Whenever people talk about “physical security,” they usually think of systems that use cameras, barriers, or locks. However, companies are now realizing the potential of audio technology to enhance existing surveillance systems.
Audio is everywhere, but it’s not being used as much as it could be in the security industry. Companies that aren’t taking advantage of these capabilities are missing out on a valuable tool that can improve security and incident management.
Audio as a Complementary Technology
Network cameras act as the “eyes” of the system, and audio technology adds another dimension to security by acting as the “ears” and “mouths” of employees. With a two-way audio system, employees can not only hear what is happening remotely, but also communicate and interact with suspicious individuals. Therefore, individuals can manage incidents as they occur and potentially prevent them from happening in the first place.
Today, this technology is increasingly being used in various industries. One such area is law enforcement, where detention centers and interview rooms are equipped with management systems; systems that can record audio and video and use them as evidence if needed. Businesses can also use this technology to investigate employee claims and compensation claims.
Governments can also use audio to improve public safety, especially in safe city projects. Authorities can detect crimes in progress by sounding alarms triggered by monitored sounds and activities, and can preemptively manage them by giving verbal warnings.
Transportation is another powerful area for the use of this technology. For schools, adding audio can act as a powerful deterrent to student conflicts. Schools want to be able to hear the voice of the person – male or female – who started the conflict, and perhaps help defuse the situation.
Voice Analytics
Using voice for surveillance purposes can provide a wealth of data. The next step is to find a way to isolate and separate the voices that are considered important and interpret the information.
Big data management and the use of analytics to transform data into information are all about making effective decisions. That’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re in the midst of a technological shift toward voice analytics, which can help us confirm or deny many things, including:
- Aggressive behavior of individuals in an environment
- The occurrence of an attack (disease) in individuals in an environment
- Setting off fireworks and lighting crackers in the schoolyard by students
- Launching a ballistic missile in the schoolyard by individuals
As surveillance technology continues to rapidly evolve – cameras, sirens and video management systems – audio technology has also been steadily evolving to catch up with surveillance technology. Audio technology may not have played a significant role in physical security until now, but that role is changing as the industry becomes aware of the benefits it can add to existing video surveillance systems.
Taken from a&s magazine