Everything You Never Knew About Network Surveillance
Have you ever noticed the number of surveillance cameras installed at MRT stations? With so many of them pointed at every which direction, including the ones that blossom outside station exits like alien Christmas trees, it is impossible not to be caught on video a dozen times over on your way to work.
This has inadvertently deepened the misconception that surveillance cameras can only be used for security purposes. The fact of the matter is that, beyond just deterrence, surveillance cameras can actually be used to collect and analyse precious data, which can then help improve business and workflow within your company.
Sounds farfetched? Not quite.
Canon’s surveillance solutions have always been top of the line. Its latest hardware, the VB-M50B, recently won the coveted Merlion Award at Safety and Security Asia 2016. In order to take things to a whole new level, Canon’s surveillance hardware now come standard with the People Counter plug-in tool, a video content analysis software that brings in-depth analytical capabilities to its already impressive line-up.
Here is a sneak peek at how it works:
1. By the Numbers
If you run a retail business, how would you tabulate the amount of foot traffic at different times of the day? Are you going to hire someone to count at the front door?
Canon’s new People Count plug-in tool does all of that automatically. This is how it works: from the central security console — or the computer that manages all the surveillance cameras on the local network — you can draw a virtual line on screen. This line then counts the number of people crossing this point from either direction, thus generating a highly accurate number for later analysis.
How is this useful? For example, knowing the amount of foot traffic at different parts of a shopping mall, known as congestion detection, will allow management to better plan rental rates and distribution of tenants across different floors. Also, analysing foot traffic data at MRT stations, known as crowding detection, will allow the management to better execute crowd control during emergencies or on a day-to-day basis.
2. Know Your Customers
The reason why social media platforms like Facebook are so successful is because they collect data about their users — lots and lots of data. This allows them to know exactly what their users want and, in turn, deliver the right content.
Similarly, as business owners, you want to know as much as possible about your customers. More than just the number of people entering or leaving your store, the People Count plug-in tool also tells you the estimated gender and age of all the visitors captured on camera.
How is this useful? Let’s use the retail example once more. If the plug-in tool tells you that the majority of your visitors tend towards the middle-aged crowd, known as passing detection, you may then want to procure future products that are more suited to their tastes. Also, it allows you to customise promotions and special offers for a more personalised shopping experience.
3. Safety Guaranteed
Of course, the People Count plug-in tool also comes with the security features you are familiar with. For example, you can set up your camera in such a way that it immediately notifies you when someone enters a restricted area on your premises. The software also comes with tampering detection built in, so that any attempts to disable the cameras will notify you as well.
How is this useful? Establishments that deal with highly sensitive materials, such as storage facilities or military bases, will find use in surveillance equipment that do not just blindly record videos all day long, but a smart system that is adaptable to your security needs.
Software, Meet Hardware
Alan Kay, an American computer scientist, once said: “People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.” This is precisely what sets Canon’s surveillance software apart from the rest.
At the end of the day, how well the software works depends highly on the hardware. Combining decades of expertise in world-class optics and the latest in network technology, Canon has developed a powerful hardware and software surveillance solution to meet your business needs.
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