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Alarm Relay, a UL-listed alarm monitoring company based in San Diego, became the latest central station to earn Five Diamond Certification from the Central Station Alarm Association, the company recently announced. Fewer than 200 central stations in the country have the certification.
Among the most rigorous requirements for completing the Five Diamond program include the commitment to random inspections by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as FM Global, Underwriters' Laboratories or InterTek/ETL, and central stations must also comply with quality criteria standards developed by those same organizations.
Five Diamond Certification also testifies that 100 percent of central station operators at a given company have been certified through the CSAA online training course, which covers all phases of central station communications with law enforcement, customers, and fire and emergency centers.
For an operator to achieve certification, they must demonstrate (among other things) proficiency in alarm verification, which helps reduce false dispatches, and in communications with Public Safety Answering Points.
That latter requirement is bound to be vitally important as central stations around the country forge more partnerships with PSAPs, allowing the ASAP to PSAP program to expand.
I wrote recently about Barry Bruce becoming Guardian Protection Services' new senior VP of corporate sales. Bruce formerly was VP of national sales for Devcon Security, the residential security company that ADT acquired last summer.
Now Warrendale, Pa.-based Guardian has hired another former Devcon VP, Guardian announced today.
Michael Brand, who was VP of sales at Devcon, joined Guardian on April 3 to become director of Guardian's southern region, assuming responsibility for all sales and operations, the company said. The region includes branches in Austin, San Antonio, Tampa, Charlotte and Philadelphia.
Brand was hired by Devcon in 2010 and then worked for ADT after it bought that company. "During his tenure," Guardian said in a news release, "Mr. Brand held the positions of area manager, regional director and vice president of sales, including responsibilities for sales and field operations for the residential, commercial and HOA (home owners association) business segments."
Before he joined Devcon, Brand worked for Brink's, where he was general manager for that company's Deerfield, Fla. branch, the news release said.
His previous experience includes leading New Jersey and Massachusetts branches of Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and being a sales training coach with AT&T's broadband division, according to the news release. It said Brand has a B.A. in communication from Hofstra University.
In a prepared statement, Bruce praised his new (and former) colleague: "I have worked with Mike Brand in the past and have great confidence in his capabilities. I have no doubt he will help us achieve new levels of success in our southern region."
This is an old-fashioned industry in too many ways, so I'm always thrilled when I hear news like this: the Security Industry Association, ISC and the Women's Security Council will be awarding a full scholarship for a woman student enrolled in the new Mercer County Community College security degree program in 2015.
"This scholarship program is made possible with financial support from SIA and ISC and we are incredibly honored by their support and generosity," Rhianna Daniels, founding committee member of the WSC, told me. "The overall goal of the program is to increase diversity in the industry and allow more women to gain access to the great opportunities available in today's security market."
The scholarship was announced at the Women's Security Council reception at ISC West by Ed Several of Reed Exhibitions, which produces ISC events, and Don Erickson, CEO of SIA.
"The lack of women in the security industry is not a new problem, but in this role [CEO of SIA] I really believe it's something we need to draw more attention to. This is a small example of how we're doing this," Erickson said.
The Mercer County Community College security degree program will be launched in the fall of 2015. It is a two-year program that will award degrees in: project management; security integration; product technology and security sales.
A SIA committee came up with the idea for the program last summer. Key participants on that committee are Dave Lyons of System Sensor, Pierre Trapanese of Northland Control Systems and Frank De Fina of Samsung.
De Fina said the industry continues to struggle to find qualified candidates, even though jobs in this industry pay well and offer advancement opportunity.
In addition, De Fina said there's a "tremendous lack of diversity in the security industry" and said one of the reason organizers chose Mercer County Community College for this program is because it "draws a higher-than-normal percentage of African Americans, Hispanics and women," De Fina said.
SIA has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mercer and is in the process of recruiting industry professionals to teach courses at Mercer.
De Fina pointed out that high grades in the associates degree program at Mercer can lead to a bachelor's degree. "If you go through the program with a 3.5 GPA or better, you're assured spot in a four-year program at Rutgers [University]," De Fina said.
Both the scholarship and the degree program are smart moves for the security industry. Congratulations to SIA, ISC and the WSC.
I'm here in Alabama, my first time in this state, for a Tyco event—the ribbon-cutting ceremony for it new Global Center of Excellence (GCoE) in Birmingham. The event starts in an hour, so I'll have more info later: Below is some stuff from the press release.
"The GCoE enables multinational companies to streamline and standardize their security systems around the world. The GCoE develops standards, technical specifications and detailed work plans that enable consistent security installations globally, while also providing customers with remote system audit services to verify functionality and compliance to corporate standards.
With the increasing number of global clients supported by the GCoE, the expansion of the center will allow Tyco to better serve clients with a single point of contact for their global security needs. Fortune 500 customers are seeking to streamline and standardize their global integrated security systems by consolidating the number of local system integrators they work with worldwide. Managing multiple integrators across hundreds of locations can lead to operational redundancies, quality degradation, compliance issues, and increased costs.The center will also play a key role in the company's effort to create comprehensive solutions for customers that encompass a range of building systems.
The new 24,000 square foot facility currently houses 90 employees, including certified design engineers, computer-aided design operators, program managers, system engineers and other specialists, who design and document global security standards for enterprise-level intrusion security, access control, video management, fire systems and integration. The GCoE's diverse team has multiple competencies, including fluency in 14 languages, and is well-versed in the business and cultural nuances required to successfully conduct business in the 38 countries the center supports, so customer standards and technical specifications can be maintained and updated as needed."
It was big news early this year when Google decided to buy Nest Labs, a California-based maker of smart smoke detectors and thermostats, for $3.2 billion. But now it appears that Nest Lab's intelligent new smoke/carbon monoxide detector isn't as smart as billed. News reports say sales of the device have been stopped because it's possible users can deactivate it without meaning to do so.
The smoke/CO detector, called Nest Protect, is so smart it can talk to home residents to warn them if there's a fire or dangerous levels of CO. But now a feature of the device that allows users to simply wave at it to turn it off has been identified as a potential problem and sales have been halted, Reuters reported this week.
Here's more of what that news service had to say:
Nest co-founder and Chief Executive Tony Faddell said that, under a unique set of circumstances the alarm's "Nest Wave" feature, which allows a user to switch off the device with a wave of the hand, could be inadvertently activated.
Faddell, one of the creators of Apple Inc.'s iPod, apologized in the blogpost for a problem that was discovered during recent laboratory testing. He added that no customer had complained so far.
"We observed a unique combination of circumstances that caused us to question whether the Nest Wave could be unintentionally activated. This could delay an alarm going off if there was a real fire," he said. "The fact that it could even potentially happen is extremely important to me and I want to address it immediately."
He did not specify that set of circumstances.
Nest will immediately disable the Wave feature—one of many innovative design elements that has won the company and its devices acclaim—in all smoke alarms that are Wi-Fi-connected while it works on a software update to fix the possible defect. It said the fix, plus regulatory approvals, could take two to three months to complete.
Customers without Wi-Fi-connected devices should either disable it or return it for a full refund, the company added.
Nest co-founder and Chief Executive Tony Faddell said that, under a unique set of circumstances the alarm's "Nest Wave" feature, which allows a user to switch off the device with a wave of the hand, could be inadvertently activated.
Faddell, one of the creators of Apple Inc.'s iPod, apologized in the blogpost for a problem that was discovered during recent laboratory testing. He added that no customer had complained so far.
"We observed a unique combination of circumstances that caused us to question whether the Nest Wave could be unintentionally activated. This could delay an alarm going off if there was a real fire," he said. "The fact that it could even potentially happen is extremely important to me and I want to address it immediately."
He did not specify that set of circumstances.
Nest will immediately disable the Wave feature—one of many innovative design elements that has won the company and its devices acclaim—in all smoke alarms that are Wi-Fi-connected while it works on a software update to fix the possible defect. It said the fix, plus regulatory approvals, could take two to three months to complete.
Customers without Wi-Fi-connected devices should either disable it or return it for a full refund, the company added.
Security experts have said the industry should take note of Google's Nest Labs buy, saying this first venture by Google into the connected home could portend more Google home automation products and possibly a security offering.
Intelligent Access Systems—a rapidly growing systems integrator that was acquired by Securadyne in January—has made a move in the Midwest, expanding into Cincinnati and tri-state region (comprising Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana).
IAS employee Kevin Grice has relocated to the area and hired Cincinnati native and industry veteran, Jeremy Brewer.
Securadyne Systems' branch network is now in more than 15 locations, from Texas to Maine.
Founded by Ron Oetjen in 2004, IAS specializes in integration for critical infrastructure, health care, and higher education vertical markets. Oetjen now serves as SVP of Securadyne Systems
I saw Ron in the serpentine cab line at McCarron last week and asked him about a Twitter comment I'd seen about Jeremy Brewer—but I didn't have a chance to speak to him at any length at the show. I have a call into Ron to get talk more about this move and to see what else is planned in the next month.
