Online Security & Surveillance Companies

EZWatch Pro Total Security That's Easy To Install

AVS or Automated Video Systems is one of the largest names in security. The company has been manufacturing and installing professional video surveillance systems since 1998 and started producing their line of EZWatch Pro products in the spring of 2000. You can find more information about the companies history at PR.com.

The companies goal in creating their EZWatch line was to provide both individuals and businesses with low cost equipment that provides professional surveillance and security. And, to also provide devices that can be easily installed and used by someone that doesn't have a lot of electronic or technical experience.   

Their security systems have been used by school's around the country to provide protection for our children. At Video-Surveillance-Guide.com you'll find more information on why you should choose EZWatch Pro if you are in need of the best protection possible for your school.

All of their products have been tested in real security situations in over 60,000 locations. AVS maintains one of the largest customer support departments in the security industry. And, all of their representatives have been extensively trained to help you with any problem that might arise when using or installing their products.

EZWatch Pro provides a wide range of security systems that are perfect for any situation from a home to a large business. Their complete security kits include everything you'll need to quickly provide protection for your property. Their kits allow you to choose the number of cameras that you need to secure small or large areas. They offer camera systems from two cameras all the way up to 48 camera systems.   

EZWatch Pro's business grade DVR kits give you the full features of 4.0 High Definition recording and includes 640 X 480 high resolution images. The cameras will record at a frame rate of 7.5 per second and you'll even get the added advantage of night vision! Their professional grade kits improve the resolution to 702 X 480 if you want the clearest of images.

If you don't need an entire security kit, EZWatch Pro offers a wide variety of other surveillance cameras. They have several different styles of dome cameras available for both indoor and outdoor use. Their outdoor dome cameras are equipped with night vision and many of the styles are vandal proof as well.

If you'd prefer bullet style cameras, they offer some of the best in the industry! The EZ-Bullet provides night vision with a 40 square foot range with color video capture during the day and black and white at night. If you need more range, their Long Range bullet camera gives you a full 200 foot area coverage for daytime use and 150 foot coverage at night!

For more serious spying needs, the Black-Ops Mobile Spying System can capture everything you need on video. The body worn kit includes everything you need for difficult situations including a pair of sunglasses with a hidden camera and a button for your shirt that has micro camera inside.
 
Both devices simply plug into a pocket size DVR/Video monitor and provide clear video and audio. The recorded data can easily be transferred to your computer with the included USB cable. The whole system comes in an aluminum carrying case to protect it and keep it all together for quick access.

The EZ-Eye Wireless Color Spy Camera with built in DVR is an amazing little device. The small unit is only four inches tall and just three inches wide, but it's big on protection! The tiny device can record as much as two week of images and be easily hidden almost anywhere. The EZ-Eye will run from batteries or electricity. It's the ideal security camera to use as a nanny cam or any situation where you need wireless, mobile protection.

These are just a few of the many products manufactured by EZWatch Pro, no matter what your security needs are they have a product that would be prefect for your particular situation. And, since all of their products are designed with ease of installation in mind, anyone can quickly install their own home or business security systems.

If you only need temporary security protection, or don't want to deal with the hassle of repairs if something happens to the equipment, rent it! EZWatch Pro provides monthly rentals with your choice several types of systems. They offer a wireless camera with built in DVR, a motion activated kit and even several styles of wearable cameras that can be rented and simply returned when you no longer need them.      

Video Surveillance Trends

There’s a trend when it comes to video surveillance: there’s more of it.  Every day, and every where, you find more video technology watching you.  I’m sure you’ve noticed it yourself.  It seems that every traffic light in every city is monitored by video camera.  This started to happen a few years ago and has quickly spread from what were a few key cameras at a few key intersections to multiple cameras at just about every intersection.

Now, I’m not sure if these are just traffic cameras or not.  I can’t really say who is monitoring the feeds to these cameras and where they might be located, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you could track it back to the Department of Homeland Security, or somewhere like that:  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2537.asp.  So many cameras in such a short time on such a wide roll-out kind of makes me wonder.

I have to admit that I don’t feel more safe and secure as a result of the abundance of these new cameras.  Actually, I’m feeling a bit more invaded.  Does every face need to be scanned to keep the country safe from terrorists?  I think we should try securing the borders with a higher level of scrutinized monitoring.

For some reason, though, we’re e being monitored by all of these video surveillance cameras while we’re out in public every day.  These cameras can likely scan faces, car make, model, and year, license plates, how you walk, your mannerisms, and more.  Who knows?  It’s worth investigating because it seems more and more Orwellian ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orwellian ).

Admittedly, video surveillance is needed to a degree.  ATM cameras, shop cameras, parking lot cameras all make sense to me and actually do make me feel more secure.  The amount of camera installations that have popped-up along the roads of this nation really do puzzle me, however.  Out of my quizzical viewpoint emerges another, because I wonder what precedent is being set?

There have been times when I feel so monitored I almost feel like I’m doing something wrong, as if it’s the expectation that I will.  I’ve even felt shy looking-up at a video surveillance camera before, due to its strong psychological effect.  They’ve become omnipresent and they are setting a new standard for what is acceptable.

