Tech Watch

Dec 1, 2006 12:00 PM

Good things are said to come in small packages.The statement also rings true for security products. This month we feature “shrinking technology,” including various products that all have compact size in common. Small size is an advantage for dealing with covert applications such as law enforcement investigations and security surveillance. Size also creates the benefit of easy handling. This sampling includes miniature DVRs, cameras and tracking devices. Think small.

Ultra-Compact Indoor Camera

FEATURES A WIDE DYNAMIC COLOR CAMERA AND LENS

Honeywell's HCBWD series of ultra-compact indoor cameras are less than 2 in. square, making them suitable for applications where space is a constraint. Each HCBWD camera captures visible details in areas where bright and dark scenes exist. The cameras have a sensitivity rating of 1.0 lux at F2.0 and a resolution of 480 TV lines. A one-piece metal enclosure allows fast installation at power supplies of 12vDC or 24vAC. The series is suitable for applications where lighting affects the image quality, such as ATM machines, lobbies and warehouses. www.honeywellvideo.com Circle No. 1 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Wireless Tracking Device

COMPACT SIZE ALLOWS EASY HIDING

The GPSit Find & See One (FS1) is a small rugged waterproof tracking device designed for law enforcement, private investigators and government agencies. An internal antenna and compact size of 2.5 in. × 1.25 in. × 0.6 in. allows the device to be easily hidden. The FS1 can be fixed under a vehicle, carried or placed within a storage unit of goods. The device uses assisted GPS and code division multiple access wireless cellular technology to locate vehicles or packages. A time synchronized system and Find & See Locator software plots exact locations on digital satellite view maps available anytime through the company's Web site. The device has a 10- or 20-day battery life and provides over-the-air device management. www.gpsit.com Circle No. 2 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Wireless Megapixel Network Camera

WITH SIMULTANEOUS MPEG-4 AND MOTION JPEG

Product developers at Axis Communications say that the 207MW Network Camera “is the smallest wireless megapixel camera on the market today,” according to Fredrik Nilsson, general manager of Axis Communications. The camera has compact dimensions of 3.3 in. × 2.2 in. × 1.3 in. and weighs 0.39 lbs. Images are captured at 12 frames-per-second in 1.3 megapixel resolution, and a built-in microphone records simultaneous audio. The camera contains an internal Web server for monitoring via a standard Windows or Mac Web browser and is supplied with wireless and Ethernet network interfaces. The camera is suitable for securing small businesses, home offices and residences through a local area network and the Internet. www.axis.com Circle No. 3 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Pocket-Sized Explosive Detection Device

DETECTS EXPLOSIVES FROM DISTANCES OF 100 METERS

Sniffex, from Homeland Safety International Inc., is a 1.4 in. × 1.3 in. × 4 in. handheld device that can detect a variety of explosives at distances up to 330 feet. The device finds the interference between the magnetic field of the earth, the explosive, the human body and itself. This allows Sniffex to penetrate and locate small amounts of explosives through concrete, soil and metal barriers. An antenna acts as the “pointer” for the device, pointing or rotating in the direction of a nitrous oxide-based explosive or weapon that has been fired. The rotation occurs as the device enters into an area with an abnormally high concentration of nitrous oxide radicals. Suggested applications include airport, stadium and cargo security. www.sniffex.com Circle No. 4 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Pocket-Sized Video/Audio Recording System

HANDS-FREE SETUP OFFERS ONE-TOUCH RECORDING

The SUV-CAM AV Recording System from Elmo USA Corp. integrates the company's microcamera technology with an MPEG-4 digital recorder and a built-in color TFT 2.2-in. LCD monitor. The camera head measures 3.3 in. in length by 0.7 in. in diameter, and the recorder/monitor body measures 3.54 in. × 2.2 in. × 0.9 in. The system is lightweight, weighing 0.6 lbs., which makes it useful as a handheld or body-worn surveillance device. The camera head is waterproof up to 130 ft. and can be positioned to capture images from many different points of view. The MPEG-4 encoding delivers synchronized audio and video recording with DVD-quality video resolution. Battery capacity provides two hours of recording at 30 frames-per-second and three hours of playback of recorded images at one, 15 or 20 fps. www.elmousa.com Circle No. 5 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Miniature Digital Video Recorder

PALM-SIZED DVR FOR COVERT RECORDING APPLICATIONS

Video Domain Technologies' D-V58 is a stand-alone, miniature DVR with integrated Video Motion Detection (VMD). The recorder fits in the palm of the hand and provides covert and mobile recording. The VMD allows the user to record only the events of interest, saving storage space and enabling recorded events to be archived on removable SD cards. The system can go into sleep mode when power consumption is 10 mA, thus making it suitable for battery-powered operations. The D-V58/Cell model enables two-way communication between a cell phone and the DVR unit via SMS and e-mail. Weatherproof casing for the system is also available. www.vdomain.com Circle No. 6 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

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© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

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