Several months after Monitronics acquired Security Networks in a $507 million deal, the company has officially incorporated the more than 200 Security Networks dealer affiliates into the Monitronics dealer program, the company recently announced.
This phase, which will go down as one of the final steps of the integration process, brings the number of Monitronics dealers to about 620, making it one of the largest networks in the country. The company says it will provide monitoring services to more than 1 million customers out of its Dallas-based central station.
Bruce Mungiguerra, Monitronics' VP of operations, said in the statement that merging businesses is "never easy," but that "the hard work of many groups across both companies has kept things as organized and efficient as possible."
Also being brought into the Monitronics fold are 60 field technicians who previously serviced Security Networks accounts across several regions, bolstering the company's network of field service dealers.
ISC West 2014 - Day Three
After spending much of my career in the medium of print, I managed to make my on-camera debut at ISC West 2014, interviewing several folks from the central station side who provided some lively perspectives about the show and the direction of their respective businesses.
First up was Jim McMullen, president and COO of COPS Monitoring, who said the company had around 800 dealers at its annual Dealer Appreciation Bonanza, an event I also happened to attend with several SSN colleagues. He wasn't lying; Gilley's was thronged, and there was no shortage of attendees eager to duke it out in the mechanical bull riding competition, a contest for which the event has become well known. The Bonanza has become a marquee event for CO, McMullen said, and has proven to be another way the company goes about forging strong relationships its dealer base.
In my next interview, Josh Garner, CEO of AvantGuard Monitoring, discussed the company's new monitoring center in the rural community of Rexburg, Idaho. Garner characterized the new facility as a human capital investment, as the company aims to leverage the community's young and well-educated workforce (Brigham Young University has a campus in the town). We also talked about AvantGuard's success in the mobile PERS market and the company's PERS Summit Network, which has an educational component that takes a "granular" approach to equipping dealers with the knowledge they need to run a successful PERS operation.
My final on-camera interview of the day was with Hank Groff, SVP of sales at Dynamark, and Tom Piston, VP of business development. The duo explained the philosophy behind Dynamark's recently launched partner program and discussed the company's highly focused, customized approach for ISC West.
I also met briefly this morning, off camera, with Barry Epstein, president of Dallas-based investment firm Vertex Capital. We discussed the late 2013 Security Partners acquisition of Mace Central Station (a deal in which Epstein represented Mace) as well as the PERS valuation market, which remains intriguing (and well worth keeping an eye on) but relatively inactive.
And that just about does it for ISC West 2014. Keep an eye out for our show roundup, which we'll include on the newswire next week.
ISC West 2014 - Day Two
The second day of ISC West had the same frenetic energy and pace as the first—which is maybe fitting for a day that for many began with the Security 5K run. My opening meeting of the day was with I-View Now, who hosted a forum for several attendees. I-View's Steve Patterson, chief information officer, and Matt Fleming, chief technology officer, highlighted some of the company's new initiatives, which include the a newly launched cloud analytic, and discussed the company's push to form additional partnerships with some big name manufacturers. The two also touched on sales strategies for video verification, which can contribute an additional $35-50 in RMR for monitored accounts, according to Patterson.
Patterson noted that demos are a critical component of the sales process for video verification. I-View Now has developed a demo portal that can act as management tool, demonstrating the correlation between video verification demos and successful sales.
I returned to the show floor for my second demo of the day, this one led by Aaron Salma, at Union, N.J.-based Affiliated Monitoring. Salma showcased the e-contract functionality on the company's new dealer app, which allows technicians to efficiently manage their accounts. Salma said the app can be enormously beneficial for businesses employing a summer sales/door-knocking model.
In the afternoon I made my way up the Venetian Tower where I joined Kevin O'Connor, president of LogicMark, and Troy Bruce, director of sales, to discuss the company's newly released mobile PERS offering, the SentryPal, as well as its new traditional unit, the Caretaker Sentry. Both emphasized the need for PERS products (and the security industry at large) to remain grounded from a practical standpoint despite rapid technological advancements.
O'Connor believes even a less tested market like mPERS holds considerable promise. That market, he said, may evolve much like the security industry in general, continually adding new functions that central stations and dealers can translate into more RMR.
While the sheer numbers of America's aging Baby Boomer demographic bode well for anyone in the PERS space, security companies still need to develop a sound strategy for bringing the product to market, managing the expectations of customers and efficiently redeploying their units, they noted. Interestingly enough, both agreed that security companies, if the resources are there, do themselves a favor by creating a separate division for bringing PERS to market.
My afternoon concluded with back-to-back PPVAR panel sessions, the first of which distilled several outside-the-industry perspectives on video verified response. The session, moderated by Steve Walker, VP of Stanley Convergent, president of PPVAR, featured representatives from law enforcement and private insurance.
The next session, moderated by Don Young, CIO of Protection 1, VP Stanley Convergent representatives from the manufacturing side (Scott Harkins, president of Honeywell) and the central station space (Chuck Moeling, executive VP of sales at Interface, and Tony Wilson, president of CMS), together with representatives from the private investment and legal arenas.
An interesting topic raised by the panel dealt with the potential of video verification in the residential security space. Moeling pointed out that there are considerably more barriers to establishing a foothold in the residential market (as opposed to commercial) in North America. One of those barriers, he said, is the "basic nature of American independence" and customers being leery of having "big brother watching."
Though Harkins believes there is potential for video verification in the residential space, he added the caveat that, from Honeywell's perspective, bringing the technology to a mainstream market has to be done in a way that keeps such systems affordable to a mass market.
ISC West 2014 - Day One
Though access control resides a little outside my coverage domain, my first ISC West stop was at Assa Abloy's booth for a morning press conference. It was an impressive showing from the company, whose president of access and egress hardware group, Martin Huddart, delivered a presentation outlining the company's past, present and future.
Huddart keyed in specifically on the company's transition to a new line of "2.0" solutions. The presentation touched on several on several of the company's newer and more sophisticated solutions: Access credential technology that sends keys "over the air" through smart phones, "futureproof" maglocks that support several different credential strategies (NFC and Bluetooth among them), and the company's EcoFlex locks.
The latter, according to David Sylvester, president, door security solutions at Assa Abloy, was a major point of attraction for the sustainability officer at Amazon, which plans to use the locks at its new headquarters.
I spoke with Michael Schubert and Woodie Andrawos, president and executive vice president, respectively, of National Monitoring Center, which is fresh off announcing the opening of a new 25,000-square-foot facility in Lake Forest, Calif. Both characterized the facility as a substantial technological upgrade that amply accommodates for future growth. NMC now has two central stations (the other is in Texas), and Schubert said, down the road, the company may explore the possibility of getting another, ideally in a new time zone.
I had the chance to meet early in the day with Gary Shottes, president of AES Corporation, and Candyce Plante, senior director of marketing at AES. We spoke at length about the company's patented wireless mesh technology, some new developments at AES on the product front (stay tuned for that), and the ramifications of the 2G sunset—an industry inevitability from which a company like AES is well-positioned to prosper. Already seeing gains from clients keen on "futureproofing," the company could thrive even more when the 3G sunset occurs, according to Shottes.
The 2G sunset proved to be a theme that found its way into some of my afternoon discussions as well, particularly in my conversations with some folks at Uplink, whose software solutions are geared to mitigate some of the adverse effects of network obsolescence.
I also spoke with Telguard's Shawn Welsh and Pam Benke (VP of business development, director of marketing, respectively) about their launch, today, of their OneRate service plan for their HomeControl platform, which replaces the company's previous multi-tier pricing structure with a single flat price.
The plan, according to Welsh, goes along way in terms of "demystifying" the sales process for customers, and he believes the simpler, pared down approach will give sales personnel a considerable advantage when trying to sell home automation in conjunction with security products. The service plan also includes a reseller price that allows central station partners to "make margins bundling the service," Welsh said.
A recent report from ABI Research shed light on the notion that the industry is still in the laboratory phase as far as figuring out the best way to bring home automation to market. There's still a fair amount of tinkering and experimentation going on, the report noted, and this simplified (and innovative) service plan from Telguard seems indicative of that.
Once again, as I'm wont to do at trade shows and other industry events, I've stretched this blog a bit beyond its ideal length, so that's all for day one. I have a slew of meetings and interviews tomorrow, which I'll provide updates about during the course of the day.
Like thousands on the east coast, I'll be flying west tomorrow to Las Vegas, where I'll be spend the following three days at ISC West, trying to gauge what those in the central station arena are finding compelling about the marquee show.
Judging by conversations I've had with members of the industry over the past several weeks, there should be no shortage of new developments at this year's show. Days after booking my ticket to Vegas I was hearing about new central station automation software, a cloud- and algorithm-based video verification platform, the launch of new mobile apps for dealers and technicians, and manufacturers warming up to mobile PERS.
