Some subscribers want video because they believe they need the latest and greatest technological innovations available. In a word, they are simply technology minded.
Still, other end users adopt remote video because they believe it will better secure their facility. In some cases, video monitoring enables them to store images on and off premise, providing a higher level of security. On-premises storage is made possible using DVRs and videotape recorders, where off-premises storage can easily be accomplished at the central station.
In other cases, the client is actually forced to implement remote video because of alarm ordinances imposed by negative police reaction to false alarm problems in the local community.
“Law enforcement wants the alarm industry to be absolutely sure of criminal activity before the central station dispatches a police officer, but there are millions of alarm systems out there that are not presently equipped to perform verification of any kind,” says Stan Martin, executive director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) in Frisco, Texas.
Although video verification has its place, SIAC supports the use of ECV, where two calls and not one are made to the subscriber before dispatching the police (see sidebar).
