Archive: January 2002
Greyfox courts security dealers
January 1, 2002Andrea Gura
PITTSBURGH-A home networking equipment manufacturer that's been a behind-the-scenes provider for the last six years is now tapping security dealers as a new sales channel for its structured wiring product.
Greyfox Systems, based here, has begun to court security dealers who are looking to get into structured wiring. The company offers sales and product support for its home networking hub, the central component that controls the home's security, entertainment, communications, climate control and...
The new future of monitoring
January 1, 2002Cliff Dice
As technology continues to develop, and as communication and security needs continue to merge, the role of the central station will become ever more important to today's society.
People live their lives at a fast pace, and they require technologies that allow them to do so with convenience and security. In this era of cell phones, pagers and long-distance commutes, the security industry must continue to develop solutions for today's public.
In trying to achieve these solutions, the alarm industry...
Digital filter technology garners patent
January 1, 2002Andrea Gura
FAIRFIELD, N.J.-A digital filtering technology company announced in late October it had been granted a patent for its image enhancement technology that reduces picture noise through an increased algorithm process.
Nuwave Technology plans to license its technology to OEMs for bundling or embedding in products such as digital cameras to help reduce about 70 percent of the picture noise while ensuring the text and other elements of the image don't blur, according to Bob Webb, Nuwave's chief technology...
It's back to business
January 1, 2002SSN Staff
Finally it's 2002. It's funny how we think that the turn of the year will result in a turn in life circumstances...but we do. And for our industry and our country, I hope that this is true. Last year we faced some pretty difficult times. Sales and manufacturing slowed down, the economy slumped, hundreds of thousands of people were laid off, the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon were attacked, and then the country and our industry stopped dead in its tracks and held its breath waiting to see what...
Lab conjures secure ceiling clips
January 1, 2002Andrea Gura
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.-A research laboratory at Penn State University has invented a small metal clip that will make secure an acoustic tile drop ceiling and is searching for a commercial manufacturing partner to mass produce it.
Penn State, which operates the Applied Research Laboratory that performs a large portion of the classified work for the Department of Defense, was remodeling a facility and needed to secure a 2,000-square-foot space that featured an acoustic tile drop ceiling. Since securing...
False alarm ordinance watch
January 1, 2002SSN Staff
Pittsburgh County, Okla.
Sheriff Jerome "Snookie" Amaranto has asked the Pittsburgh County commissioners to consider allowing him to charge security companies for false alarms.
The Daily Oklahoman reported in November that Amaranto made the request out of fear that the frequency of false alarms would lead his officers to "drag their heels" in an instance that turned out to be an actual emergency. Several towns in the area, including Sapulpa, Norman and Yukon, currently have false alarm ordinances...
Senate subcommittee briefed on biometrics
January 1, 2002SSN Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives from across the biometrics industry briefed a segment of the U.S. Senate in November about technologies that could shape the face of national security in the coming months and years.
Appearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information were CEOs from Visionics Corp. and Lau Technologies, which is the parent company of Viisage Technology Inc. Also on the panel were executives from Identix Inc.,...
Frisco Bay to install, monitor ATMs
January 1, 2002SSN Staff
MONTREAL-Frisco Bay Industries has announced an initiative to install and monitor automatic teller equipment in 100 McDonald's restaurants across five Canadian provinces.
The deal comes after a test trial in which Frisco Bay subsidiary Frisco/ATMS installed ATMs in 50 restaurants for McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd. The remainder of the installations will take place by the end of this year.
Barry Katsof, chairman and chief executive officer of Frisco Bay said the deal will bring the company's...
FTC to rule on Zebra/Fargo deal
January 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.-Nearly five months after first announcing plans to buy card manufacturer Fargo Electronics, Zebra Technology in December was still awaiting approval from the Federal Trade Commission.
"Both parties are committed to completing the deal," said Doug Fox, director of investor relations for Zebra.
Both companies hoped the proposed $86 million deal would close at the end of August. But shortly after the planned purchase was announced, which would more than double Zebra's plastic card...
Synergetic prepares to enter the security market
January 1, 2002SSN Staff
SALT LAKE CITY -Synergetic Technolgies Inc., a holding company with subsidiaries in wastewater treatment, healthcare and food services, has launched a plan to enter the security systems market.
Last week, the company acquired ICU Security Systems, which had been developing security surveillance systems to be used in the transportation industry. That announcement was followed with news that its new ICU Security Systems subsidiary had completed the engineering platform for a system that will be beta...