Karyn Hodgson

Asking the ‘Top 5’ Questions

Integrators and manufacturers weigh in on the five key questions integrators should be asking about visitor management systems.

Karyn Hodgson

August 10, 2012

When choosing which access control systems to offer one of the most important things to consider is customers’ needs. Often the end users don’t know which questions to ask, leaving the task to the integrator.

The 3 Profitable ‘C’s of Wire and Cable

Cost, control and codes can make all the difference in whether wiring is a profitable or losing prospect.

Karyn Hodgson

July 23, 2012

Ask most security installers what the most time-consuming aspect of a job is and they will likely put pulling wire and cable at the top of the list. Knowing exactly which product to select, how to meet code, and how to make the installation go as fast and smooth as possible can make or break the whole process.

A Little Bit Edgy

Integrators weigh in on the pros and cons of using edge devices for access control installations.

Karyn Hodgson

June 18, 2012

Edge devices can be a boon to dealers and integrators both in sales and installation, particularly in the access control field. Easier wiring makes them cost-effective for doors that previously didn’t use electronic security. Yet, the traditional centralized panel solution is far from dead, and indeed still preferred by some integrators. What does the edge look like today for access control systems, and how can it benefit your business?

Many Options Lead to Layered Approach for Emergency Communications

When it comes to notifying the “masses,” more options — including two-way communication, social media, digital signage, and more — are better.

Karyn Hodgson

May 18, 2012

Spring 2012 has been an unusually active, dangerous weather season, with unprecedented tornadoes hitting the Midwest, Southeast and the state of Texas. April saw a shooting rampage that resulted in seven deaths at Oikos University, a small college in California. This shooting came just a few months after violence revisited the campus of Virginia Tech in December 2011. Two people were killed in that incident, which brought back memories of the deadliest college massacre ever on the same campus in 2007.

Today’s Turnstiles: Reshaped, Smarter, With New Benefits

SDM speaks with two manufacturers about trends and developments in optical turnstiles.

Karyn Hodgson

March 21, 2012

Like every aspect of security, turnstile technology has gotten smarter over the years. The turnstiles you see in transit facilities are not the same as those high-end office buildings. The introduction of optical turnstiles changed that. But what has changed recently with optical turnstiles, and where is that technology headed?

Heightened Access Control

Utilities take ‘rugged environments’ to another level. Manufacturers and integrators discuss access control in this critical infrastructure.

Karyn Hodgson

February 22, 2012

The utility environment is challenging in many ways. Brent Franklin, president, Unlimited Technology Inc., Chester Springs, Pa., sums it up appropriately when he says, “Utilities are often located in the middle of some of the worst environments and applications you can possibly imagine. They are in the middle of a transformer field or on the side of a rocky hill. They absolutely have a lot more inherent risk than a normal office building.”

Code Compliance: A Big Deal

In the matter of a magnetic lock installation, code compliance can be a big deal if designers and installers aren’t sufficiently educated about requirements and common misinterpretations. Why all the fuss? Life safety, of course.

Karyn Hodgson

February 22, 2012

In an industry where technology is king and the latest and greatest in access control can do amazingly sophisticated things, it is somewhat ironic that one of the most complicated and controversial pieces of equipment to install is a lock — a magnetic lock, to be specific. The issues surrounding this relatively simple piece of hardware can get so messy that some dealers and integrators elect to stay away from installing it at all.

Extreme Access

Wind, rain, snow, salt, chemicals, even marshmallows — the access control system must be able to withstand them all.

Karyn Hodgson

January 17, 2012

Designing an access control system often starts with the reader technology. But in some environments, that is the least of your concerns. Harsh environments can mean anything from extreme temperature (hot or cold), to dusty, dirty, gaseous, chemical and beyond. And while cards and readers may work just fine in those conditions, that is anything but a given. There are far more things to consider in the design of systems for these special circumstances.

Video Storage: More Options = More Opportunities

Karyn Hodgson

December 19, 2011

Not too long ago, video storage meant wading through hours and hours of VHS tapes to find relevant video, worrying about tapes wearing out and providing the large amounts of physical space requirements for a facility’s storage needs.

More Than Just Talk

Today’s telephone entry and intercom systems are a sophisticated part of the larger security system.

Karyn Hodgson

December 14, 2011

For many years telephone entry and intercom systems have been staid and stable systems that really didn’t change much functionally over time. But as with the consumer world, technology has advanced at lightning speed in recent years — bringing with it game-changing capabilities.