Basically, I'm expecting an aggressively forward-thinking show, and, since I'll be updating this blog over the next three days, you'll be able to see to what extent that presentiment is realized.
I want to encourage readers to take up the opportunity to meet with me and my colleagues—SSN editor Martha Entwistle; SSN managing editor Tess Nacelewicz; and Amy Canfield, managing editor of our end user-focused sister publication, Security Director News—at our "Meet the Editors" event at the show. This is scheduled for Wed., April 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m, and will be held at the SSN booth, adjacent to the ISC West Media Stage, which is located directly outside the main entrance doors to the show floor.
I very much look forward to meeting our readers in person, so please feel free to stop by!
Updated April 3, 2014, with information about ISC West Day 2
Day two started with the fifth annual Security 5K, a benefit race for the wonderful organization, Mission 500. More than 700 people registered for the race and we raised $90,000 to help save lives.
We had a very special guest at the Security 5K events this year, someone who knows well the good work of Mission 500. Before the race, and also at the Security 5K race reception we heard from Dr. Diego Alejandro Garcia, a pediatrician who was sponsored at the age of 3 through World Vision/Mission 500.
Today he is Director of the Colombian Ministry of Health Vaccination Program..
He spoke about his experience with Mission 500 and what a real impact it has on young children.
I don't think I was the only one in the crowd who found Diego's remarks—and presence at the even this year—very moving
The Security 5k was founded by United Publications, publishers of Security Systems News and Security Director News, and we're the organizing sponsor of the event. Other sponsors are Reed Exhibitions, proprietors of ISC Expos; and Mission 500. Core sponsors of the 2014 Mission 500 5K/2K are Alarm.com, Altronix Corporation, Axis Communications, Ditek, HID Global, Honeywell, LRG Marketing Communications, Pelco by Schneider Electric, and Safety Technology International. Additional sponsors include Cops Monitoring, Digital Monitoring Products (DMP), Samsung, Brivo, Freeman, Monitronics, Qolsys, Bolide Technology Group, Security Industry Association, and PSA Security Network.
Find out more about this wonderful organization here. http://mission500.org/2014/
After the race I had 30 minutes to get back to the show floor where I got to participate (with Mission 500's George Fletcher, Diego Garcia, Charlene Foglio) in the opening ceremony for ISC West Day 2.
Then the meetings started. Here's a brief overview of who I saw:
I met with Jay Hauhn of TycoIS and we talked about the hosted video cloud service that TycoIS is planning to launch in June. TycoIS is working with Next Level Security Systems on project. I asked Jay how he feels about ADT getting into larger commercial security projects (greater than 7,500 square feet after its non-compete with TycoIS expires in September.) "Just another competitor," Hauhn said.
John Romanowich of Sightlogix filled me in on the company's newest camera—it's faster, more accurate and the price has come way down. He said it "brings accurate outdoor security to the mass market." And because the power requirements are so low, it can be wireless and run on solar. He noted that it's the trenching for wiring that costs money and necessitates design work.
Steve Gorski of MOBOTIX said he's talking to lots of integrators about the company's new VMS software, which he called "user-friendly, icon-driven, Apple-ish."
At Speco Technologies, Laura Mastroberti and Jim Pascale showed me the new IP version of Speco's mini-cams. I also saw their a recreation of their H2H training center they have in their booth this year.
I spoke to Pierre Racz Genetec. They're showing Bosch's 4K camera and he called Genetec's collaboration with Bosch on the 4k cameras proof that "the best of breed is the way to go"
Had an interesting chat with Brian Schmode at Avigilon. We were talking about how much work the company does with IT resellers. He said it's the end user that drives which reseller Avigilon uses, and said the company is definitely seeing more end users working with IT resellers.
Off the show floor I caught up with Marty Guay and Paul Barratta at the Stanley Security suite. We talked about the new version of Stanley's eSuite customer portal.
Updated April 2, too late at night
It's 10 p.m. and ISCW2014 Day 1 (Wednesday, April 2) is a wrap! Good day on and off the show floor.
No numbers yet from Reed Exhibitions, but it was crowded today. I heard from several exhibitors that they saw more people in the first half of today than they normally see in two days. I even heard that from one access control provider who is located in the more far flung reaches of the hall.
I started the day at the Axis Communications breakfast. I don't really love events before the event, but the Axis breakfast/press conference proves to be worthwhile year after year. The theme this year was 4. Yup, you guessed it, Axis introduced its 4k line, the P14 Series. Fredrik Nilsson Axis GM Americas touted the P14 28E. It's better, he said, because: it follows the ITU standard (4k res in 30 fps); it's easy to install; the lens fits the solution 'perfectly' (IR corrected 8MP lens0; correct depth of field and image clarity; and , it's $999 and "ready for outdoors."
Axis folks talked about other "4s" as well. After asking if people would be running the annual Security 5K race tomorrow, Nilsson said: "some of us will wish it's a 4k tomorrow."
Axis co-founder Martin Gren gave a brief (and really amusing) history of Axis and the company's "culture of innovation." He noted that 2014 is the 30th anniversary of Axis, and mentioned that the original name of the company was G&K Firmware. "Isn't that a cool name?" he said.
We saw a demo of the P14 28E. Cool, clear picture. And we also saw a demo of Axis' (4th generation) camera station.
Next up, was the BRS Labs press conference, where Ray Davis spoke about the company's new Saas solution. This means that BRS Labs is bringing "the same technology that the US military, several cities and some countries" use to commercial customers. The company wants its customers to include not only the "Googles, Amazons and FedExes" but small and medium size businesses. It also has its eye on the residential market.
Davis called the offering a "pre-crime systems" that is better than an alert or alarm that only goes off once a criminal is on premises.
BRS Labs will be making a concerted effort to woo integrators, dealers and residential installers and will launch a full channel partner program this summer.
At Pivot3, Ron Nash spoke about VSTAC edge product "a first class solutions for a customer with multiple locations" and how the company's VDI product line can help make mobile access secure.
Scan Source has a brand new booth, dedicated to its new "security on demand," an educational and information portal that the distribution company launched today. For all current and (for a time)prospective clients, the portal features short videos with content that's relevant to resellers.
I spoke to Joe Morgan at FLIR was the company's new low cost thermal bullet camera ($499) which the company expects to "open doors to more vertical markets."
Most of the afternoon was spent at the SSN Media studio doing video interviews with readers. I spoke to:
Joe Liguori, partner at ACT, an integration company (and Security-Net member) based in New Jersey. Ligouri is planning to grow his company from about a $13m to $20m in revenue over the next few years. He talked about the training-intensive culture at ACT and how that's necessary to customer service, internal efficiency, and also to the planned rapid growth the company is looking for.
So, one of my favorite activities at ISC West is generally HID's Denis Hebert's lunchtime trends talk. He generally draws a great crowd and generates some good discussion. Well, HID had alternate plans this year, but Hebert agreed to come talk to ssnTVnews about trends. The most important, this year, he said, is convergence and secured identity solutions. We talked about HID's decision to leverage Bluetooth LE (in addition to NFC) with its mobile solutions. Finally he talked about the complexity of solutions for integrators—and what HID is doing to help its integrator partners with sales and education.
Holly Tsourides, CEO of Matrix Systems, talked about the integration arm of Matrix, "Xentry." She believes the newly named business unit has great potential to increase the services it sells to existing customers and to bring on new customers.
G4S Technology president Sam Belbina talked about providing the "total solution" to customers and how G4S is in a unique position to do just that because its sister companies offer monitoring and guard solutions.
Eric Yunag, CEO of Dakota Security, talked about what he's seeing on and what he's not seeing on the show floor. Incremental technology feature improvements he sees a lot of. That can be interesting, he said, but what he wants to see from manufacturers is the showcasing of security outcomes. He also talked about his frustration with standards and how this industry needs to feel a little more urgency about standards. IT companies—"have the potential to exert a technical advantage … and exploit a significant weakness [of security companies], he said, unless this industry gets up to speed on standards.
I talked some more on this topic with Brent Franklin, president of Unlimited Technology. IT companies have their eye on the security space, he said. All integration companies need to understand that, he said. We also talked about Franklin's plans to grow Unlimited Technology's revenues 30 percent in 2014. It added 15 staff in 2013 and plans to add 16 this year.
At the Brivo Labs press conference Lee Odess talked about the company's launch of its SAM API (social access management), which allows developers to create applications that allow people to use their social identities for access control to places and identities. He also demo'ed OKDoor which allows a person to use their social media identity to send a message when they arrive at a destination.
Among the receptions I attended tonight: DVTel, alarm.com, Affiliated Monitoring, Samsung, and my personal favorite Women's Security Council. The WSC threw another great event to honor the 2014 Women of the Year. Read about that here.
updated March 31, 2014
It snowing and sleeting here in Maine as I try to get out the door to leave for the desert, and of course, there's also news breaking.
