Showing posts with label holiday safety. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

In 2016, terror suspects and 7-Eleven thieves may bring surveillance to Supreme Court - Presented by Dennis Mancino HD view 360

It has now been 2.5 years since the first Snowden revelations were published. And in 2015, government surveillance marched on in both large (the National Security Agency) and small (the debut of open source license plate reader software) ways.
Within the past year, Congress voted to end Section 215 of the Patriot Act—but then substituted it with a similar law (USA Freedom Act) that leaves the phone metadata surveillance apparatus largely in place even if the government no longer collects the data directly. Even former NSA Director Michael Hayden admitted in June 2015 that this legal change was pretty minor.
We also saw some notable 2015 reforms as to how federal law enforcement uses stingrays, the invasive cell-phone surveillance devices in use by everyone from local cops all the way up to the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Department of Justice (the parent agency of the FBI) and DHS both announced new policies that require the agencies to get a warrant prior to deploying the snooping device.
And in October 2015, America’s most populous state implemented the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Among other reforms, this act imposed a warrant requirement for the state’s cops when using a cell-site simulator. Other states that already have similar laws include Washington, Virginia, Minnesota, and Utah. But perhaps 2015's most notable surveillance happenings took place in the court room. Last year, we summarized five cases and trumpeted: “If the Supreme Court tackles the NSA in 2015, it’ll be one of these five cases.” Exactly zero of the cases we profiled got anywhere close to the nine justices. In short, the rise of surveillance tech and the glacial pace of surveillance legislation proves the old adage: technology moves at a lightning pace, but the wheels of justice can turn frustratingly slowly.
Luckily, 2016 may contain a number of equally, if not more important, cases that are currently sitting at the appellate level, meaning these decisions may even file to be heard by the Supreme Court. Our list of five cases to watch in 2016 includes a handful of criminal suspects who were told about government surveillance used against them after their convictions. Beyond that shared detail, the cases can wildly vary. One man was convicted of plotting to blow up a 2010 Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon; another case centers around dozens of fast-food robberies.

Happy Holidays

Case name: United States v. Mohamud
Status: Appeal pending in 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Let's start with the Christmas tree. United States v. Mohamud involves a Somali-American who is accused of trying to blow up a 2010 lighting ceremony in Portland. Undercover FBI agents posed as jihadis and presented Mohamud with the means to conduct the operation, which turned out to be wholly bogus. Mohamed Osman Mohamud was eventually found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
But after the conviction, the government disclosed that it used warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. Seeing this, Mohamud’s legal team attempted to re-open the case—but the judge denied their motion. Mohamud's defense lawyers continue to raise this issue on appeal.
As Stephen Sady, Mohamud’s attorney, wrote in the May 2015 appellate brief to the 9th Circuit:

For the contents of Americans’ communications, any balancing of interests has already been performed by the Constitution: a particularized warrant, based on probable cause, is necessary for the government to collect and read the content of, or listen to, Americans’ private conversations. The § 702 programs are unprecedented in terms of the broad scope of the collections and the lack of any particularized suspicion to support the massive acquisition and retention of Americans’ communications.

Federal prosecutors countered by saying that there is no misuse of Section 702 in this case. As they argued:

Section 702 provides that targeting procedures must be “reasonably designed” to “ensure that any acquisition authorized under [the certification] is limited to targeting persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States” and to “prevent the intentional acquisition of any communication as to which the sender and all intended recipients are known at the time of the acquisition to be located in the United States.” See 50 U.S.C. § 1881a(d)(1). The FISC has repeatedly held that collection pursuant to the Section 702 targeting procedures meets these requirements and is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

The case represents the thorny nexus between law enforcement standards and national security, where different rules of evidence and disclosure apply. Although Mohamud is accused of terrorism, he is being tried in open civilian court as a criminal.
Sady has until February 29, 2016 to file his reply—oral arguments will likely follow sometime later in the year.

Ineffective counsel doesn't even describe it

Case name: United States v. Hasbajrami
Status: Appeal pending in 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals

Similar to Mohamud, this case involves a United States person (citizen or legal resident) accused of attempting to provide support for terrorism-related activities. According to the government, Agron Hasbajrami, an Albanian citizen and Brooklyn resident, traded e-mails with a Pakistan-based terror suspect back in 2011. The terror suspect claimed to be involved in attacks against the US military in Afghanistan. After he was apprehended, Hasbajrami pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to terrorists in 2013. Federal prosecutors laid out the details in a press release following his sentencing hearing:

Hasbajrami sent the individual more than $1,000 to support the jihadist cause. Then, in pursuit of his goal to engage personally in violent jihad, Hasbajrami arranged to meet the individual in the Federally Administered Tribal Area of Pakistan (the “FATA”). In one e-mail message, Hasbajrami stated that he wished to travel abroad to “marry with the girls in paradise,” using jihadist rhetoric to describe his desire to die as a martyr.

