PSI July 2019

PROMOTION
Ease of use brings value
With today’s intuitive management
tools, the benefits of video
surveillance in safety and security
are more accessible than they
have ever been, to a broader
range of organisations says
Christina Behle of Axis
Any technology is only as valuable as the
user’s skills and ability to operate it.
Looking at how we use business software
applications, or only use a small part of the
functionality on our mobile phones, it becomes
clear how technology is rarely used to its full
potential. This is as true of video surveillance as
any other technology: a solution that isn’t
intuitive, easy to use and manage won’t deliver
maximum value. And while the quality of video
surveillance has improved enormously in recent
years, and the addition of other network
technologies and analytics have enhanced
coverage and insight, these innovations will
mean little if the operator cannot make full use
of them. This is particularly true of smaller
organisations – whether in retail, hospitality,
education or manufacturing – which are far less
likely to have people specifically employed to
use and manage the video surveillance solution.
An intuitive user interface is therefore
essential in allowing non-specialist employees
to set up and operate cameras and deliver the
associated security and operational benefits.
Key aspects that should be considered include:
• Automatic camera discovery and setup
wizards so that systems are live as quickly as
possible
• The ability to view live and recorded video
simultaneously
• Tabs that enable instant recall of views of
interest
• On-screen controls for common and useful
camera features
• An ‘always on’ timeline for easier
investigation after any incidents
• Simple export of video footage to relevant
authorities
In many smaller organisations, the video
surveillance operator isn’t dedicated to the task
full-time. In such cases, email notifications with
an attached image can alert the operator, who
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can then use a mobile viewing app to access live
surveillance. In doing so, system users are free
from static camera management stations,
allowing them to monitor video surveillance
while engaged in other work.
Every organisation is different, which is why
it is vital to understand the unique
requirements the surveillance system needs to
fulfil. Take Washington Community High School
(WCHS) for example. As the school expanded, it
outgrew its security system, which was made
up of a variety of different analogue cameras
from multiple manufacturers. As such the
system was difficult to use and generated a
large number of false alarms, as well as there
being gaps in coverage. The school decided to
upgrade to an IP-based system to improve
quality, coverage and ease of use.
After deploying the new system, the schools
issues around usability were reduced. For
example, rather than spending an hour
reviewing analogue video to find five minutes’
worth of relevant footage, the school’s security
officer can quickly find incidents on video and
see exactly what happened, allowing them to
address the issues immediately. By also using
video management software security personnel
can spend more time monitoring the school for
potential problems.
“It’s performed much better than the former
system and it’s saved me a lot of time, probably
several hours,” said School Resource Officer
Troi Westbrook. Also, by the new system being
very user-friendly, it allows new users to get up
to speed quickly, saving money on training
costs and the consequences of user errors.
“A solution that isn’t
intuitive, easy to use
and manage won’t
deliver maximum
value”
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