Hanwha Techwin launches temperature detection thermal camera

The dual-purpose Wisenet TNM-3620TDY camera from Hanwha Techwin is equipped with QVGA thermal imaging and HD capabilities designed to help businesses operate safely during the COVID-19 era.

The TNM-3620TDY is a bi-spectrum, multi-channel device which incorporates a QVGA-class thermal imaging camera and a 2 MP video surveillance camera. As such, it can detect heat and measure temperature with a very high degree of accuracy, while providing visual verification of people within its field of view.

In body temperature mode, the QVGA-class thermal imaging camera is able to estimate a person’s temperature within a range of 30⁰-45°C, with +/-0.5⁰C accuracy. When supported by black body technology, the accuracy increases to +/-0.3⁰C, allowing the TNM-3620TDY to provide a strong indication that a person may have a fever.

Offering support for deep learning AI-based face detection functionality, the TNM-3620TDY can measure the temperatures of up to ten individuals in real-time at a distance of up to 3 metres, with operators able to choose to view either the captured thermal images or standard HD video images.

IEC 60601 certification

The TNM-3620TDY is compliant with a series of device technical standards for the safety and essential performance of medical electrical equipment published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

In addition, Hanwha Techwin has completed the FDA facility registration process and device registration for the TNM-3620TDY in respect of FDA 510(k) clearance which is in progress.

In normal radiometric mode and with a high degree of accuracy, the thermal imaging camera detects and measures changes in temperature within the -20⁰C to 130°C range. End users are able to set up detection zones to cover specific areas of interest within the camera’s field of view. This provides a powerful tool which generates alerts when there’s a threat of fire in recycling, waste management and landfill-type facilities where spontaneous combustion may occur. A detected change in temperature may also be a warning that machinery in factories, processing plants, cold stores or utilities is faulty.

In addition, a spot detection feature enables operators, via a web viewer, to click on any pixel within an image and obtain a measurement of the temperature of the area covered by that pixel.

WiseStream II technology

The TNM-3620TDY supports H.265, H.264 and MJPEG compression formats, as well as WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image.

Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 75% when compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream, which is unique to Wisenet cameras, is combined with H.265 compression.

The 2 MP video surveillance camera features a set of Intelligent Video Analytics which include directional detection, motion detection, enter/exit, virtual line, audio detection and camera tampering detection.

The TNM-3620TDY has a Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC slot which allows up to 256 GB of video or data to be stored at the edge should there be any disruption to the network. Video evidence, which potentially might have been lost, can therefore be retrieved when the network connection has been restored.

Capability to deliver

“Regretfully, some so-called ‘fever screening’ solutions devised by other manufacturers have attracted negative publicity,” said Uri Guterman, head of product and marketing for Hanwha Techwin Europe. “In my view, this is because they’ve been oversold in terms of what they’re capable of delivering.”

He continued: “Although we’ve often been the first to market with new product developments and technologies, in this instance we’ve taken the time to develop the TNM-3620TDY and ensure that it’s fit for purpose. We highly value the trust our customers and business partners have in our ability to provide solutions which do not compromise on performance and quality. In this respect, they can be confident that this camera will meet, if not exceed, their expectations.”

In conclusion, Guterman stated: “The TNM-3620TDY is a great addition to our suite of COVID-related solutions, which includes face mask detection, occupancy monitoring and AI deep learning-based social distance measuring applications.”

BlackBerry Cylance outlines cyber security predictions for 2020

Josh Lemos, vice-president of research and intelligence at BlackBerry Cylance, has put forward some predictions on cyber security trends for 2020 that will impact Governments and companies across a variety of industry sectors.

(1) Uncommon attack techniques will emerge in common software

Steganography, the process of hiding files in a different format, will grow in popularity as online blogs make it possible for threat actors to grasp the technique. Recent research at BlackBerry found malicious payloads residing in WAV audio files, which have been used for decades and categorised as benign.

Businesses will begin to recalibrate how legacy software is defined and treated and effectively invest in operational security around them. Companies will look for ways in which to secure less commonly weaponised file formats, like JPEG, PNG and GIF, etc without hindering users as they navigate the modern computing platforms.

