Lextech Labs recently aided in deploying video technology for a government high risk environment SWAT training exercise.
Posts Tagged ‘video surveillance’
10
Aug
2011
Posted by shannonbradley
Remote Inspections Using Mobile Video
As published in Security Dealer and Integrator Magazine, August 2011, By Alex Bratton, CEO, Lextech Labs
Remote Inspections Using Mobile Video
Organizations are now engaging in remote inspections using mobile video technology to cut costs, improve safety and boost quality. Putting video into the hands of experts through smart phones and tablets allows them to oversee processes wherever they are.
Recording video to conduct an investigation can be helpful from a liability perspective but that same information can be more valuable when used to manage business processes in real time. Remote inspections go beyond watching employees at cash registers by driving more value from video overall. Areas where remote inspections are making an impact today include facilities management, critical equipment and processes management, remote manufacturing, high value manufacturing or high risk employee activities.
Facility managers with large or distributed sites face a challenge in physically having their team cover all areas to keep things running smoothly. One multi facility organization is using mobile video on iPhones. Through mobile access to roof mounted cameras, their facilities team can monitor roof conditions, looking for storm damage or winter ice build-up. Facilities teams are typically mobile and having access to conditions in real time lets them better manage repair, upgrade and safety issues.
Companies working with distributed or third party manufacturing often have challenges during specific steps of a manufacturing process that impact quality and yield. The operations team is now able to remotely check their live processes at any time. This ensures that the right process is being followed and allows leaders to help with additional training or guidance as issues are identified.
High risk employee activities is another area where remote inspection can impact employee behavior, lower risks and reduce costs. A good example is a transportation organization seeing rising costs from accidents. Their drives operate equipment that doesn’t require a rigorous driver certification but the equipment is large enough to cause serious accidents if used improperly. By installing in-vehicle cameras watching both the drivers and the road, they can enforce their expectations of safe driving practices. Managers (who are also mobile) can check in on drivers during their shift using mobile video on Blackberry phones and watch live job performance as well as access recordings of a shift.
Remote inspections not only provide the peace of mind that procedures are being followed but they allow actively engaging experts to help with issues.
An energy firm extended the value of their security video infrastructure through remote inspections of critical equipment using iPads. Machinery and process experts who travel between locations can access remote facility cameras wherever they are. The person with deep knowledge is often not at the physical facility where their expertise is required. These experts can then help local personnel troubleshoot issues or perform spot inspections Mobile video puts the information in the expert’s hands allowing them to extend their reach.
Here are a few questions that can help you identify places that mobile remote inspections can be of value:
- What business processes require a knowledgable worker to move around a facility to check on people or processes? Can they get the information they need visually?
- What decisions needs to be made in real time based on the condition or status of something? Is the person making that decision always in front of a computer or are they mobile?
- What high risk activities occur where there are problems today? Rather than someone physically standing over the process, would regular spot checks by a remote expert help with that problem?
From the answers you should be able to start formulating ideas on where mobile remote inspections can help improve quality and cut costs.
29
Jul
2011
Posted by shannonbradley
Public Safety Webinar (26:08)
Lextech Labs participated in a Public Safety Webinar with Verizon Wireless presenting C3 and it’s ability to provide situational awareness for public safety officers and first responders. See the recording of the webinar here.
17
Mar
2011
Posted by admin
Arthur Phillip High School Featured Case Study
Integrator: Indepedent Locksmiths and Security
VMS: Milestone
Technology to Improve Student Safety
Arthur Phillip High School is a comprehensive Government high school that is located in the CBD of Parramatta, a city in the greater Sydney metropolitan area in Australia. The school staffs around 150 teachers and administrators and supports 1600 students. They also support two school sites which are intersected by a reasonably busy road and are close to a major transport interchange.
The school is proud to be an Apple Distinguished School and strive to constantly use technology to improve student engagement, which is one of the reasons that C3 was a logical addition for their security solution. They currently have approximately 400 MacBooks that the students can borrow for a lesson (much like textbooks) and 200 iMacs in labs or teacher staffrooms. The school has an extensive computer network and wireless network, including a laser link to connect each campus. They also boast a second wireless network across both campuses, linked by fibre bored under the road and 850 Lenovo laptops. The school and its staff are clearly pioneers in using technology in education.
