MOBOTIX in the Media - Articles

Major Changes Coming in the Video Surveillance Industry

„ Changes in the core technology of an industry always offer new opportunities for the financial community. A major evolution, triggered by the need for higher recording image quality, is taking place in the video surveillance industry. (...) This article is an attempt to explain the reasons and consequences of the current technology change in the close-circuit television (CCTV) market. In contrast to digital still cameras that are already between 5 to 7 megapixels, most of all CCTV cameras in the U.S. record only in a resolution of 0.1 megapixel. Nevertheless, the change will not only affect the core camera industry, but it will also influence the other CCTV market players. Developers of video surveillance software are confronted with the challenge on how to handle high-resolution images of dozens of cameras with limited PC performance. (...) How nice the world of video surveillance used to be. If you wanted to use the features of a new camera, all you had to do was to unplug the old model and plug in the new one. (...) The arrival of network cameras changed everything. (...) The key benefit brought by network cameras was the possibility to easily transmit images within the company or globally via the internet. But since an analog camera was mostly used for image generation within the network cameras, resolution in the beginning remained as poor as it had always been. (...) To solve these problems manufacturers need to use a decentralized approach for sharing the workload between cameras and video management software. By putting more intelligence, like video processing, motion detection or storage organization into the camera, the demand for resources from the primary PC is reduced. In such systems, ten times as many digital cameras can be recorded on the PC than analog cameras, even in high resolution. (...) This new decentralized system design, accompanied by high image resolution, will help camera manufacturers that develop both the intelligent software in cameras and the video management software on computers. This is good news for software-based camera manufacturers, but bad news for the copycats; unplugging the old camera and plugging in the new device will no longer work.”

Wallstreet Technology Association's Offical Ticker Magazine , September/October 2007

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Secure - One High School's Lessons In IP-Based Video

„With features ranging from a high-tech tufted vinyl carpet to special air filtration systems and updated kitchen equipment, the $45 million addition to Jackson High School in Massilon, Ohio, was designed as a premier, state-of-the-art education facility. So it's little wonder the school's architect determined the new building's technology and security systems also would be cutting edge. (...) The surveillance network ProTech designed and installed at Jackson High School uses a virtual local are network off the school's fiber backbone network. The VLAN supports 62 IP megapixel cameras from MOBOTIX AG that are deployed at key locations in the new 150,000-square-foot high school building, plus a bus barn. (...) "Mobotix is a security solution with video as its core feature," McKimm said. Because Mobotix cameras are IP-based, specific cameras can be addressed by other IP-based devices, such as mobile laptops and digital phones, so that security, police and fire officials can see what's happening in a particular camera location. Further, in a feature Mobotix claims is unique, its cameras also support two-way audio direct via session initiation protocol. That means first responders can use IP devices to address a specific camera and hear what's going on in a room. If appropriate, they could also speak through the camera to a room's occupants. "An IP camera can give first responders the ability to be there, visually and audibly, at the scene of a crisis," said McKimm, a former law enforcement officer and FBI Academy graduate. The open system offers convenience for users, as well as increased security. (...) That was proven when the school's bus garage was badly damaged by vandals while ProTech was installing cameras in the new school building. (...)”

Network Centric Security , August 2007

Republic Polytechnic to install close to 1,000 megapixel network cameras

„Singapore's Republic Polytechnic is currently installing close to 1,000 network surveillance cameras at its new campus at Woodlands, adding to the existing cameras relocated from its old campus. (...) Spiraltech Pte Ltd, the sole distributor in Singapore for German company MOBOTIX's megapixels network cameras, will supply almost 1,000 of the MOBOTIX M12, M22 and D12 dome cameras for the installation. (...) After a rigorous tender exercise late last year, the MOBOTIX solution was chosen for a few distinct factors. The MOBOTIX solution can provide a complete video and recording solution in megapixel resolution with no additional recording software required. (...) The M12 and M22 cameras offer a wideangle coverage of 90 degrees, while the D12 dual lens cameras provide 180-degree coverage for larger and wider areas. (...) "As this is the largest deployment of megapixel network cameras in this region on a single site, it will be a good model for future projects involving megapixel network solutions in this region," said Michael Tan, Director of Spiraltech.”

Fire & Security Today , May/June 2007

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Europe reenters the video race (Guest comment)

„(...) This is where manufacturers such as MOBOTIX have a definite advantage, since they develop not only the video management systems, but also the cameras. Since a portion of the tasks of the video management system and the image analysis have been integrated directly into the camera, a lot of strain has been shifted away from the computer and the network. In addition, buffering the video data in the camera means that it can elegantly bridge bandwidth fluctuations and network failures. For the first time, the decentralized approach for sharing the workload between the cameras and the computer allows processing many cameras with high frame rates. The future of video will most likely belong to those camera manufacturers who put the software in the cameras and the video management software on the computers. This is good news for the European manufacturers, since software has always been their strong point. Too bad for the copycats from Asia; simply unplugging the old and plugging in the new camera will not work any more.”

Proctetor , May 2007