(2) Changing network topologies challenge traditional assumptions and require new security models

Network-based threats that can compromise the availability and integrity of 5G networks will push Governments and enterprises alike to adopt cyber security strategies as they implement the 5G spectrum. As cities, towns and Government agencies continue to overhaul their networks, sophisticated attackers will begin to tap into software vulnerabilities as the expansion of bandwidth that 5G requires inevitably creates a larger attack surface.

Governments and enterprises will need to retool their network, device and application security. We will see many lean towards a zero-trust approach for identity and authorisation on a 5G network.

Threat detection and threat intelligence will need to be driven by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to keep up.

(3) 2020 will see more cyber-physical convergence

As all sectors increasingly rely on smart technology to operate and function, the gap between the cyber and the physical will officially converge. This is evident given the recent software bug in an Ohio power plant that affected hospitals, police departments, subway systems and more in both the US and Canada.

Attacks on Internet of Things (IoT) devices will have a domino effect and leaders will be challenged to think of unified cyber-physical security in a hybrid threat landscape.

Cyber security will begin to be built into advanced technologies by design to keep pace with the speed of IoT convergence and the vulnerabilities that come with it. 

(4) State and state-sponsored cyber groups alike are the new proxy for international relations

Cyber espionage has been going on since the introduction of the Internet, with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea seen as major players. In 2020, we will see a new set of countries using the same tactics, techniques and procedures as these superpowers operate against rivals both inside and outside of national borders.

Mobile cyber espionage will also become a more common threat vector as mobile users are a significant attack vector for organisations that allow employees to use personal devices on company networks.

We will see threat actors perform cross-platform campaigns that leverage both mobile and traditional desktop malware. Recent research discovered nation state-based mobile cyber espionage activity across ‘The Big 4’, as well as in Vietnam. There’s likely to be more attacks coming in the future. This will create more complexity for Governments and enterprises as they try to attribute these attacks, with more actors and more endpoints in play at a larger scale.

Next generation models of Illustra Flex 3MP IP cameras provide “seamless video capture and viewing experience”

Johnson Controls is introducing the next generation of Illustra Flex 3MP mini-dome, bullet and box cameras with features such as P-iris lenses and TrickleStor technology to provide optimal image quality and reliability, and the convenience and efficiency of bandwidth management of the camera using Illustra IntelliZip compression technology.

Going beyond H.264 and H.265, the embedded Illustra IntelliZip technology monitors and then adjusts system streaming parameters, matching the camera’s field of view activity. The video quality is automatically adjusted when motion is detected to ensure detail quality is maintained. When activity ceases, the video adjusts and optimises the bitrate, in turn helping to reduce network bandwidth usage and video storage requirements.

The new Illustra Flex cameras feature the aforementioned TrickleStor, allowing the cameras to record video at the edge of the network even if an outage takes place. The camera will detect an interruption or stoppage and begin to record video to its SD card. Once the connection between the camera and NVR resumes, TrickleStor will then transfer the video from the SD card to the NVR to ensure uninterrupted video.

The true Wide Dynamic Range function available across the Flex family line allows cameras viewing a scene with high-contrast lighting to balance shadows and highlights in order to maintain crisp image detail. This feature is ideal for camera deployments where windows or doors are areas of interest.

The family of Flex 3MP cameras is also equipped with a P-iris lens system that works in conjunction with custom software algorithms to provide optimal image quality and sharpness in all possible lighting conditions.

“Providing a high-quality, seamless and economical video experience is at the heart of these latest Illustra Flex introductions,” said Stuart Bettle, video product marketing manager for security products (EMEA) within the Building Technologies & Solutions Division at Johnson Controls. “Whether it’s P-iris to ensure the clearest image, TrickleStor providing end-to-end recording failover or IntelliZip to maximise bandwidth, we’re focused on meeting the needs of our customers on every front.”

The small, aesthetically pleasing Flex 3MP mini-domes are available in indoor and outdoor versions, the latter IP67-rated for protection against dust and water damage and also featuring IR illumination for improved low-light viewing.