Video surveillance providers Vicon and IQinVision announced this morning that they're merging into what will be a $56 million company. Read details here.
Also, NMC announced it's opening a new $6 million location. Check out the details here.
Check back for news from the ISC West show floor. Leif, Tess, Amy and I will all be updating our blogs daily. On Tuesday, I'll be attending some meetings in the afternoon, stopping by the SIA event, the Security-Net event and a Diebold event as well.
On Wednesday morning, I go to the Axis breakfast. I go every year, and every year, so far anyway, it's informative and entertaining. I'm expecting the same this year.
After that, I'm heading to our Meet the Editors event. Tess, Amy, Leif and I will be at the SSN booth/ISC West Media Studio from 9:30 to 10. It's right outside the entrance to the show floor. You can't miss it. Please stop by and introduce yourself.
Also, remember to tweet using the #ISCW14 hashtag. You can see all the relevant tweets at the Security Systems News Twitter Wall, located just inside the entrance to the show floor. We'll be awarding an iPad Mini at 12:30 on Friday, April 4 to the MVT the Most Valuable Tweeter. To be a competitive MVT candidate, be informative and compelling and use the #ISCW14 hashtag.
See you in Las Vegas!
Updated April 4
Among the exciting news I learned about on Thursday at the show was that Honeywell's new wireless LYNX 7000 won Best Intrusion and Detection Device in this year's ISC West New Product Showcase event, according to Ralph Maniscalco, Honeywell's director of marketing communications.
The company describes the LYNX 7000 as "an all new version of Honeywell's self-contained wireless touchscreen security and home automation system. The product is the first of its kind to control up to four cameras and two-way voice over Wi-Fi."
Among its features is a "water valve," Maniscalco told me, which can turn off the water if necessary to prevent flooding. Also, he said, LYNX 7000 customers "get weather free."
Honeywell also is developing a new app to help dealers in selling the LYNX 7000. Marketing communications specialist Natasha Ramjit told me that previously sales reps have had to lug around a "big demo kit," but with the app, which can be used on an iPad or Android device, all the features of the system can easily be demonstrated to the homeowner. "It just puts everything at anyone's fingertips," explained Ramjit.
Speaking of awards, there was great excitement at the Eaton Cooper Notification booth because Cooper's new ALERiTY line of IP network-based mass notification solutions won the Best Emergency Communication System award in the ISC West New Product Showcase.
"We're pretty excited about it," Marla Moran, Cooper's global commercialization leader, told me.
The company describes ALERiTY, released late in 2013, as "a one-click solution to launch critical messages across its three layers of MNS—in building, wide area and distributed recipient. The advanced IP technology provides seamless interoperability with life safety and communication systems such as fire alarm control panels, sensors, paging and LED digital display signs."
"You can program it all in one button if you choose," Moran told me.
How does it function in the real world? Dan Moceri, CEO of Convergint Technologies, dropped by the Eaton Cooper Notification booth to explain that to me.
He said that as a systems integrator, Convergint aims to provide a total solution for customers. It had strong security and fire solutions to offer them, but until now with ALERiTY it "didn't have a robust solution on the communications side" to complete the package, Moceri said.
He added that Convergint also demands that its partners be of high quality and Eaton Cooper Notification fits that bill, offering "best in the industry" service and support.
Moceri cited large community college campuses in Portland, Ore. and Texas as places where Convergint has used ALERiTY as a solution.
Ted Milburn, Cooper's VP of marketing, added that ALERiTY is "a scalable product" allowing each end user "to do the piece you want." For example, an end user might need only the in building and wide area applications, but can add the distributed recipient component, such as text messages and emails, in the future as needed.
Also on Thursday, I talked to John LaFond, VP of integrated systems, strategic business unit, for Linear, which provides access control, health and wellness and security solutions.
LaFond talked to me about the e3 OneBox. The company describes OneBox as combining "Linear's embedded browser IP-based access control platform with Digital Watchdog's full-featured DW-VMAX digital video recording capability within one enclosure to create a fully integrated access and video solution."
LaFond noted that access control is about 8-10 percent of the market and video is about 12-14 percent. However, he said, combine they comprise about 20 percent of the market. "Integrated systems is a much larger proposition," he said.
In OneBox, is Digital Watchdog leading video technology meshes with Linear's top access control products, LaFond said. "We're combining our product knowledge, combining that technology at the right price point," LaFond said.
He said that "creates a market opening for a dealer base."
Nicholas Brown, of Caster Communications, which represents Linear, talked to me about the advantage of Linear and 2GIG being under the Nortek umbrella. Nortek companies are "compatible with each other and have a shared vision."
He said the companies all work together to provide home automation/security solutions that help dealers look at "the big picture of what they can be to the homeowner and not just a security installer."
Linear at the show also was touting Linear Enterprise, which it described as "a browser-based, embedded network appliance and access control system available through select Linear dealers and equipped for large-scale installations. Enterprise offers remote management, low total cost of ownership (TCO), an easy path to VMS integration, and a unique license key system that makes integration and expansion easier than ever."
I also attended a very interesting press conference on Thursday, put on by Mircom, a Toronto-based manufacturer and distributor of intelligent building and life safety solutions.You're familiar with the connected home—well, Mircom is focused on the connected condo, taking home automation features into the condos and apartments of multifamily units.
It introduced its TX3 InSuite and its TX3 Community at the show. Those are the latest additions to its TX3 Platform, which the company says "provides a total management, communication and security solution."
Jason Falbo, VP of engineering, explained that "the previous generation of the products were focused at the lobby of the building," providing such services as access control. But InSuite, Falbo said, "allows to get a footprint inside the tenant suites of the building as well, for a total management solution."
He continued: "It's a revolutionary home automation platform. Most of our competitors are focused on the single family home market but we've leveraged our experience and skill set in the multifamily sector and developed this home automation controller to provide the best in functionality from standard home automation equipment and, in addition to that, we interface with what were previously stand alone building solutions."
For example, Falbo said, "with our controllers, not only can you manage the devices within your own home or condo, things such as door contacts, motion sensors, door locks, thermostats, lighting etc., you can also receive alerts, notifications and emergency notifications from systems such as the fire alarm detection system, the mass notification system, the building automation system and the energy management system."
Interesting concept!
At the Kwikset booth, that residential security door look manufacturer had on display its touchscreen version of the company's SmartCode 914 deadbolt lock. "The SmartCode Touch provides all of the features of SmartCode—including keyless entry—combined with the added convenience and enhanced aesthetics of a capacitive touchscreen," the company said in a news release.
Larry Goldman, Kwikset's North American sales and business development manager, told me lock "is very robust" because while it has a sleek-looking appearance appealing to a homeowner's aesthetic, its lock cylinder is the only residential lock cylinder that meets commercial grade standards.
It's also "the only Z-Wave lock you can put on a fire door" because it's fire-rated to not melt or become dysfunctional during a fire, Goldman said.
An added benefit, he said, is that the LED lights on its touchscreen are designed so they can be seen in all types of lighting conditions and won't be obscured by glare.
Goldman said dealers are saying, "Finally, a beautiful residential lock with an incredible touchscreen."
I also talked with Dirk Wyckoff, VP of sales and marketing for UniKey, an access control technology provider. Wyckoff told me about updates to the firmware in the Kevo lock, which is powered by UniKey. The company bills the lock as "the only keyless Bluetooth residential door lock on the market." Wyckcoff also noted that it's a "mass market solution."
Among features Wyckoff highlighted is UniKey's Inside vs. Outside Intelligence technology, which enables the lock to determine if the homeowner is inside or outside the home, preventing accidental unlocks if a person is just passing by the door.
At the Tyco Security Products booth, Tim Myers, product line director, intrusion, talked to me about the large number of products that DSC, part of the security products business unit of Tyco, was touting at the show. "In all, we're releasing in excess of 30 new products. … This is the biggest product launch we have ever done," Myers said.
Products he highlighted included the PowerSeries Neo line. The company describes that as "a new scalable commercial and residential line of products, which combines the flexibility of a modular, hardwired system with the simplicity of a wide range of compatible wireless devices."
Myers said Neo is cost effective for dealers and offers a variety of control panels. It also leverages PowerG, which the company calls "the industry's leading-edge wireless intrusion technology," in wireless devices that are easy to install.
The company also was introducing a number of devices, such as keys, detectors and sirens, which are powered by PowerG and compatible with Neo.
In all, Myers said, the new products "will position DSC very strongly in the wireless world" for both residential and commercial applications.
At the Potter Electric Signal Co. booth, national sales manager Craig Summers told me how well the company's new fire alarm panel designed specifically for sprinkler monitoring has been selling.
The PFC-6006 Sprinkler Monitoring Panel was just released last summer and touted as an industry first. "We've sold hundreds and hundreds of units," Summers said.