The school believed it was time to apply that technology to their security infrastructure. About three and a half years ago, Arthur Phillip High School was invited to apply for some Government funding specifically for improving our security. This was in the wake of concern over security threats to infrastructure and other community facilities, racial tensions in the community and a gang invasion of another nearby metropolitan school. The school was awarded the funds an they did improve their perimeter security (7ft fencing, upgraded door and entry point, and access control gates), internal site security (access control system for internal and external building entries). The previous CCTV installation was antiquated and unreliable, therefore the school also used the funds to upgrade their system.
Solution
Through the assistance of their integrator, Independent Locks, the school was able to integrate the existing analog (which gives better pictures than ever before), utilizing the schools existing network with IP cameras (as a new network was being installed to support the BER which ultimately will serve 1000 students and teaching staff), install a large server with Milestone as the VMS and plan for expansion in phases 2 and 3 (which have since been implemented) for more cameras and monitoring screens.
From a security viewpoint, the school staff felt confident that they we were getting a robust and comprehensive solution. The worst security incidents reported thus far have been “visits” by students from other schools, ranging from visiting friends to intimidating students. Some staff remain concerned about potential invasions but the system has made them more at ease.
The deputy principal, Brad Main, deals with some of the more major issues in the school, particularly student misbehavior. The new camera system with C3 has assisted in the investigation of stolen property, and has resolved some fights. And C3 even assisted remotely when adult education supervisor was having trouble closing the gates, by viewing him with C3 on the iPad, the deputy principal was able to solve the problem.
The school is currently using four installs of C3. It is installed on iPhone and iPad allowing access to video of school entry points, administration, corridors, play areas and gymnasium from about 60 cameras.
Result
The overall cost for C3 was less than 2% of Arthur Phillip High School’s overall security infrastructure budget. And deputy principal, Brad Main, said, “it took less than 10 minutes to install C3.” The use of mobile video surveillance allows administrators to have a 24/7 view of the school and the students to keep them safe. “Our budget would not allow this type of live security, but with C3 we are able to provide the right level of security for our students and staff,” said Main.
14
Dec
2010
Posted by admin
Lextech Labs in roundtable with Rahm Emanuel
Lextech Labs CEO, Alex Bratton, will participate in a roundtable discussion with Rahm Emanuel, former White House Chief of Staff and Chicago mayoral candidate on Monday, December 20th. As a leader and visionary in the Chicago technology community, Alex will be discussing how Lextech Labs is driving mobile video and technology and how it can assist in building the economy in Chicago and the region.
08
Dec
2010
Posted by admin
Alex Bratton, CEO Writes on Game Changers for SDM Magazine
Alex Bratton, CEO of Lextech Labs continues to be an evangelist for mobilizing video. In this article in the December Issue of SDM Magazine, he uses his expertise to educate on the keys to real time mobile video.
Click here to read the article.
08
Dec
2010
Posted by admin
C3 Design Architecture
Watch our video on how our C3 software integrates with the Milestone VMS.
08
Dec
2010
Posted by admin
Lextech Labs takes video surveillance mobile
Alex Bratton and Lextech Labs are featured in the Medill Reports Chicago. Lextech Labs founder and CEO Alex Bratton discovered his love of computers early in life, after his parents bought one of the first Apple computers.
“When Alex was probably 10 or so, we bought an Apple II computer..and he was writing little games on it,” said Ray Bratton, Alex’s father. “[He] made these little stick men that would fall off a cliff” with his little brother
That was just the beginning. By age 14, Alex had formed his first software development company to write programs for his high school. Eight more companies and a computer engineering degree later, Bratton’s passion is his Lisle, Ill.-based Lextech Labs, which makes the iRa C3 mobile video surveillance app.
Click here to read further.
02
Dec
2010
Posted by admin
Lextech Labs CEO and President at Mobile Visionary Roundtable
Alex Bratton, CEO and Jeff Gibson, President of Lextech Labs will be participating in the Mobile Visionary Roundtable event on December 15, 2010. Alex will be the moderator and Jeff will be a panel participant. Both have extensive experience and knowledge on the mobile application market and how to be successful in it.
For more information on the event, click here.