The bullet model also offers an IP67-rated enclosure that protects against dust and water damage, making it a top choice for parking areas, garages, loading docks and other areas exposed to the elements. These models also serve as an exterior solution for schools and small-to-medium retail stores, banks and office buildings.

The Flex 3MP box camera is a flexible solution adaptable for any installation or application requirements.

*For more information about the Illustra Flex line of cameras visit illustracameras.com

Milestone Systems expands device support with launch of Pack 7.9 for partners and customers

Milestone Systems – the open platform company specialising in IP video management software (VMS) – has released Device Pack 7.9 for partners and customers using Milestone XProtect security solutions. Device Pack 7.9 has support for 1,012 tested ONVIF devices, all using the same optimised driver.  

The XProtect Device Packs include tested and certified drivers optimised to enable the relevant capabilities of a camera or other hardware device to be managed by the XProtect software. Testing the drivers ensures the highest quality for a video surveillance solution, which is obviously important for total system operability, efficiency and stability.

Milestone works closely with the device manufacturers in the Camera Partner Program (CaPP) to achieve the optimal interaction between their devices and the XProtect VMS. The company has always promoted driver standards like ONVIF and remains dedicated to supporting the broadest range of cameras and devices on the market.

In the case of ONVIF-supported devices, it’s often assumed that a device which has passed the ONVIF test tool will just work in a given infrastructure. This isn’t always the case as there are marked idiosyncrasies that need to be taken into account to insure proper interoperability and leverage the full feature use of a device with a VMS.

Before ONVIF supported devices are listed on the supported hardware list on milestonesys.com, they’ve been tested to ensure 100% functionality with the XProtect open platform technology.

In the Milestone CaPP, this ONVIF functionality test can be done by Milestone or vendors can conduct the testing procedures in their own facility after they’ve completed a four-day Milestone training course. The ability to do the complete Milestone certification test can save time and costs for camera manufacturers in their go-to-market strategy.

Advanced compression support

Device Pack 7.9 also includes support for the Axis Zipstream technology, an advanced mode enabling variable compression as well as variable bit rate. According to Axis Communications, this can reduce the bandwidth requirement by up to 50% without major loss in picture quality.

This technology increases compression when less movement is detected in the video. Beyond reducing the bandwidth, the use of advanced compression technologies like Zipstream can also save disk space on the recording servers in a system.

The Milestone VMS has been supporting advanced compression technologies since 2012.

Extended support for Vivotek cameras has been added, so too 64 new devices from Dahua all based on ONVIF where the compliance test was conducted by Dahua.

Other vendors with new device support in this release include Pelco by Schneider, Vicon’s IQEye and Canon.

*Milestone Device Pack 7.2 is available now for download from the following link: www.milestonesys.com/solution-partners/supported-hardware/

Axis Communications introduces Zipstream compression technology for end users

Axis Comunications has launched its Zipstream compression technology, developed specifically for video surveillance applications. This new technology reduces bandwidth and storage requirements by an average of 50% or more without the need for end users having to invest in new cameras or software. In addition, Zipstream is fully compatible with the widely adopted H.264 compression standard.

In use, Zipstream analyses and optimises the network camera’s video stream in real-time. Scenes containing interesting details are recorded in full image quality and resolution, while other areas are filtered out for optimal use of available bandwidth and storage. This allows important forensic details like faces, tattoos or license plates to be isolated and preserved.

Irrelevant areas such as white walls, lawns and vegetation are sacrificed by ‘smoothing’ in order to achieve the better storage savings.

The new Zipstream security solution from Axis Communications

End user customers can deploy Axis’ Zipstream technology alongside other Axis Communications network camera technologies such as Lightfinder  and Wide Dynamic Range – Forensic Capture. Zipstream will also work with third party video management software installations already in place.

Axis Communications is making its Zipstream technology available on the existing network camera models Axis Q1615 and Axis Q1635 and also in the Axis Q35 Series via firmware updates.

New fixed network cameras and fixed dome network cameras due for release this year will also include the new Zipstream technology.

*Zipstream is now available through distributor Norbain