The affordable panel comes with a dual-line dialer built into the panel and also has the ability to be monitored via IP. That's important because the 2013 version of NFPA 72 requires backing up phone lines that send signals to a central station with an alternate technology.
If dealers are in a jurisdiction that has adopted the 2013 version of the code, "this panel is very attractive," Summers said.
He also said Potter's facility management software now can be downloaded off the company's website and is free for a limited period of time.
Also on Thursday, I attended an Alarm Capital Alliance reception, where I chatted with President and CEO Amy Kothari and also with Jason Grelle,VP of sales and dealer program development.
Updated April 2
New initiatives and new products—I got to hear about lots of those kinds of developments on Wednesday, the first day the show floor opened.
I started the day out doing some video interviews for SSN TV News. Look on our site in the near future for my interviews with Steve Firestone, the new president of Lancaster, Pa.-based Select Security; Patrick Egan, owner and CEO of Select Security and also Security Partners; John Bergher, EVP of marketing and customer care for Sacramento, Calif.-based GHS Interactive Security; and Jim Vogel, the new VP of ADT's dealer program. In the meantime, though, I'll share a few highlights of what we talked about.
Firestone, who became president of Select Security Jan. 1 after holding the position of that company's EVP of sales and marketing since 2012, talked about the company's Utah call center's new director, Tony Roberts. "We're delighted that Tony is part of the organization," because of his more than 20 years of experience in management and call center development, Firestone said.
He said one part of the call center will support Select Security's residential direct sales program, which he said aims to add about 2,500 new residential customers this summer. In another part of the call center, Firestone said, "we are about to start an inside sales outbound telemarketing organization" and the company is in the process of recruiting employees for that.
I then talked to Egan, Select Security's CEO. Egan said Select Security has plans for growth through acquisition this year and promised to make some announcements soon. One buy is going to expand the super-regional reach into another state, he said.
GHS' Bergher had some exciting news to share about a new partnership that GHS has formed with Solar Universe, which the companies say is the first instance of an alarm company and solar company teaming up to provide a comprehensive solution that involve security, home automation and solar. It will be interesting to see where the new venture takes these companies.
ADT's Jim Vogel just started his new job March 17. He comes from outside the industry—he most recently was a VP for Allstate Insurance—so this is his first ISC West show.He spoke about how impressed he was with the enthusiasm of the crowds at the show and about some of the opportunities the ADT dealer program offers dealers.
I also heard about some exciting new life safety developments from Beth Welch, public relations manager for Honeywell Fire Systems and also from David George, director of marketing communications for System Sensor.
Welch told me, "It's a very busy show. It seems like there's more interest from security integrators to do fire."
She said there's increasing interest in Silent Knight by Honeywell's combined smoke and carbon monoxide detector, the SK-FIRE-CO Detector. "It's one of the few, if not the only one, sold over the counter, so it's non-proprietary," Welch told me. The device also saves money and is easier to install because it's one device and not two, she said.
Welch said demand is being driven by such things as AHJs increasingly enforcing new CO laws and requiring that CO detectors be connected to a fire alarm to ensure they're supervised at all times.
Silent Knight also just launched a new website on Monday with a lot of new resources, she said.
Among other developments at the show, Welch also spoke about Fire-Lite by Honeywell's new Emergency Command Center, a mass notification system the company introduced at last year's ISC West. She said MNS is often thought of as only for applications like protecting big college campuses. However, the ECC is "like having mass notification for the down market" because dealers can promote it for a variety of smaller applications, ranging from churches to office buildings.
Also, she said, the system now has a new interactive module, called the Remote Telephone Zone Module (RTZM), that is designed to provide authorized users remote access to send out emergency notifications through a building's ECC via any phone. She explained that it would, for example, allow a school principal to call in and issue an emergency warning from a remote location, such as five miles down the road from school, if the principal spots a tornado approaching.
At the System Sensor booth, George talked about how many people don't know that in states or regions that have adopted the 2010 or 2013 edition of NFPA 72, all new commercial sleeping places must have a an audible device that produces a low frequency tone centered around 520 Hz. The requirement became effective Jan. 1.
George said System Sensor has launched an education campaign to get the word out, and also to let those in the affected region know that the company has some new low frequency notification appliances, just launched last summer, that meet that requirement. "It's an issue with codes changing and compliance taking months, if not years, to kick in," George told me.
He also said System Sensor has a "brand new website" on which dealers will find it easy to download documents and data and access training webinars.
I then went to talk to Jay Kenny, VP of marketing at Alarm.com, who had many exciting developments to talk about.
The highlights included an announcement that Alarm.com's cellular-based interactive technology will soon be available with Verizon's 4th Generation, Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) network. "It's really the beginning of the 4G life cycle," Kenny said. He said it "opens up new opportunities to deliver things over the cellular connection" in a managed network way.
Another announcement was that Alarm.com and LiftMaster announced the integration of the MyQ Universal Garage Door Controller, so that now all major garage door brands now integrate with Alarm.com's connected home platform.
Kenny said, "It's essentially compatible with anything built after 1992."
Among other highlights, Kenny said Alarm.com was "enhancing our video solutions."
For example, the company said in a news release, "it enhanced its video monitoring service with the addition of a high performance, continuous video recording solution. The new solution captures a 24x7 stream of what's happening at a property and provides cloud-based streaming and video clip access from anywhere. Alarm.com's Video Monitoring service now includes continuous high definition recording, anytime live streaming, smart clip capture with secure cloud storage, and instant video alerts."
At the Interlogix booth, I sat down with Warren Hill, product marketing manager, to talk about some new technology Interlogix has acquired in its recent buy of Ultra High Speed (UHS) from Australian company Hills Limited. The acquisition will "broaden [Interlogix's] global portfolio of intrusion product offerings and services," according to Interlogix, which is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Tepchnologies Corp. Hill said the new technology resulting from the deal was creating a lot of buzz at the show. "Lots of dealers are coming to see the new products we have," he said.
Among them, according to a company news release, were "a self-contained panel that includes native Wi-Fi and Z-Wave to interface with popular lifestyle management devices such as lights, locks and thermostats; new accessories for the NX platform … including a touch-screen module that adds a graphical interface to the control panels; and a modular, hybrid panel that allows features to be added through a unique, DIN-rail mounting system, providing the utmost installation flexibility for system components in both residential and small-to-medium enterprise applications." The company said interactive services will use native IP and "embedded Web servers to provide remote programming and mobile applications across product platforms."
Next, I headed to the LILIN booth to find out news about Control4. Control 4 partners with camera manufacturer LILIN. At the show, Control4 was showcasing enhanced integration for surveillance cameras and NVRs for residential and commercial systems.
Paul Williams, Control4 VP of security and communications products spoke to me about Control4's Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) technology, which he described as being able to "automatically identify and load drivers for supported IP-connected devices."
Williams said SDDP increasingly supports many surveillance cameras and NVRs, helping provide Control4 dealers with more security monitoring options in residential and commercial applications.
On Wednesday evening, I chatted with Russell Cersosimo, CEO of Guardian Protection Services, at a Guardian event. We talked about Guardian's dealer program and how a top California dealer recently joined the program, drawn by the innovative new financing plan the program offers.
Stay posted as I continue to update this blog.
Updated April 1: Day 1 of ISC West
My first morning at ISC West 2014 featured mind reading, that "dirty little word: cable," and tips on hiring employees who are not just skilled but have the right attitude a company needs to succeed.
I began my Tuesday at the DMP Owners Forum. The Springfield, Mo.-based manufacturer event is an annual one—it's now in its third year—and this year's event in Las Vegas included talk of how the new cable and telecom players are impacting the industry and employee hiring. And mind reader Eric Dittelman helped kick off the forum.
As he took the stage, Dittelman reminded attendees that DMP also gets into the minds of the consumer with its focus on customer-driven products.
"DMP mind reads with the help of technology," he told the audience.
Among his feats was correctly identifying which one of five people had a dollar hidden in his closed fist instead of a penny, which the other four had, even though he hadn't seen the person put a dollar in his hand.
Bob Harris, owner and president of Attrition Busters, was up next. He warned the crowd he was going to "speak about that dirty little word: cable."
But although he said the cablecos and telecoms should not be discounted, he said professional security companies still have plenty of opportunity to successfully compete with them.
"Some people believe that there's a monitoring bubble about to burst," Harris said. "…I'm here to tell you that's not true. … This may be the best time to be in the alarm business and grow your company."
But he said security companies can't sit back and do such things as "walk past recurring monthly profit." He asked, "On every single service call, how often do we stir the pot so our service techs bring intel back?"
Also, Harris said, employee training is vital. "Every single employee in our company is in the sales department and I'm talking about the company operator," he said. All employees frequent restaurants and local business and have friends and family who call can be potential customers.
Harris also warned against "devaluing professionalism by competing on 'price' as the significant differentiator."
He said security companies have to stress to customers they stand out from cablecos and telecoms in that they're the local providers who are members of the community.
