and see” to “every day” where the business or home owner depends on it continually throughout each day.

If you’re interested in upgrading your existing alarm system to include some or all of the features named above, give ESC a call today and ask for assistance. Our number is 614-754-1393, or send us an email at electronicsystemsconsultants@gmail.com. You also can use our easy-to-use response form below.

Use of Keyfobs at Record High
Alarm users love their keyfobs, and that is a fact. Most alarm owners and users utilize mobile devices called keyfobs. Most of these devices are an integral part of alarm user’s lives as they offer a convenient, rapid means of alarm control.

Keyfobs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on who makes them. They can come with a single button, two buttons, or four. In the case of the latter, control functions include disarm, arm, panic, and control of a light or perhaps a garage door—even both.

The problem with keyfobs is that if you lose one and someone finds it, or if they actually stole it, the same device that allows you to enter your business or home will also grant crooks the same luxury. If such a loss should occur, contact ESC’s main office ASAP and ask to have the lost keyfob removed from your alarm system. Although it’s not difficult to do, it may require an ESC technician to do this from your business or home, resulting in a service charge. Call us at 614-754-1393 and ask for service.

Integration Between Access & Security Systems
Electronic Systems Consultants LLC is a fully capable systems integrator. We can integrate your access control and security systems in such a way that your alarm system can be armed and disarmed through a single action on the access control side.

The advantage of this type of arrangement is the convenience of doing two things at once without remembering PINs and operating keypads or keyfobs. Of course, it’s still a great idea that every system has at least one keypad for alarm control. In fact, you can still use a keyfob as well, and in some cases the keyfob can be used to unlock doors and turn alarm systems off, all at the same time.

The degree of complexity or simplicity is up to you and ESC is prepared to provide you with whatever you need to make the task of alarm and building control more manageable to you and your staff on a daily basis. If you’re interested in upgrading your existing alarm system to include some or all of the features mentioned in this article, give ESC a call today. Our phone number is 614-754-1393, or you can send an email at electronicsystemsconsultants@gmail.com. You also can use our easy-to-use response form below. We look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

John Larkin, Senior Partner

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Monday, January 26, 2015

ESC Meets the Integration Challenge

Never before has the need for integrated systems in both private and public sectors been so great. In fact, system integration is the glue that gives today’s high-tech security the ability to do so much more with far less than in the past. And, because of network technology, a fully integrated building can save you money because it more often includes energy management.

In a word, the digital age has made it possible to marry a number of building subsystems together in order to enhance and extend the capability of each one beyond their traditional limits. Not only does this allow them to perform faster, it enables them to do so with greater capability than was individually possible in years past.

A good example of this is realized when video cameras, intrusion detection devices, fire alarm sensors, access control, and building management subsystems are connected together. When someone enters a room or a hallway, for example, lights are automatically activated. After a period of time, without motion, they then are extinguished.

Heating and cooling systems are now an integral part of today’s integrated systems. Temperature set points can automatically be adjusted on a floor-by-floor and office-by-office based on who has entered the building. when using an access control system capable of monitoring who enters and leaves the facility. Access to individual floors through an integrated elevator control also makes it possible to limit access to only those individuals who require it.

Another systems integration example is that of a fire alarm system integrated with a quality video camera surveillance system. When a smoke detector, heat sensor, or manual fire pull is involved in an alarm, for example, nearby video cameras can be made to pan, tilt, and zoom, allowing on- and off-premises operators to quickly determine if there’s a fire or not on the premises. Special camera systems also are available to can turn a video surveillance system into a fire detection system, per fire code. Integration has long made it possible to close internal doors in a building when a fire is detected.

ESC offers the latest and greatest in integration technology, thus offering you tomorrow’s technology today. For a free, no-obligation quote, call 614-754-1393 today, email us at electronicsystemsconsultants@gmail.com, visit us on the Web at http://www.electronicsystemsconsultants.com, or fill out our “Get a Free Quote” form at http://esc-security.blogspot.com/#quotation.

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Thursday, November 6, 2014

Integration and Big Data

The buzzword "Big Data" has become rather popular these days. Behind the scenes, however, it's not all glamour. In fact, for a security integrator, like Electronic Systems Consultants LLC, it equates to a ton of work not only collecting an inordinate amount of data related to a facility, but it takes a good deal of effort to analyze and interpret that data.

"Big data usually includes data sets with sizes beyond the ability of commonly used software tools to capture, curate, manage, and process data within a tolerable elapsed time. Big data "size" is a constantly moving target, as of 2012 ranging from a few dozen terabytes to many petabytes of data" (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_data).

Studying reams of data over a period of time is how ESC optimizes the integrated security systems they install and service. This is one of several reasons why maintenance contracts are so very important. It assures that as time moves forward, so will the efficiency and effectiveness of your integrated security system.

For more information on Big Data and an ESC maintenance contract, call 614-754-1393 or email us.