How Smart Devices with Edge Analytics are Helping Business

If George Orwell wrote his novel today, we would meet a hero who lives in an era of inconspicuous smart devices such as access control panels and portable video recorders. The novel could change its ideology from “Big Brother Is Watching You” to “Little Brothers,” which would control the hero’s world even more effectively.

In this article, you'll learn about modern video surveillance and analytics devices. These devices don't aim to scare you with constant surveillance; they exist to provide greater control over business and life processes. The power of “Big Brother” in the book laid in all-vision and constant control, we, in turn, propose to introduce smart systems into a business to assist and improve business management.

The market of smart devices with onboard video analytics (edge-analytics) is growing day by day. The choice of devices and manufacturers is quite vast. Existing devices solve many business issues without being dependent on an Internet connection. The key advantage of these gadgets in the modern world with a high pace of life is the quick response and speed of their systems. Now you will meet each of them with a more detailed description.

Access Control Panels

Touch-free access is now easier than ever. One cannot disagree with this statement when they become acquainted with the capabilities of access control panels that use face recognition at full capacity.

Authorized Access or Physical Access Control System (PACS) has come a long way from using keys, PINs, cards, and fingerprints. We have already entered the era of facial recognition. The use of these systems to control access and time attendance was an inevitable trend. Facial Recognition Terminals provide greater security, increase efficiency in access control and time tracking, making the process easier and faster than ever.

Modern Facial Recognition Terminals provide excellent recognition in any environment with an accuracy of over 99%. The speed of recognition is about 0.2 sec. It is also possible to install a device that clearly works in low light or even total darkness. Such a system ensures top-level security. It cannot be fooled, and data ensures complete confidentiality. At the same time, you can easily control the operation of your devices. Various access methods, remote control via a mobile application, and convenient web interfaces ensure easy use.

There are many scenarios for using Facial Recognition. For example, in schools where safety is a top priority or in the office and retail to control access and workplace attendance by employees without the possibility of using any deceptive schemes, since the face cannot be changed and it is always with you. That’s the way to make the work of employees completely transparent. Manufacturing plants use strict access control systems to ensure security and privacy.

Smart Cameras

Artificial Intelligence plays an important role in our lives and influences many of its aspects. The Internet of Things (IoT) connects almost everything in our world, and AI-enabled devices do it faster and more efficiently. CCTV cameras are no exception. With advanced technologies such as WDR, 4K, night vision, and smooth streaming, cameras can clearly see and recognize objects regardless of the external environment.

Whether it’s cameras that focus on people or vehicles, today, they can see more using machine learning technology. These cameras capture more faces in one shot from wider angles. They detect and distinguish people and vehicles from other objects with higher accuracy and recognize vehicle license plates with over 98% accuracy. These systems analyze video streams, determining the length of the queues and the number of visitors to optimize the retail facility's resources during peak times. The solutions offered by modern smart systems integrated into cameras are not just video and graphic data but the knowledge necessary to build a more efficient business.

On June 20, 2019, Walmart announced that they installed smart cameras to recognize theft of goods in stores. The cameras calculate when food is put into a bag without being scanned by a cashier or self-service machine due to artificial intelligence algorithms. If the system detects attempts to commit theft, it will notify the security staff.

Walmart’s losses due to theft and scanner errors reach $4 billion a year. In 2017, US retailers lost about $47 billion due to shoplifting, according to data from the US National Retail Federation. Walmart also claims that artificial intelligence will help prevent theft and other adverse situations and, in general, help improve visitors' safety.

Portable Video Recorders

Private security companies occupy a large business sector as well. Mobile video surveillance is one of the solutions that are relevant to officers or commercial security companies.

Portable video recorders with built-in analytics may become a must-have for all employees of various services in the foreseeable future. They are also useful for non-military organizations. For example, forestry workers need wearable video recorders to improve their effectiveness against poaching when visible evidence of violations or conflicts is needed.

The possibilities of using these devices are constantly expanding, and the set of functions of each specific device differs depending on the tasks. Already today, portable video recorders are used by employees of industrial and mining giants and public organizations. For police officers, devices have been developed to continuously record up to 24 hours, with an integrated GPS module and a convenient mount that do not restrict human movement.

Modern Physical Access Control Systems

“Little Brother” may gain more popularity in the world as a whole and to businesses specifically. These systems help entrepreneurs to control the processes of their companies. Modern Physical Access Control Systems provide contactless access, which has become safer and easier than ever. And smart cameras with artificial intelligence can analyze large flows of information and solve a wide range of business issues. Portable video recorders help employees of various services keep constant video recording of their activities, increase workers' safety, and resolve disputes. Bridge with analytics on board, in turn, offers to combine video surveillance and video analytics into one ecosystem with convenient access at any time and storing material in the cloud.

There are disadvantages of these systems, which are high cost and poor choice of devices. However, edge technologies are only gaining momentum and are already able to offer business solutions with full autonomy and fast work speed.