Professional security compannies also should bundle more services, like the big players do, Harris said. "We need to educate our teams with new levels of possibilities that empower them to lose the fear of selling value bundles," he said.
Also, he said, adding fire services is a way to distinguish a company. "I don't see a cable company going out to do a fire systems anytime soon," Harris said.
He continued, "There's a litany of things we can do to make a sticky customer, just by default." When it comes to cable and telecom competitors, Harris said, "proactive or reactive? It's up to you."
Rick Britton, DMP CEO and president, also urged the dealers to take steps to compete with the big players, such as offering a single bill for bundled services. And adding interactive services is a way for dealers to double and triple RMR, he said.
"I think that's a real opportunity for us," Britton said.
He said of the cablecos and telecoms, "I think we can beat them all day long, any place, any time" because professional security providers are known, trusted providers. "We are providing something completely different," Britton said.
Also on the agenda was Mark Murphy, CEO of Leadership IQ and author of The New York Times best-seller, "Hiring for Attitude."
He said, "Hiring for attitude is important because [the wrong attitude] is why employees tend to fail and drive you nuts."
But how to hire for attitude? Murphy told a story of how Southwest Airlines asked pilots coming in for interviews, who were dressed in suit and ties, to change out of their dress pants and put on some brown shorts. He said only a few pilots agreed to make the change and look silly—and those were the ones Southwest chose to continue with the interview process. That's because the company wants employees with a sense of fun, Murphy said.
He urged security companies to figure out what the "brown shorts" values are in their companies and then devise some open-ended interview questions to find out if applicants share those values and will fit in with the company's culture.
Murphy said that companies that are able to "find your brown shorts," draw up relevant interview questions and build a key to interpret the answers will make a "pretty significant dent" in hiring more high performers in about a month's time.
Tuesday evening found me at an Altronix event. The company, which manufactures low voltage power supplies and transmission solutions for the electronic security industry, held a press conference touting a number of new products here at the show, such as its introduction of the latest edition of eBridge Plus. The company said in a press release that "eBridge100RMT Ethernet over Coax/CAT5e Adapter Kits transmit full duplex data at 100mbps and pass PoE compliant power over coax 304m (1000 ft), or CAT5e cable up to 500m (1640 ft) without repeaters."
"This is kind of a game changer when it comes to the Ethernet," Ronnie Pennington, Altronix National Accounts manager, said at the conference.
Alan Forman, Altronix president, explained it this way in a prepared statement: "The ability to accommodate IP cameras and edge devices over coax cabling has proven to be an extremely pragmatic solution and a cost-effective way to upgrade analog systems to a networked platform. And the ability to transmit data and deliver power extended distances over Ethernet cabling without repeaters provides added savings." The company also said it was continuing to expand its NetWay product line with NetWay1D and NetWay1DWP. "These single port midspan injectors provide Hi-PoE up to 60W in addition to being PoE/PoE+ compliant." In a statement, Forman said, "These new midspan injectors provide solutions for the ever increasing power demands of IP cameras, PTZs and edge devices."
Pennington said the Netway line "saves a lot of labor and time and wire."
The company also announced it was introducing Pace UTP/CAT5e Long Range Ethernet Adapter Kits."The latest addition to Altronix's expanding line of adaptive transmission solutions, Pace1PRMT makes it possible for users to upgrade surveillance and security systems with new IP cameras and edge devices using existing or legacy infrastructure at distances greater than 100m (328 ft) without repeaters," the company said.Pace1PRMT is PoE/PoE+ compliant and transmits data at 100mbps full duplex over CAT5e or higher cable up to 500m (1640 ft), and up to 150m (500 ft) over single twisted pair (UTP).
Forman said at the press conference that Altronix products allow integrators "to enhance a current system or expand it [without running more cable]."
Well, there's plenty more of ISC West to come. Stay posted as I continue to update this blog.
Friday, March 28
I'm heading off next week to ISC West 2014. I'm eager to abandon the piles of snow still lingering here in Maine (where it's only spring on the calendar!) and get to sunny Las Vegas to learn about what's new in the industry. And I'm looking forward to meeting many of you and keeping you updated here in my blog about what I learn at the show.
I cover residential security and fire for Security Systems News and virtually every minute of my time at the show is scheduled for meetings with dealers and vendors who will be filling me in on the latest news on the connected home and fire. And each night, I'll be updating this blog to tell you what I've learned, so please stay posted to find out what's new.
And you'll also have an opportunity to meet me and my colleagues—SSN editor Martha Entwistle; SSN associate editor Leif Kothe; and Amy Canfield, managing editor of our sister publication, Security Director News—at our special "Meet the Editors" event at the show. That will take place Wed., April 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. We'll be at the SSN booth, adjacent to the ISC West Media Stage.
The stage is located in the big hallway right outside the main entrance doors to the show floor, so as you head in, please take some time to stop by. I look forward to meeting our readers in person. See you in Vegas!
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- Vague Ideas
- Birmingham Uk
- United Kingdom
This conversation is closed.
How should we understand Depression?
hi everyone,
this probably isn't the place to do this, but i've been reading a couple of other threads with a similar theme, and I could really use your help. I'll keep it brief.
Well, I'm currently a student at university i'm supposed to be in my second year, but it looks like i'll have to drop out because of depression. (I'm not sure if I should be allowed to call it that, but iv'e had all the symptoms for over a year, and my local doctor seems to think so.) my family are skeptical I guess, and there are times when I'm sure and times when I think I'm making it all up.
Most days I feel tired, upset or restless or angry. I cant see a future for myself and hopelessly procrastinate and get irritated by the smallest things.
Therefore, my question is should we think of depression as some kind of existential struggle to find purpose in your life? or a chemical imbalance? A passing phase into aduthood? or selfishness as I've read on some other sites.
ps. I would also like advice on how I can deal with it, do you think i should take a year out of my studies?
thanks xx
Closing Statement from Vague Ideas
Thanks for the advice everyone, iv'e found it very encouraging. i wish i could have replied to all your comments but i completely forgot about the time limit.
I'm really very greatful, thanks again
:) xx
Nov 14 2012: Depression certainly isn't selfish. It's a good bet that you perceive it to be be so because of the stigma around it.
My views on this may be controversial, in that I do not see depression as a dysfunctional illness. I see it as a normal reaction to something dysfunctional. The fact that depression is now so common, helps to support this argument.
I think you are correct in saying that depression is to do with an existential struggle to find purpose in life, but I disagree that it initiates as a neurochemical imbalance. A neurochemical imbalance, under normal circumstances, is a reaction to profound dissatisfaction or loss, leading to a chemical imbalance that persists in facilitating the required existential struggle to achieve something better for you personally. It does this by stimulating introspection, which in turn stimulates deep thought about your current situation.
During this period of introspection, I think it's essential that you temporarily get away from the situation you recognise as making you unhappy. It may be the subject you are studying, the Uni itself, something or someone you have left behind at home - only you know that. It is also essential that you have plenty of emotional support around you from people you love and trust, to enable you to talk at a deep level about what is troubling you.
Don't discount the value of antidepressants. They don't have to be a life sentence if you also have that emotional support around you.
I know of many students who have gone through periods of depression, and by taking a year out has been the making of them. They often come back either refocussed on their original subject choice, or change to a clearly defined and more satisfactory subject choice.Nov 12 2012: I can tell you that seeking the help of professionals is the best first step.
If you are looking for personal experience, I can tell you some things I do to change my mood.
1) Do something nice for someone else.
2) Take a long walk in a secluded natural setting somewhere.
3) Spend some time with a older family member.
4) Watch marriage proposal videos or talent competition best first audition videos on internet.
5) Answer questions in TED or some other forum.
6) Write something or build something. If I had any art talent, perhaps draw or paint something.
7) Volunteer somewhere to help a group.
8) Walk in a Mall and window shop.
9) Watch a feelgood movie: You've got mail, Sleepless in Seattle, Nottinghill, etc.
10) Call the kids
11) Think about a problem that might be solved be my talents and do something towards contributing towards a solution, like write a paper, express an opinion, ask a question, or invent something.
12) Not me, but some look for spiritual support from a religious group.
13) Visit the gym and workout
14) Clean up an area around the house or in the yard.
15) Approach your studies from a different angle. Suppose you were to write the textbook? what would you include or exclude from the textbook? Might give a different perspective on your textbooks. what would you teach in class? Might give a different perspective on lectures. What have other textbook authors and professors done to convey the message to students? If you try and take on some of these tasks, it may give you some insight into your classes that transforms them from a source of depression to a source of inspiration.
16) Find a friend and talk. Share a drink or a meal. Talk about life, dreams, and goals.
17) Do not be misled into thinking being smart means being successful. Work will always be required. The trick is to find a way to enjoy the work part, and set a course that holds your interest in life.