Now, as I play the devil’s advocate I realize that the new level of video surveillance the public is unwittingly conforming to may be completely innocent and benign.  But we’re in a time when bureaucracy, red tape, domestic spying, government distrust, tremendous overspending, and economic failure are putting day to day life on more of an edge.  The cameras may help keep things running smoothly, but they may also serve to exacerbate things.

If there were public oversight of the video surveillance systems, more disclosure on their use, funding, and legal use guidelines http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2007/03/questions_about_traffic_camera.html) perhaps there would be a level of community activism that would support the use of video surveillance for the greater public good.  The shrouding, secrecy, and apparent passing of the proverbial buck from one official agency to the next when inquiries are made fuel the fire of video surveillance dissent.

I used to think these traffic cameras were there in case there were to be an accident at that particular intersection, or to help with traffic reporting, or to keep tabs on driving conditions during bad weather.  All of these uses are so completely legit I wouldn’t think that anyone would bat and eye at them.  But, they’ve become so numerous it’s beginning to beg a question or two because awareness of this new attempt at a surveillance society is growing.

I haven’t had a traffic ticket or any type of moving violation since December 2000.  Just recently I received notification in the mail that I had been photographed exceeding the speed limit and that I now owe a fine.  So, after all of this time, I happen to get a “ticket” from a photo-enforced surveillance post telling me I have to give the state money. 

There was no indication of any ability to go to court, no mention of my great driving record, or any human-based interaction confirming the infraction.  All I had there was a piece of paper generated by a video/photo surveillance device that monitored me without my knowledge and is now working to uphold the law remotely.  Honestly, I don’t think I like that and I don’t know where all of this is going, and I don’t like that either.  I hope and pray for a happy medium between unobtrusive video surveillance for the sake of security and video surveillance for the sake of control and taxation.

Sensationalism vs. Reality: The Rarity of School Shootings

Statistics from the annual FBI Uniform Crime Reports arguably provide the best insight into crime in America, and the data are analyzed and cross-referenced in a variety of useful ways. These data show that the reduction in gun-related school violence is of a piece with a larger downward trend in violent juvenile crime that spanned the 1990s. Although the rate of decline appears to have leveled off in recent years, the trend is still very much in the right direction.

Further, the decline in school violence, even when understood as part of a larger national downward trend among American youth, cannot simply be attributed to a decline in the juvenile population. In fact, the juvenile population has increased. Clearly, there are multiple factors associated with the drop, including a diminution of violence associated with street gangs, more effective community-oriented law enforcement approaches and the numerous, diverse school- and community-based anti-violence programs.

The school environment

James Q. Wilson and George L. Kellin developed the -broken windows" theory in the early 1980s. It posited that the small but noticeable clues suggesting a lack of law-enforcement vigilance, like broken windows and vandalized buildings, would eventually create the environment in which more serious crimes would take place. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his police commissioner, William Bratton, implemented new policing policies based on the theory and were able to reduce crime in the Big Apple to historic lows.

School and university environments can evolve the same way, for better or for worse, so the lower-level offenses are important to track and counteract. Nationally, the percentage of students reporting threats or injuries on campus has remained fairly stable since 1993, with male students experiencing about twice the number of incidents as female students. Statistics show that the percentage of students who report being harassed " verbally, sexually or physically " may have increased slightly since 1999, although the increase may be due to a greater awareness of the problem, rather than a true increase in the number of incidents.

The fact is, by tracking the trends in less-serious assaults and other school discipline problems one can develop a decent representation of the national campus environment. It is safe to say, and is fully supported by the data, that campuses are as secure as they have ever been.

Media sensationalism

Since the Columbine shooting in April of 1999, every other incident has been given incredibly sensationalistic media coverage. This media attention to these various cases has promoted the notion that there is a high risk of a high school or college student coming on campus to commit mass murder. This perception has led to the imposition of draconian -zero tolerance policies" and even the profiling of -potential killers" among the student population.

However, the National School Safety Center identified just 93 incidents of a student entering a high school or college campus and killing one or more persons, and this was during the worst ten-year period, 1993 to 2002. This works out to an average of some 9.3 cases annually, or roughly once during each month of the school year.

In a nation with approximately 125,000 schools and colleges, a rate of 9.3 cases per year means a school can expect such an event about once every 13,441 years (125,000 divided by 9.3). Of course, this calculation is not a rigorously precise risk assessment, but does shed light on the huge gap between American's general perception of risk and actual rates of shootings at America schools.

More on University security and crime..

Safety In Catholic Schools

It is no surprise that school safety is one of the chief concerns among American families.  As a result of the ever-growing trend of school-related violence, the need for enhanced security has risen dramatically. 

The U.S. Department of Justice claims that in 2006, “78 percent of schools experienced one or more violent incidents of crime,” on and off campus.  So how do schools respond to this problem?  That depends.  Public schools have one answer, while private schools have another.  Public schools begin to tackle the problem of school-related violence by equipping campuses with guards, cameras, and metal detectors.  And thanks to well-spent taxpayer dollars, families of public school students can rest assured that these needs are being met.  But what about the over six million private school students in the United States? 

