Pc Vs Dedicated V03

10

reasons why embedded CCTV systems are better than PCs! Salim Idris Dedicated Micros Middle East

1. Philosophy

This is a Swiss Army pen-knife, a multi-function tool that has sold in its millions. Incorporated into its convenient format are a wide variety of instruments; knife, wrench, scissors, corkscrew, even a device for removing stones from horses hooves! Yet, despite it’s iconic success, you won’t find one in any professional toolbox. The compromises adopted to deliver it’s multi-faceted utility, are also it’s downfall. It does a reasonable job at everything, but an outstanding job at nothing! A PC is also a multi-function tool. It’s a notepad, a diary, a games console, a picture frame. Sometimes, it’s even a CCTV digital video recorder (DVR). But just like the Swiss Army pen-knife, it is inferior to the purpose designed original. The next nine slides explain why a general purpose PC can never match a Dedicated Micros DVR.

2. Real-time Multi-tasking

Your DVR needs to be able to perform the following functions CONTINUOUSLY and SIMULTANEOUSLY: • Record multiple video streams to disk • Analyse multiple cameras for video motion detection • Monitor and respond to alarms • Send domes to preset positions on alarm • Make available multiple video streams for remote viewing over a network • Instantly respond to user controls • Archive important footage • Log events and other key activity • etc… And remember, all this has to be achieved in a real-time environment. That is, the pictures just keep coming, and just like the juggler and his clubs, the system cannot stall or drop them. PCs are just not designed for this level of relentless activity.

3. Reliability

Unfortunately, criminal behaviour is impossible to predict – you never know when any incident is going to occur. That’s why your security team has to be ever vigilant, and why your CCTV equipment has to be “always-on” recording. Manufacturers that try to build robust, real-time recorders on a general purpose Windows platform are doomed to failure. This configuration screen from a reputable, branded PC-DVR manufacturer shows where the user is asked to select the time of day that the machine will automatically reboot to enable its “garbage collection” routine. The restart occurs at the same time every 24 hours, offering an obvious security loop-hole. Other PC vendors suffer from the same symptoms, though few are honest enough to highlight such a crude solution. Dedicated Micros DVRs are designed to operate continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

4. Remote Viewing, & Core Recording All DVRs sold today, including those from Dedicated Micros, are able to use PCs as remote viewing terminals. Similarly, some related security applications, such as access control and intelligent video analysis packages, also run on PCs. Why then, are PCs regarded as such bad news? It is important to draw a distinction between viewing applications, and core recording functionality. If a PC viewer crashes it is inconvenient, but at least it can be rebooted and incidents can be subsequently investigated. However, if the PC-DVR itself fails, then recording stops, and potentially crucial information is lost forever. Dedicated Micros offers a range of software development tools to facilitate integration with PC applications, but all DM recording devices are based on real-time embedded architectures.

5. User Interface Design

PCs are predominantly designed for text based operations, driven through a QWERTY keyboard and a mouse. Sure, there are some non-text functions that can be driven this way, such as playing CDs or DVDs, but these are largely passive activities. When it comes to real-time interaction with an application, the traditional accessories are decidedly limited. Don’t believe it, then ask any hardcore gamer if he would swap his PS2 or X-box controller for a mouse! The same is true for CCTV systems. If you are a casual user who wants to look at a camera every now and again, then a PC viewing interface is fine. But if you are a security professional, responsible for the safety of the general public, and you regularly need to track suspicious behaviour around a town centre, then you will want the ergonomic effectiveness of a purpose-built PTZ controller.

6. Electronic Security

“W32.Mydoom virus flooded the internet with more than 100 million infected e-mails in its first 36 hours!” Source: F-Secure

A PC-based CCTV system is susceptible to virus attack just like any PC in the organisation. In fact, they can be even more susceptible! Firstly, some DVR manufacturers try to hide their machine’s PC heritage, meaning that the IT department may not install the appropriate anti-virus software. Secondly, loading a heavy-weight virus protection suite to a PC-DVR can seriously limit the machine’s performance, making it less capable of recording at peak rate during an alarm, for example. Since Dedicated Micros DVRs use a non-Windows, embedded operating system, they are immune from PC viruses.

7. Operational Effectiveness

There is more to effective security than reliable equipment. Top quality CCTV images are useless if the security staff’s attention is elsewhere. And a PC-based CCTV system is a box of toys to a bored guard in the middle of the night shift. Computer games, the Internet, even DVD movies are popular options. A Dedicated Micros DVR offers no such distractions. The user remains focussed on the job in hand, and the facility is better protected as a result.

8. Beware “Specmanship”

Some PC-DVR vendors cite impressive performance statistics. But it is important to look beyond the hype, and ensure that your system will do the job you want it to do.

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics”

For example, companies who claim record rates of 400+ pictures per second often do not tell you that these are based on recording low resolution images, yielding poor picture quality on playback. Similarly, some vendors argue that their products can cram multiple months of CCTV footage on to a small hard drive. But they fail to mention that to achieve this they have to configure the machine for unrealistic resolution, frame rate and compression settings. Perhaps a more relevant statistic is that Dedicated Micros equipment records in excess of 7,000,000 evidential-quality images every second, across some of the world’s most prestigious CCTV security installations.

Source: Benjamin Disraeli

9. Total Cost of Ownership At first glance, some PC-DVRs can look remarkably cheap. But the headline price is not the whole story and, as with most purchases, the least expensive option is rarely the best value. It is important to consider the “total cost of ownership” of your CCTV system, taking into account the extras associated with: • Prolonged installation and configuration • Training and re-training of operatives • Missed events • System down-time • False alarm reporting • Repair charges • Additional software costs • Support contracts Dedicated Micros’ DVRs work “out of the box”. Connect the cameras, the monitor and the power, and you have a reliable system, with no hidden costs.

10. Inevitable Technology Trends Today’s PCs are powerful enough to replace many items around the home; CD Players, DVD Players, Televisions, Set-top Boxes and Games Consoles, to name but a few. But many households still have all of these things – Why? During the industrial revolution, whole workshops were powered by one large, expensive engine using complicated networks of belts and gears. But then, smaller, more reliable devices were developed, and soon each machine had its own source of power. The first microprocessors were built into mainframes, and shared between thousands of users. Now there is a silicon chip in every TV, watch and washing machine. As technology becomes cost effective, it stops being shared and is replicated across multiple, purpose-built products. The PC used to be the only option to store digital data. Now, embedded systems are the preferred option. From Sky+ and X-box, to iPOD and your Dedicated Micros DVR!