LAS VEGAS – The impact of the annual CES show on the security industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years. What began as an event to give electronics manufacturers a platform to build buzz around the latest consumer gadgets under development has slowly morphed into a show where people can see what’s on the horizon for technologies whose applications go far beyond the average American home.
Since home automation began to rise in prominence within the home security market in the late 2000s, CES has become a must attend event for residential integrators looking to see what smart home and do-it-yourself products could been hitting the market soon. However, the advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions coupled with the rise of technologies like LiDAR means that the show is also now providing a window into the future of commercial security products.
Here’s a look at some of the news relevant to security grabbing headlines ahead of the official start of this year’s show:
Ring
On Monday, Ring launched a device called the Access Controller Pro that will allow existing Ring users to operate a remote-controlled access gate from their phone and accept Amazon deliveries. The Access Controller Pro allows users to view who is at their gates but also open the gate remotely and can be paired with Key by Amazon to take packages securely inside the gate.
Bosch
Bosch has introduced two AI-based devices for the autonomous and driver-assisted-vehicle markets. Winning a CES Innovation Award, their LCD-based sun visor uses facial recognition to detect and block sun in your eyes. Bosch now integrates LiDAR into automobile-AI systems for better 3D spacial recognition, object recognition, public safety and collision avoidance.
AMD
AMD’s Ryzen 7 4800U processor is in the world’s thinnest 8-Core x86 laptop, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, claiming a disruptive leap in the ultra-thin computing market. AMD’s cloud partners include AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Microsoft Azure that currently support the security market.
Toyota
Toyota has introduced plans for its “Woven City,” a living smart city laboratory serving as a home to residents and researchers testing and developing technologies such as autonomy, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence in a real-world environment on a 175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan.
“Building a complete city from the ground up, even on a small scale like this, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the city’s infrastructure. With people, buildings and vehicles all connected and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology… in both the virtual and the physical realms … maximizing its potential,” said Akio Toyoda, president, Toyota Motor Corporation.
VR/AR (Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality) Association
The VRARA announced product introductions by several solution providers also participating in their VR/AR Global Summit. Panasonic has introduced the world's First UHD VR eyeglasses that leverage 5G. The comfortable fit that makes users feel as if they were wearing eyeglasses. A micro OLED panel co-developed by Kopin Corporation and Panasonic could have applications in Public Safety and Security, in addition to consumer VR.
Privacy
CES will hold a privacy-focused panel on Tuesday dubbed, “Chief Privacy Officer Roundtable: What Do Consumers Want?” which will weave together corporate objectives like “The future is private” (Facebook) and “privacy is a human right” (Apple). Executives at Apple and Facebook will be addressing the following:
- How do companies build privacy at scale?
- Will regulation be a fragmented patchwork?
- What privacy considerations do industrial users and consumers want?
About the Author:
Steve Surfaro is Chairman of the Public Safety Working Group for the Security Industry Association (SIA) and has more than 30 years of security industry experience. He is a subject matter expert in smart cities and buildings, cybersecurity, forensic video, data science, command center design and first responder technologies. Follow him on Twitter, @stevesurf.