Hope this helps!Nov 13 2012: Remember, this is not professional advice ... just a friend. This is self diagnosed as depression by you. I don't know about your school but most have a health services available to the students. Go there and tell them your problem and have them refer you to the proper specialist .. it could be medical ... psych ... behavioral, etc ...
Until it is isolated and you understand what it is and what your options are do nothing.
I am not an expert but to self diaginose and / or self medicate / or seek resolution without a professional opinion is not good advice.
The important thing here is that you recoginize there is a problem. I find it hard to believe that your doctor (who agrees with you) did not refer you to a specialist.
I am a big fan of documentation of all kinds. If you write down everything time depression sets in, what you eat, what your schedule is, length of depression, last eye exam, periods, meds (over the counter and perscribed), and all other things you can think of in a diary This gives your doctor a great snapshot of your life and the influences you encounter. When someone is screwing with my life I want them to have all the info possiable to base a decision on.
This works for me (except the female part) and hope it helps to resolve your problems.
I wish you all the best.
Bob.Nov 13 2012: To me depression is the same as mourning.
It can have a light up to a severe impact on any person dependant on circumstances, resilience and the amount of loss.
The kind of loss can be family members, a fortune but also the child you were if growing up or the ability you lost with illness or handicap.
Resilience has to do with intelligence, fitness the struggles one has overcome already and many more.
Circumstances can be good or bad in many ways, physical as well as social/emotional.
It isn't unique to humans because animals show the same behavior among which there are problems with appetite, curiosity and dissociation. Most things become difficult like tidiness, sociability and agenda. Unique to humans however is that their way of thinking can make things worse or better.
The way to go about are many as some here suggested but for all it is about following your bliss. Think what feels good, do only if it feels good, look for directions that give a good feeling. Don't let you be made miserable in any way, not by people or what you need or need not to do. Look for better people, better places. Try to think less and less, meditate if possible, love yourself first and be positive about everything. See your dreams in life in front of you but live in the moment itself. Don't worry, trust that all comes well in the end.
John Smith
Nov 12 2012: "Therefore, my question is should we think of depression as some kind of existential struggle to find purpose in your life? or a chemical imbalance? A passing phase into aduthood? or selfishness"
- +2
E) a little of all of the above
There is no line where the chemical imbalances begin and your personality ends, the chemicals and electrical activity in your head ARE your personality.Nov 15 2012: HI,
I wrote yesterday a note about depression, called "Depression for dummies". http://translate.google.fr/translate?hl=fr&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fleseauxlibres.canalblog.com%2F
For I was a regularly depressed person, I explain where that comes from, how is works, how to cure it and how it looks like when we are out of it.
I hope that gooel translate will be able to translate it for you enough well, cause it's in french. But as I tried by copying directly the url in the translate editor, we can understand most of it. If you have sentences, or ideas that you don't get, please feel free to ask.
Have a nice life!
Mitch SMith
Nov 14 2012: Hi Vague IDeas,
- +1
I agree with many of the posts so far.
Depression is not so simple. There is one aspect of it, however, that you better come to grips with very quickly.
That aspect is that chronic-depression becomes locked-down - there is a dynamic that is well observed that depression that becomes latched-up(chronic) can continue even after the cause is removed. Recovering from chronic depression takes a while, and will not succeed if initial stressors are still present.
I would suggest a few things:
1. respect your own stress responses - when you feel them, withdraw as a matter of urgency. De-couple your plans that expose you to the stressor. This may involve terminating stressful relationships - and contact with anyone who stresses you. This is not easy - our culture almost worships stressors, like only failures and wimps avoid them. This is propaganda - make up your own mind - it is your life, and you are responsible for how you live it, no one alse is qualified to judge. LIkewise, be alert to environments that stres you - there could be environmental toxins in play.
2. Do things that reduce build-up of glucocortizol. Measured breathing works well. Totally avoid anything with MSG - this actually floods your body with cortizol - it is instant depression. Likewise do not consume anything from a factory farm if you can possibly avoid it - forced harvest rates are all dependent on toxic practices. Do daily meditation and mindfulness exercise. Do a lot of physical exercise.
In summary - amputate toxic people, places and diets. Attach healthy people places and diets.
You do not have a lot of time for this.
Do NOT take any form of anti-depressant without prescription from a *highly skilled* psychiatrist.. Remember that these medications have only a small affect, significant side-effects and only work on some people - and they are generally adictive.
You have nothing to lose apart from a re-think on strategy. If you get suicidal thoughts - get psych help asap.Nov 14 2012: If one is not depressed, one is NOT paying attention. We are in the throws of collective suicide, environmentally, economically and socially. To ignore that reality or to 'medicate' it away will never solve anything, plus will give side effects in who knows how many and what ways. Choose your poison wisely, they are not all the same.
However there is a way out. To take a vow to do all you can to build bridges to a sustainable future, in how you live and influence others. It takes strength and the rewards are few, but deep and lasting. Be a part of the solution and the depression will fade. It may not go entirely awy, but you can replace it with renewed vigor toward becoming the light.
Keith Hill
Nov 14 2012: Like some of the other have commented the first thing to do is speak to someone professionally and never try to self diagnosis.
- +1
But the topic on how we view depression as a culture is a very interesting topic. I truly believe it is a disease and should be looked at more seriously than what it is now. The unfortunate thing is, is the people dealing with depression are struggling and hurting mentally, so that means it doesn't show like an open wound. There are a number of ways to decrease depression and start back on the road to a healthy positive life. But when people view it "as just picking yourself back up, because we all have problems" is an insensitive and less than understanding way to look at it.
I wish you the best of luck and I hope that as a society we will start treating this as the disease it is.Nov 13 2012: 1.Know, without a doubt, that you can overcome this.
2.See the new 'you' in your mind's eye helping people who have similar problems.
3. Seek help from qualified and competent people.
Lawren Jones
Nov 13 2012: Psychology recognizes clinical depression as a chemical imbalance of the brain, which often manifests itself during the young adulthood years. Accept it as a disease needing treatment, and not something you can think your way out of.Nov 13 2012: Hi Vague..
- +1
Now, I'm going to talk from my perspective, as a Swedenborgian, but 2000 characters are not going to change your world. Each of us has a different perspective as to what life is all about and what life, itself, really is.
We are not our body or the chemical (im)balance in our brain. We are the spirit that occupies and uses this body. Everything belonging to our body and the condition it is in, can certainly influence our spirit to the extreme. But basically, our spirit should always be in charge.
With our body is also the environment it is in. The room, or house, well anywhere we are can give our senses a hard time to stay 'balanced'. But as you may realize, we do not have the power to determine what happens to us, what we see or what we smell. However, we do have the freedom to choose how to react. Whether it is the smell, the looks, the swearing, there can easily be conditions that make us say: I'm out of here (or I love this! I'm staying!).
Just saying we are a spirit in a body is meaningless, unless we have some idea what it means to be a spirit. Being a spirit means we also have a spiritual environment where we also have not much control over. However, there too, we have the power of choice as to how to react. We can get ideas and thoughts into our mind from that environment to which we can also decide how to respond. We may like ideas that come to us which suggest ways to make us seem smarter or richer or at least better than those around us now. The more we support ideas like that the more ideas like that we'll get presented.
By deciding what thoughts to support, and dwell on, we decide what to love and so determine our spiritual environment.
The most important aspect of that environment is Who are we putting in charge!! Life's choice ! Is it heaven or hell?
heaven=life and love, hell=depression and anger.
What Robert says below is great but some articles in here may help too
www.newchurch.org/connection/issues/coping-with-failure/index.htmlNov 12 2012: Hey there!
Similar to John, I understand depression as a somewhat selfish struggle to find purpose that is accompanied by a certain pattern of chemical processes. Selfish not in the way that feeling, doing or thinking anything in particular with regard to the depressed self is wrong, but that a lot of depressed thinking lacks a little perspective, that is, an accurate assessment of my own importance.
I also see depression as one way of responding to a depressing environment.
What strikes me in your post are the phrases "skeptical" and "making it all up". Skeptical about what? What are you making up? Feelings, thoughts? Or are you wondering in how far you would like to let your "depression" influence life-changing decisions? I don't know, just don't drink and drive, :D
Lejan .
Nov 12 2012: Would it make a difference to you how 'we' understand depression? Personally I could not care less about it the moment I get into 'mine'. :o)
- +1
The situation you describe does not seem unusual to me, as I have been there as well and several times throughout my life. So whenever I notice an agglomeration of those symtoms, lasting or returning in shorter periods, I then know that I am not on a 'resonating' journey through life and that I have to change course to increase my chances to find a better one.
It could just be, that your field of study is just not 'yours'. Or that the surrounding professors and/or fellow students are not the right environment for you.