Over six million students in the U.S. attend private schools.  According to the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), nearly 45% of them attend Catholic schools.  Despite popular opinion, Catholic schools do not have a financial advantage over public schools.  This is seldom the case, especially in middle to low-income areas.  Despite the cost, many parents said they chose to send their children to Catholic schools because they felt that they were just safer.  Statistics show this to be true.    In a 2005 report from CAPE, incidents of criminal activity in private schools were less than half of those reported for public schools.  Those are impressive statistics considering the current financial situation of the Catholic Church.

Because of the controversies of late, the church is in a financial crisis like it has never known.  In order to pay reparations to victims of alleged sexual abuse by priests, the Catholic Church has had to make devastating budget cuts.  While one might be hard-pressed to muster sympathy for the church in this case, it is important to know that this has resulted in immeasurable consequences for students and teachers of Catholic schools.  One such consequence of this financial crisis is that Catholic schools cannot afford the same means of security that most public schools can.    Security guards and surveillance cameras can usually only be acquired through fundraisers and donations.  And with the current state of the economy, many families that struggle to keep up with the tuition costs of private schools no longer have the means make such donations.  And while statistics show that private schools are in fact safer than public schools, for Catholic school administrators, that simply is not good enough.  But without the proper funding for better security, what can Catholic schools do to stay safe?  In California, one of the ways they are attempting to meet the need for safety on campus and off is to appoint educators as guards, a method many say is undesirable.

Though teachers have always served supervisory roles while on the job, the term “chaperone,” has never before carried this much weight.  New supervising requirements for Catholic schoolteachers are placing undue levels of responsibility that will not likely be very effective.  When asked to comment on her new responsibilities, a teacher from a Catholic school in Downey, CA said, “We [teachers] now have to put in extra hours to chaperone games off campus.  I have been told that if any violence takes place, I am responsible for taking care of it, and I can be sued if someone gets hurt.  I’m no security guard!  I’m 5’1’’ and not very confrontational.  All I can do is call 911 if things get bad.” 

While Catholic school administrators agree that this is a poor substitute for professional security, they are committed to maintaining the standards of safety in Catholic schools.  And until economic stability is restored within and outside of the church, the options for security are limited.

World's First All-Digital Wireless Home Security System

Like everything else in today’s fast-paced world, wireless security systems are going digital.  Compared to today's traditional analog-based security systems, the InGrid Home Security System is the first easy-to-self-install system on the market. I know, you’re thinking, is it really that easy to install.  After all, all you’ve got is your Sears handyman tool set your wife bought you years ago. But according to the InGrid folks, it’s pretty easy—their claim, InGrid goes from box to full-home protection in minutes. No doubt that depends on how handy you are around the house. The goal, as stated by In Grid, is a simple security system with digital and wireless connectivity for home and family protection.

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Rick Souder, their executive VP of merchandising explains, "Many of our customers are technology savvy and constantly seeking new products to better suit their needs." He claims their new approach to home security is the latest technological innovation. What makes the new InGrid wireless system unique is its assortment of nifty features. It’s packed with techno-whiz stuff that fully exploits today's trend to dovetail broadband, mobile, and home security into one integrated, crime-stopping home protective shield. For example, most homeowners will love InGrid’s remote capabilities. They let you conveniently control advanced features from anywhere in the home—or while your vacationing in Bora Bora—via any Internet-connected device, whether it's a mobile phone or PDA.

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The InGrid system comes in two sizes. There’s their Basic model, for smaller homes and apartments of approximately 1,500 square feet or less. And their Home model, for average sized homes of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Both systems rely on wireless sensor technology to create an invisible security grid throughout the home. The wireless network links small peel-and-stick window and door sensors, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and other devices with portable handsets, broadband-enabled base stations, system consoles and monitoring services.

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All systems come with a base, console, handset and three open/close sensors. The sensors are inexpensive and you can add as many as you need. You can even put sensors on cabinet and bedroom doors, if you need room-to-room protection. Their Home system includes a grid extender, keychain remote, and eight window and door sensors. Like the Basic system, you can add additional components, more keychain remotes (for each family member) and more sensors.

Let’s say you’re building a new addition to your home. Expanding the system is easy, since all you have to do is add more sensors or even another grid extender. If you’re like many homeowners who have a tool shed out back, a grid extender in the shed can be set up to talk to your controllers in your home—at a distance of up to 100 feet—so you can put sensors on the shed’s door or windows.

InGrid is fully broadband-enabled. The system maintains constant communication with 24/7 professional monitoring through Guardian Protection Services, the world's largest privately held security company. InGrid regards broadband providers as key distribution partners for their service, especially since cable modems, DSL links, and other high-speed connections are now found in more than 50 million U.S. homes. The company expects the home security market to double over the next few years as the industry makes the move from analog to digital technology.

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by Alex A. Kecskes