Editor’s note: This is the second article in a new series from SecurityInfoWatch.com contributor Ray Bernard about how real words can become empty words and stifle technology progress. If you haven’t done so already, you can check out the first article in the series here.
Next Generation, often shortened to Next-Gen or NextGen, is a term appearing on many published buzzword lists (Just Google buzzword list next generation). In the past 15 years or so, the term has been widely applied to products and technologies to imply that the latest version of a product is "new, different and immeasurably better" than the previous version.
As use of the Next Generation term grew in the security industry, it created a problem. A company failing to label its next version of products as "Next Generation" risked creating the impression that its research and development efforts were significantly lagging those of competing companies. Thus, nearly all companies showcased "Next Generation" products regardless of how worthy they were of that label and the term generally became a meaningless buzzword in our industry.
Next Generation Technology Advances
However, the term is not always without meaning and, when applied to a class of technology, such as “Next Generation Wireless,” it usually does refer to a significant advance in specific capabilities, sometimes due to a change in the very nature of the technology. A good example is the recently arrived next generation of security video analytics, which has astounding capabilities because the technology has gone truly digital. A technical paper that I wrote for the Security Industry Association (SIA) called, "The State of Security Video Analytics," describes it in detail (you can read the paper online or download it in PDF format). It clearly defines the differences between the previous generation of video analytics and the new generation. I am aware of several companies currently providing Next Generation video analytics products. It is a 19-page technical paper, but is fairly easy to read, partly because each aspect of what makes the technology “next-generation” is depicted in illustrations.
The Next Generation Rule
Here is a good rule to apply: a claim of having a Next Generation product is generally just buzzword usage unless there is also a clear description available of what the previous generation’s technology was, what the new generation product’s technology is, and how the difference between them provides significantly greater capabilities and/or cost reductions, sufficient to justify the Next Generation claim.
For example, on the ASIS 2016 show floor at the Bosch Security booth, I saw a demonstration of the company’s next generation video analytics technology, which forever eliminates having to manually create motion masks for trees, shrubbery, cloud motion and so on. The machine learning capability of the camera’s analytics software automatically figures out what is in the scene and distinguishes between objects of interest and "scene background." In the demonstrations that I saw, the camera even determined that the heavily falling snow was part of the scene and should not trigger motion events. Self-configuring analytics is a significant technology advancement worthy of the Next Generation label both technically and for its valuable security operations benefits. Backing up the validation of "Next Generation" status is a statement in a 2013 Bosch press release, explaining that the Bosch Automotive Group (which provides 90 percent of the software for Google’s autonomous driving initiative), has been sharing its video analytics technology with the Bosch Security Group.
Applying the NextGen Rule to Products
A manufacturer should be able to describe how its Next Generation product technology came into being, with a factual story that makes sense, whether developed internally, in partnership with another company or obtained from a third party source. The differences between the previous generation and the new generation of product should be understandable. In the absence of general consensus about a product’s Next Generation status, you can and should make your own conclusion as to whether the claim is valid. However, more important than Next Generation status is the value of the technology improvements to your own risk mitigation goals and security operations objectives.
Hold Companies Accountable for Their Claims
If we want to improve our industry, we should hold companies accountable for Next Generation claims. If what they mean is simply "the next product in our sequence of product development," they are using the wrong definition. Merriam-Webster provides an example of the definition appropriate to our industry context:
a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type
The term Next Generation shouldn’t be without meaning. We should insist if companies are going to use the term to impress or persuade us that they know what they are talking about and don’t waste their breath or ink, and our time!
About the Author: Ray Bernard, PSP CHS-III, is the principal consultant for Ray Bernard Consulting Services (RBCS), a firm that provides security consulting services for public and private facilities (www.go-rbcs.com). Mr. Bernard is a Subject Matter Expert Faculty of the Security Executive Council and an active member of the ASIS International member councils for Physical Security and IT Security.