Discontentment can easily trigger all of the symptoms you named, to manifest itself in this vague and confusing 'existential struggle to find purpose in your life'. And once this 'struggle' is there, it usually does not come with instructions how to get out of it on the fast lane... :o)
In those situations I start asking myself the question 'do I really like/want this' and if the answer is NO, I usually have no better alternative on hand as well. But this no problem, this is only the challange. ;o)
So while I am 'painting' my personal yes/no map a certain 'cause & effect' pattern starts to appear. At this point in time I usually still have no better idea what's best or better for me, but what I can do is to start to reduce and eliminate all the 'NO's' off my map. Within this process I initiate and endure dramatical changes at times, and so far I have always found a next, a better path to walk on for some while.
This is just 'my way' and no advice. And I am very certain that you find yours, as it seems you did start walking already. :o)
Good luck!


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Home > Automotive & Garage > Pet Travel Accessories > Dog Food & Hydration Travel Packs > Dog Whisperer Dog Food and Hydration Pack
Dog Whisperer Dog Food and Hydration Pack
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The Sopranos
Tony Soprano tries to be a good family man and run the New Jersey mob.
James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Tony Sirico, Steven Van zandt, Jamie-lynn Sigler, Robert Iler, Jerry Adler, John Ventimiglia, Katherine Narducci, Steven Schirripa, Aida Turturro, Drea De matteo, Steve Buscemi, Joe Pantoliano, Nancy Marchand, Vincent Pastore, Vincent Curatola, John Heard, Anthony Desando, Michael Rispoli, Al Sapienza, Michele Decesare, Max Casella, Federico Castelluccio, Matt Servitto, Dan Grimaldi, Patrick Tully, Bridgid Coulter, David Proval, Peter Bogdanovich, Lillo Brancato jr., Chris Tardio, Robert Patrick, Oksana Babiy, Louis Lombardi, Michael Badalucco, Tony Darrow, Paul Schulze, Frank Pando, Sal Ruffino, Sharon Angela
David Chase (Executive Producer), David Chase (Producer), Rodrigo Garcia (Director), Toni Kalem (Writer), David Chase (Writer), Dan Attias (Director), Alan Taylor (Director), Matthew Weiner (Writer), Terence Winter (Writer), Tim Van patten (Director), Terence Winter (Director), Phil Abraham (Director), Diane Frolov (Writer), Andrew Schneider (Writer), Danny Leiner (Director), Mitchell Burgess (Writer), Robin Green (Writer), Steve Buscemi (Director), Jack Bender (Director), David Nutter (Director), John Patterson (Director), Allen Coulter (Director), Michael Imperioli (Writer), Peter Bogdanovich (Director), Michael Caleo (Writer), Frank Renzulli (Writer), Tim Van patten (Writer), Joel Bender (Director), Todd Kessler (Writer), Lawrence Konner (Writer), Salvatore Stabile (Writer), Henry j. Bronchtein (Director), Henry Bronchtein (Director), Lee Tamahori (Director), Martin Bruestle (Director), Jason Cahill (Writer), Mitchell Burgess (Executive Producer), Robin Green (Executive Producer), Joe Bosso (Writer), Matthew Penn (Director), Andy Wolk (Director), Lorraine Senna (Director), James Manos jr. (Writer), Mark Saraceni (Writer), Nick Gomez (Director), David Chase (Director)
We're sorry, there are no episodes of "The Sopranos" available to record on your "East Coast " lineup in the next 14 days.
Tony Soprano juggles the problems of his fractious family with those of a ``Family'' of a different sort - the mob. He sees a therapist to deal with his professional and personal problems, which bring on panic attacks. He deals with personal and professional power struggles, affairs, violence, the threat of exposure and betrayal, and a whole bunch of people being whacked.
Current cast
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese as Corrado ``Uncle Junior'' Soprano
Tony Sirico as Paulie ``Walnuts'' Gualtieri
Steven Van zandt as Silvio Dante
Jamie-lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano
Robert Iler as Anthony ``A.J.'' Soprano
Jerry Adler as Herman ``Hesh'' Rabkin
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Interpretive Handbook
8545 :
Cortisol, Serum
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Cortisol, the main glucocorticoid (representing 75%-90% of the plasma corticoids) plays a central role in glucose metabolism and in the body's response to stress.
Cortisol levels are regulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which is synthesized by the pituitary in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is released in a cyclic fashion by the hypothalamus, resulting in diurnal peaks (6 a.m.-8 a.m.) and nadirs (11 p.m.) in plasma ACTH and cortisol levels.
The majority of cortisol circulates bound to cortisol-binding globulin (CBG-transcortin) and albumin. Normally, <5% of circulating cortisol is free (unbound). The "free" cortisol is the physiologically active form. Free cortisol is filterable by the renal glomerulus.
Although hypercortisolism is uncommon, the signs and symptoms are common (eg, obesity, high blood pressure, increased blood glucose concentration). The most common cause of increased plasma cortisol levels in women is a high circulating concentration of estrogen (eg, estrogen therapy, pregnancy) resulting in increased concentration of cortisol-binding globulin.
Spontaneous Cushing syndrome results from overproduction of glucocorticoids as a result of either primary adrenal disease (adenoma, carcinoma, or nodular hyperplasia) or an excess of ACTH (from a pituitary tumor or an ectopic source). ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome due to a pituitary corticotroph adenoma is the most frequently diagnosed subtype; most commonly seen in women in the third through the fifth decades of life. The onset is insidious and usually occurs 2 to 5 years before a clinical diagnosis is made.
Causes of hypocortisolism are:
-Addison disease-primary adrenal insufficiency
-Secondary adrenal insufficiency:
--Pituitary insufficiency
--Hypothalamic insufficiency
-Congenital adrenal hyperplasia-defects in enzymes involved in cortisol synthesis
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Discrimination between primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency
Differential diagnosis of Cushing syndrome
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
In primary adrenal insufficiency, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels are increased and cortisol levels are decreased; in secondary adrenal insufficiency, both ACTH and cortisol levels are decreased.
When symptoms of glucocorticoid deficiency are present and the 8 a.m. plasma cortisol value is <10 mcg/dL (or the 24-hour urinary free cortisol value is <50 mcg/24 hours), further studies are needed to establish the diagnosis. First, the basal plasma ACTH concentration should be measured, followed by the short cosyntropin stimulation test. Other frequently used tests are the metyrapone, and insulin-induced hypoglycemia test. Consult the Endocrine Testing Center at 800-533-1710 extension 4-2148 for testing information and interpretation of test results.
Cushing syndrome is characterized by increased serum cortisol levels. However, the 24-hour urinary free cortisol excretion is the preferred screening test for Cushing syndrome, specifically CORTU / Cortisol, Free, 24 Hour, Urine that utilizes high-performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A normal result makes the diagnosis unlikely.
When cortisol measurement by immunoassay gives results that are not consistent with clinical symptoms, or if patients are known to or suspected of taking exogenous synthetic steroids, consider testing by LC-MS/MS; see CINP / Cortisol, Serum, LC-MS/MS. For confirming the presence of synthetic steroids, order SGSS / Synthetic Glucocorticoid Screen, Serum.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Acute stress (including hospitalization and surgery), alcoholism, depression, and many drugs (eg, exogenous cortisones, anti-convulsants) can obliterate normal diurnal variation, affect response to suppression/stimulation tests, and cause elevated baseline levels.
Patients taking prednisone may have falsely increased cortisol levels because prednisone is converted to prednisolone after ingestion and prednisolone has a 41% cross-reactivity.
Cortisol levels may be increased in pregnancy and with exogenous estrogens.
Some patients with depressive disorders have a hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, similar to Cushing syndrome.
For patients taking exogenous glucocorticoids, order CORTU / Cortisol, Free, 24 Hour, Urine
NOT RECOMMENDED for evaluating response to metyrapone; DOC / 11-Deoxycortisol, Serum is more reliable.
A low plasma cortisol level does not give conclusive indication of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. DOC / 11-Deoxycortisol, Serum; OHPG / 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, Serum; and DHEA_ / Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Serum provide a better, accurate, and specific determination of the enzyme deficiency.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
a.m.: 7-25 mcg/dL
p.m.: 2-14 mcg/dL
Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Findling JW, Raff H: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2001;30(3):729-747
2. Buchman AL: Side effects of corticosteroid therapy. J Clin Gastroenterol 2001;33(4):289-294


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"The perfect gift for any occasion"
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Comments: I gave this to my boyfriend for our 3 years Anniversary. He loves it. Awesome quality, beautifully engraved and writes really well.


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Ringtone of the sweet old song RUK JA O JANEWALI....!


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Are there any repositories of free motion capture footage? Or maybe just libraries of animations.
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closed as too broad by Byte56♦ Nov 16 '13 at 17:10
There are either too many possible answers, or good answers would be too long for this format. Please add details to narrow the answer set or to isolate an issue that can be answered in a few paragraphs. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
This & This page contains some more links/info.
You should also check out, Mixamo
You can find a lot of free motion capture clips on these websites: