Advantage of IP based CCTV System

Here are some reasons why….

IP-based system offers a lower total cost of ownership than a traditional analogue-based surveillance system. The IP-based video surveillance system will cost less in particular with a number of cameras in a network greater than 16. Factors such as system maintenance, video recording and playback, cameras, installation, configuration, training and cable infrastructure will save up to 30 to 40% in cost & time. The cost to acquire, install and operate an IP-based system is between 10 and 50 per cent lower than a legacy system (depending on the individual parameters) consisting of analogue cameras and DVR-based recording. Overall, an installation with 32 cameras is the break-even point for IP-based systems versus analogue systems.

An IP-based system will cost less than an analogue system if the installation includes at least 32 cameras. With any installation between 16 and 32 cameras, the cost of IP versus analogue is similar although slightly lower for analogue systems. Where an existing IT infrastructure, IP-based surveillance systems would always be lower cost, i.e. even for systems consisting of 1 to 32 cameras. There is an overwhelming lack of knowledge about the total cost of ownership when it comes to analogue versus IP-based systems. It is well known to us that the costs and the values of an IP system are still misconceived by most of the public.

Network cameras provide superior scalability, greater flexibility and image quality, also mega pixel functionality and offer video compression based on H.264 standard, which produces better image quality streams for a given bit rate when compared to MPEG4 based video compression. This allows you to save up to 50% of bandwidth for remote monitoring via Internet. In addition, IP systems typically include better maintenance and service agreements for the equipment, plus they can be remotely serviced over the network for easier maintenance. IP systems clearly make the most sense both from an economic and technological standpoint.

Last but not least, the IP technology represents the future and any existing legacy system will therefore phase out sooner or later into an IP-based system.

Future Proofing

By deploying an IP CCTV solution future proofing can be achieved by enabling integration and support for new technologies and applications such  HD,  proximity access control and identification indexing, Video Analytics, Facial Recognition and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

Integration with the above technologies enables CCTV to be extended to provide an additional level of security for traffic monitoring, parking, and access control applications.

Linking CCTV with Access Control technology can deliver real benefits. For example in a school a single card could be used for students and staff for access to secure areas, library card, identification, time and attendance records and cashless vending. CCTV images can be linked to Access Control records so that in the event of crimes such as vandalism, pilfering or identity theft rather than simply having a database you have a visual image to quickly identify if the access records are correct and also avoid any rebuttal from potential suspects.

Remote Accessibility

Secure remote access enables an IP based solution to be monitored from anywhere not just in a central control room. Using the integrated intelligence of IP based solutions automated audio response and alarm escalation out of hours can also be achieved as well as incorporation of help points and streaming video to mobile phones.

Analytic

Below are the features that can be integrated in an IP CCTV environment at any time without disturbing or replacing any hardware.

• License Plate Recognition
• Container Plate Recognition
• Face Capture and Recognition
• Multi-Zone Motion Detection
• Body Tracking
• Object Tracking
• Left Baggage Detection
• People Counting
• Traffic Monitoring
• Video and transaction synchronization indexing

Surround yourself with positive people

Make friends with people who will encourage you on the path to your goals, and always find ways to spend more time with them. Share your goals only with people who will support you, not those who will respond with cynicism or indifference. If you want to lose weight, for instance, get yourself into a gym, and start befriending those who are already in great shape. You’ll find that their attitudes become infectious, and you’ll start believing that you can do it too. Meeting people who’ve lost one hundred pounds or more can be extremely motivating. If you want to start a new business, join the local chamber of commerce or a trade association. Do whatever it takes to make new friends who will help you keep your commitment.

Although this can be difficult for some people, you also need to fire the negative people from your life. I once read that you can see your future just by looking at the six people with whom you spend the most time. If you don’t like what you see, then change those people. There’s no honor in remaining loyal to people who expect you to fail. One of the reasons people fail to start their own businesses, for instance, is that they spend most of their time associating with other employees. The way out of this trap is to start spending a lot more time associating with business owners, such as by joining a trade association, Networking groups etc. Mindsets are contagious. So spend your time with people whose mindsets are worth catching.

Speech on Late Sitting in Office – A need or habit ?

Many a times I wonder whether sitting late in office is a need or a habit? This article answers it well. Hope that many of us start leaving early for home after reading this…

Infosys’ Chairman and Chief Mentor Officer (CMO) – Mr. Narayana Murthy’s Speech on Late Sitting in Office:

I know people who work 12hours a day, six days a week, or more. Some people do so because of a work emergency where the long hours are only temporary. Other people I know have put in these hours for years.

I don’t know if they are working all these hours, but I do know they are in the office this long. Others put in long office hours because they are addicted to the workplace. Whatever the reason for putting in overtime, working long hours over the long term is harmful to the person and to the organization.

There are things managers can do to change this for everyone’s benefit. Being in the office long hours, over long periods of time, makes way for potential errors. My colleagues who are in the office long hours frequently make mistakes caused by fatigue.

Correcting these mistakes requires their time as well as the time and energy of others. I have seen people work Tuesday through Friday to correct mistakes made after 5PM on Monday.

Another problem is that people who are in the office for long hours are not pleasant company. They often complain about other people (who aren’t! working as hard); they are irritable, or cranky, or even angry. Other people avoid them. Such behavior poses problems, where work goes much better when people work together instead of avoiding one another.

As Managers, there are things we can do to help people leave the office.

First and foremost is to set the example and go home ourselves. I work with a manager who chides people for working long hours. His words quickly lose their meaning when he sends these chiding group e-mails with a time-stamp of 2AM, Sunday.

Second is to encourage people to put some balance in their lives. For instance, here is a guideline I find helpful:

1) Wake up, eat a good breakfast, and go to work.
2) Work hard and smart for eight or nine hours.
3) Go home.
4) Read the comics, watch a funny movie, dig in the dirt, play with your kids, etc.
5) Eat well and sleep well.

This is called recreating. Doing steps 1, 3, 4, and 5 enable step 2. Working regular hours and recreating daily are simple concepts. They are hard for some of us because that requires personal change. They are possible since we all have the power to choose to do them.

In considering the issue of overtime, I am reminded of my eldest son. When he was a toddler, If people were visiting the apartment, he would not fall asleep no matter how long the visit, and no matter what time of day it was.! He would fight off sleep until the visitors left. It was as if he was afraid that he would miss something. Once our visitors’ left, he would go to sleep. By this time, however, he was over tired and would scream through half the night with nightmares.

He, my wife and I, all paid the price for his fear of missing out. Perhaps some people put in such long hours because they don’t want to miss anything when they leave the office. The trouble with this is that events will never stop happening. That is life! Things happen 24hours a day.

Allowing for little rest is not ultimately practical. So, take a nap. Things will happen while you’re asleep, but you will have the energy to catch up when you wake.

Hence ” LOVE YOUR JOB BUT NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR COMPANY (Because you never know when it stops loving you)” – Narayana Murthy

Competition – A key element for growth .

For survival & growth of any organization, decision makers should look at the 2 C’s – Customer & Competitor !

I need not explain importance of the first C – Customers, but let’s look at the often misunderstood role of the second C- Competitor.

Expands the market for your products/services:
It may sound strange but competitors influence the customers and help grow the market for your products and services. Presence of a competitor can also influence customers in ways that help you win more sales, and do it more efficiently, over time. Competitors help (& force) you to identify new applications & industry sectors you may never have thought of.

Provide a basis for comparison:
Competitor forces you to be more efficient & creative in seeking differentiation. Availability of an alternative helps purchase decision, & company whose unique mix of product & (or) service features is competitive can win sales often enough to succeed in the market.

Help identify right market sector:
Let them lead while you learn. When you identify new offerings or markets where your assessment suggests caution, a competitor may do you the favor of entering into market first. The case for letting a competitor move first into a new market can be stronger, when you are up against a very strong competitor. If you are a dominant player, you too can gain from competitors.

So welcome competition in its truest sense.
Be extremely cautious if you have no competitors!

CIRCUMSTANCES

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people
who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.”

SMILE:
Smile…. It confuses people

7 difficult customers

All of us have our share of ‘difficult’ customers.

Instead of treating all of them to be uncooperative, sometimes “idiots” & writing them off, understand their personality type & change your sales style matching theirs!.

In the past two decades, I am fortunate (!) to have come across number of such challenging (i would say, instead of difficult) customers.

I have tried to classify them into seven types. I am also sharing with you what I did, to enjoy doing business with them.

1: Excitable types.

Typical behavior : Energetic, talkative, gregarious.
My frustration: Bounces from issues to issues, difficult to focus.
What I did: Answer many questions, focus on big-picture issues, and find creative solutions together.

2. Deliberative types.

Typical behavior: Thoroughly methodical, practical, hardworking
My frustration: Takes virtually forever to take decisions.
What I did: Provide more documentation than usual, emphasize practicality and don’t rush.

3. Judgmental types .

Typical behavior : Informed & confident
My frustration: Critical, arrogant, condescending
What I did: Know my proposal in more detail than usual, asked lot of questions, listened to the opinions he or she shared freely, and focus on results.

4. Sensitive types.

Typical behavior: Thoughtful, caring, empathetic.
My frustration: Enjoys chatting/talking, ignores cold facts.
What I did: Make the personal connection, focus on the process, and emphasize how solutions will help all the people involved.

5. Hostile types.

Typical behavior: generally angry, extremely critical
My frustration: Humiliating, insulting, won’t listen to reasoning.
What I did: Remain calm, speak in an even tone, let the customer blow off steam, restated the issues & then proposed a solution.

6. Pessimistic types.

Typical behavior: Negative, gloomy, self-effacing
My frustration: Views nothing is possible, searches for negatives in everything.
What I did: Listened actively, addressed negatives first, then offered the customer with facts; focused on all the positive aspects of a solution.

7. Unresponsive types.

Typical behavior : Quiet, uncommunicative, extremely reserved.
My frustration : Won’t reveal true opinion, avoids questions.
What I did: Ask many open-ended questions, endure & ‘use’ silence, built on small developments to take sale forward.

By Sanjay Limaye

Who exactly is an entrepreneur ?

well, to me entrepreneur can be summed up by the following mnemonic:

E xcited about taking your business or ideas to a whole different level
 
 N ever holds the “I can’t” attitude
 
 T reading water is not an option, entrepreneurs dive in and take action.
 
 R ealistic, although very challenging, goals in life and business
 
 E ngaged in planning, building, or expanding their business
 
 P ure love for working for themselves and not making somebody else rich
 
 R ealizes the only way to be happy in life is to do what you truly want to do, and not what you have to do.
 
 E xtends a helping hand to fellow entrepreneurs in need.
 
 N ight and day, months and years, we pour our blood, sweat, and tears into what we love and don’t stop until we are truly satisfied
 
 E ntrepreneurs are those who organize, manage, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
 
 U nemployment is not a worry. We want to be the ones employing people.
 
 R eady as ever will be to take on whatever the world throws at them, no matter what hardships or obstacles stand in the way