After he pleaded guilty, the government informed Hasbajrami that it had used Section 702 surveillance against him. Thus, the case was re-opened. That fact is notable, as many cases that have tried to fight surveillance have fallen down for lack of standing. Hasbajrami's case is different, however, because he can definitively prove that he was spied upon by the government.
As the case was nearing trial by mid-2015, Hasbajrami pleaded guilty a second time. But shortly thereafter, he moved to withdraw the plea again. In a handwritten letter to the judge dated July 20, 2015, he wrote:

The judge denied his request. The Albanian was sentenced to 16 years in prison and ordered to be deported back to Albania upon the conclusion of his incarceration. Hasbajrami's lawyers have filed notice of their appeal in the 2nd Circuit but have yet to file their opening brief. It will likely come sometime in 2016.

No leg to stand on

Case name: Wikimedia v. NSA
Status: Appeal pending in 4th Circuit Court of Appeals

Similar to other anti-surveillance cases, Wikimedia v. NSA targets the agency's “upstream” setup where the NSA grabs data directly off of fiber optic cables. In its civil complaint filed in March 2015, Wikimedia and the various other groups suing the NSA allege that the government is engaged in illegal and unconstitutional searches and seizures of these groups' communications. In October 2015, US District Judge T.S. Ellis III dismissed the case, finding that Wikimedia and the other plaintiffs had no standing and could not prove that they had been surveilled. That action largely echoed a previous Supreme Court decision, the 2013 case of Clapper v. Amnesty International. This time, Judge Ellis found that there is no way to definitively know if Wikimedia, which publishes Wikipedia, is being watched. As he wrote in his memorandum opinion:

Plaintiffs' argument is unpersuasive, as the statistical analysis on which the argument rests is incomplete and riddled with assumptions. For one thing, plaintiffs insist that Wikipedia's over one trillion annual Internet communications is significant in volume. But plaintiffs provide no context for assessing the significance of this figure. One trillion is plainly a large number, but size is always relative. For example, one trillion dollars are of enormous value, whereas one trillion grains of sand are but a small patch of beach.
…
As already discussed, although plaintiffs have alleged facts that plausibly establish that the NSA uses Upstream surveillance at some number of chokepoints, they have not alleged facts that plausibly establish that the NSA is using Upstream surveillance to copy all or substantially all communications passing through those chokepoints. In this regard, plaintiffs can only speculate, which Clapper forecloses as a basis for standing.

Since the June 2013 Snowden revelations, it has been difficult for legal challenges filed against government surveillance to advance in the courts. But Wikimedia and its co-plaintiffs are still appealing—briefs are due within the coming months.

No more third-party doctrine?

Case name: United States v. Graham
Status: En banc appeal pending in 4th Circuit Court of Appeals

While all the previous cases that we’ve addressed have to do with large, federally driven government surveillance, more garden-variety snooping persists: like getting cell-site location information (CSLI) without a warrant.
This case dates back to February 5, 2011 when two men robbed a Burger King and a McDonald’s in Baltimore—10 minutes later, they were caught and cuffed by Baltimore City Police officers. Eventually, Aaron Graham and Eric Jordan were charged with 17 federal counts of interstate robbery, including a pair of fast food robberies and another one at a 7-Eleven. They also received charges for brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the crime.
A Baltimore City Police Detective first sought and obtained a search warrant for the two cell phones recovered during a search of the getaway car. Prosecutors later obtained a court order (a lesser standard than a warrant) granting disclosure of the defendants’ CSLI data for various periods totaling 14 days when the suspects were believed to have been involved in robberies. The government next applied for (and received) a second application to another magistrate judge for a new set of CSLI data, covering a period of July 1, 2010 through February 6, 2011 (221 days).
In court, the defendants argued in a motion to suppress this evidence that “the privacy intrusions available through this type of technology are far-reaching and unconstitutional—allowing the government to retroactively track or survey a suspect through his cellular telephone, a device he likely carries with him at all hours of the day and to constitutionally protected places such as his home or church.” A district judge agreed with the government’s argument under the classic “third-party doctrine,” finding that because the men voluntarily disclosed their own location to their mobile carrier via their phones, they did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The defendants’ motion to challenge this evidence was denied.
In August 2012, Graham and Jordan were found guilty on nearly all counts. They were sentenced to 147 years in prison and 72 years, respectively. By June 2013, appellate lawyers Meghan Suzanne Skelton and Ruth Vernet appealed to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. The duo argued:

Here, the government exploited new technology to access private information that was otherwise unavailable without a warrant. It obtained location information for more than 36,000 calls and text messages, retroactively learning where the defendants were over 221 nights and days, and did so without a warrant, without demonstrating probable cause, and without establishing the presence of any exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirements. (JA 253.) The government intruded upon the defendants’ subjective and objectively reasonable expectations of privacy when it tracked the defendants using 221 days worth of CSLI. Accordingly, this was an unconstitutional warrantless search.

In August 2015, the appellate court found Skelton and Vernet’s arguments persuasive, crucially tossing aside the oft-relied-upon third-party doctrine. As the appellate judges wrote:

These precedents do not categorically exclude third-party records from Fourth Amendment protection. They simply hold that a person can claim no legitimate expectation of privacy in information she voluntarily conveys to a third party. It is that voluntary conveyance—not the mere fact that the information winds up in the third party’s records—that demonstrates an assumption of risk of disclosure and therefore the lack of any privacy.

We decline to apply the third-party doctrine in the present case because a cell phone user does not “convey” CSLI to her service provider at all—voluntarily or otherwise—and therefore does not assume any risk of disclosure to law enforcement.

The government asked the court to rehear the case en banc (where all 15 judges, rather than a standard three-person panel, hear it). Oral arguments are scheduled for March 2016.
If the existing 4th Circuit decision is upheld, Graham would likely be a strong candidate for the Supreme Court. In such a situation, that upheld decision would create a split with the 11th Circuit in a related case, US v. Davis.

Speaking of notable cases to watch in 2016...

Aurich Lawson

Don't forget about Dread Pirate Roberts

As an honorable mention for cases that we’re following in 2016, we’ll also include the forthcoming appeal of Ross Ulbricht.
While Ulbricht was not subjected to any phone metadata surveillance under Section 215 of the Patriot Act or Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, he was certainly surveilled by various federal agencies including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Internal Revenue Service. The young Texan was convicted as being Dread Pirate Roberts, the creator of the online drug market Silk Road in February 2015. Ulbricht was sentenced in May 2015 to life in prison, despite emotional pleas from his family and friends for a lesser sentence. At his sentencing hearing, Ulbricht even pleaded himself for leniency. "I wish I could go back and convince myself to take a different path... If given the chance, I would never break the law again."
US District Judge Katherine Forrest had none of it. "Silk Road's creation showed that you thought you were better than the law," she said.
Coincidentally, Ulbricht's lawyer, Joshua Dratel, also represents Hasbajrami.
Ulbricht’s appeal, in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, is due January 12, 2016.

source: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/01/in-2016-terror-suspects-and-7-eleven-thieves-may-bring-surveillance-to-supreme-court/

Cyrus Farivar / Cyrus is the Senior Business Editor at Ars Technica, and is also a radio producer and author. His first book, The Internet of Elsewhere, was published in April 2011.
@cfarivar on Twitter

Monday, December 21, 2015

Store owner installs surveillance cameras to spy on police- Reblogged by HD View 360

A Miami convenience store owner is fed up with his employees and customers being allegedly harassed by police. So he installs surveillance video to get evidence against the local cops.

Surveillance is for our own good.

By having everything that we are doing monitored, we can be sure that we (who have nothing to hide) will be safe. At least, that's the logic many authorities offer us, as they spy, pry, and vilify anyone who might feel suspicious. What happens, though, when you suspect the authorities of behaving suspiciously? Is it all right to spy on them?

Miami Gardens, Fla., convenience store owner Alex Saleh decided he'd try. He'd become vexed at what he saw as police harassment of his employees and even his customers.

So he installed surveillance cameras, with the specific intention of watching the detectives.

He'd become frustrated, you see, about the possibly not coincidental number of times that his employee, Earl Sampson, had been stopped and questioned by police officers -- 258 times over a four-year period does seem a little like overkill. These included 100 searches and 56 jailings. As for convictions, well, they were only for marijuana possession.

Saleh told the Miami Herald it seemed odd that Sampson had been arrested 62 times for trespassing, when the vast majority of offenses were outside the very same Quickstop.

That would be the Quickstop where Sampson worked.

In all, Saleh installed 15 surveillance cameras. Some might find a certain poetry in the fact that he felt the need for them, when he says his store has never been robbed.

The videos make for numbing viewing. In one, a store employee takes out the trash, only to be arrested for trespassing. Others appear to show searches without warrants and police stopping customers without any obvious reason.

Miami Gardens is neither an easy, nor a safe place. But the police's reluctance to so far comment on these videos and the Herald's reporting suggest that some questions might need to be answered.

Clearly, there is a history between Saleh and the police. He filed an internal affairs report against some officers. He claims they retaliated by being more aggressive.

But he's owned the store for 17 years. The fact that he has to install cameras in an attempt to prove what he feels is racial profiling, excessive aggression, and intimidation might be a portent of what is to come, as technology becomes ever more involved in everyday life.

If police officers are to be outfitted with cameras, will citizens feel the need to have Google Glass or its equivalent, just to ensure they have their own filmic version of an encounter with authorities?

Some police officers have aggressively shown how uncomfortable they are with ordinary citizens filming them in the line of duty.

In one case this year, police in Bakersfield, Calif., were accused of erasing cell phone video of an incident in which a man died.

In another incident in San Diego, an officer being filmed making an arrest declared that the Samsung Galaxy in question was a weapon.

Even if we're all filming each other, there will still be questions surrounding editing and other forms of manipulation.

In the search for justice, there's always that nagging question: Whose?

HD View 360 is a Surveillance and Security company based in Miami, FL. HD View 360 specializes in high end residential installations and commercial Franchise store installations and monitoring.

For more information on HD view 360 products and services visit: www.hdview360.com

source: http://www.cnet.com/news/store-owner-installs-surveillance-cameras-to-spy-on-police/

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

How Security Cameras Work- Presented by Dennis Mancino of HD view 360

Do you ever feel a slight pang of anxiety when you leave your house? After locking the door, do you walk away backwards, unwilling to tear your protective gaze away? Instead of reluctantly easing into your car, do you eventually give up, running back to your house to stand guard over your property?
Unfortunately, for those worried about security, it's impossible to be in two places at once. We can't make a trip to the grocery store and expect to know exactly what's going on in every nook and cranny of our homes. We can install locks and alarm systems (which, incidentally, have driven down the number of burglaries over the years), but nothing is failsafe.

If you want to be able to actually see what happens while you're away, security cameras may calm your nerves. Video surveillance allows you to monitor or record activity in and around an area for many different reasons. For example, parents might want to watch over a sleeping child and lessen the risk of a dangerous fall from the crib. But a security camera system around the house can see people who approach the front door and maybe even catch a criminal in the act of breaking in.

There's a wide variety of security cameras available. Some are large and out in the open, and might serve simply to deter criminals from even approaching a home, while others are tiny and meant to stay hidden from view. If you're considering setting up some type of video surveillance system in or around your home, there are a lot of questions to ask yourself before getting started. To learn about the different types of security cameras out there and which systems are best for certain situations, see below.

Types of Security Cameras

Before you actually invest in a security camera system, you need to think about what you'll be watching and what you need in order to watch it. The number of cameras you want is probably the first question that should come to mind. Are you focusing on one room in the house, or do you need to keep an eye on several different parts of the house? Will you need to monitor outdoor activity as well as indoor? If you're simply watching over one room, you'll probably need just one camera, but including more areas requires a bigger camera system.

Security cameras are either wired or wireless, and which setup you'll need depends on where you'll want to put the cameras and how visible you want them to be. Wired cameras might be trickier to install, and stray wires can hamper your attempts to be discreet. They do, however, have a typically higher-quality picture than wireless cameras, since their signals aren't traveling through the air.
Wireless cameras have more flexibility, but broadcasts from other devices such as wireless Internet, cordless phones and baby monitors -- can interrupt a wireless camera's signal. Also, keep in mind that if you decide on a wireless system, there's a possibility your video feeds could be intercepted by others. Having someone else monitor your activity around the house or finding out whether or not you're at home defeats the purpose of having security cameras. If you're worried about your personal security, you can check with the manufacturer to see whether or not they encrypt their wireless system.

Larger cameras will be visible, and people typically install them outside or in an area where people know they're under video surveillance. You can also find smaller, hidden cameras online in many different forms -- a tiny camera hidden inside of an alarm clock, for instance, or a small pinhole camera that fits inside of an intercom system.

But before you install any type of security system into your home -- especially the small, "hidden" type -- you should note the legal restrictions on video surveillance. In most states, anyone recording either audio or video in a specified area needs to alert anyone in range of the surveillance device that he or she is being recorded. For instance, if you record someone's telephone conversation without them knowing it, that's illegal. It's also true that if you install a tiny camera into a room in your house without letting anyone know it's there, you're technically breaking the law. If anyone found the camera and wasn't previously aware of its existence, you could potentially face charges.

Installing Security Cameras

After you've determined the area or areas which will undergo surveillance, it's important to set up the security system properly. A poor installation won't get you any results, and if you've never had any experience with electronics, it would be best to have a professional handle the job. Any legitimate security service that offers camera surveillance will probably offer installation, and if they're credible they'll also make sure your system is not only working but legal.
Many camera systems are uncomplicated, so you may be able to install the equipment yourself. Installation procedures will vary according to the model, so it's a good idea to stick to the instructions.

Where you place the camera lens is important. The distance of the camera from its subject should be carefully considered, making sure the right areas are in focus and clearly visible. If you mount a camera to a wall or structure, make sure it's mounted properly so the camera won't shake and distort the picture. Outdoor cameras can deter criminals from ever attempting a break-in, and they can cover large areas, but a camera placed outside should have an appropriate weatherproof casing to protect it from the elements. Tough casings can also prevent tampering or vandalism.

You should also determine whether or not you'll want to record your surveillance. If you're simply making sure your children are safe while playing or monitoring who comes to the front door, a direct video feed with no recorder should be sufficient. But if you wish to see what's happening in a particular area over long periods of time, you should connect a recording system that's compatible with your security cameras. Some people use VCRs to record video, while others run the whole system via a computer and save information digitally. To avoid wasting video, some surveillance systems have motion detectors that only begin recording once the device picks up movement within the area.

As you can see, there are many video surveillance options available. Choosing the right one for your personal needs is a matter of knowing how you want it to work for you.

HD View 360 is a Surveillance and Security company based in Miami, FL. HD View 360 specializes in high end residential installations and commercial Franchise store installations and monitoring.

For more information on HD view 360 products and services visit: www.hdview360.com

source : http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/home/security-cameras.htm

Friday, December 11, 2015

SIA examines use of safety tech to facilitate productive and safe schools Presented By HD View 360 Surveillance and Security

SIA examines use of safety tech to facilitate productive and safe schools

Source: Security Industry Association Dec 2, 2015

SILVER SPRING, Md. (Dec. 2, 2015)–The Security Industry Association (SIA) took part in a roundtable discussion held at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on Nov. 20 by Congressman Todd Rokita, R, Ind., Chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.

The purpose of the event was to discuss “how schools can utilize cutting-edge safety technology to facilitate a productive and safe learning environment.”

A cross-section of school security solution developers from the industry participated in the event, led by SIA members Allegion, ASSA ABLOY, Stanley Security and Tyco Integrated Security. SIA was accompanied by partner organizations the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools and the Secure Schools Alliance, through which SIA works alongside law enforcement and education officials to encourage effective use of school security technology. The roughly 70 participants also included Indiana state representatives, safety professionals, law enforcement officers and school board members.

“We learned that the security industry, law enforcement, and school officials need to communicate better with each other to understand the effective technologies available, best practices to utilize, and the unique challenges present in a learning environment that may include a public building. Working together is how we prevent tragedies,” Rep. Rokita said.

“We commend Chairman Rokita for his leadership in hosting such a timely and relevant discussion, and we were very pleased that the security industry was included. The discussion shed light on urgent unmet needs for basic facility security in legacy school structures, as well as many positive things our communities are doing to address it that can be an example for others,” SIA Government Relations Director Jake Parker said.

According to Rep. Rokita’s office, a summary of the roundtable, including content from breakout sessions as well as participant feedback, soon will be made available to schools so they can take advantage of the discussion.

SIA continues to encourage the adoption of best practices, strengthening partnerships among the security industry, education and law enforcement communities, reviving federal grant assistance for school security technology and the adoption of effective state initiatives to make learning environments safer for our children.

HD View 360 is a Surveillance and Security company based in Miami, FL. HD View 360 specializes in high end residential installations and commercial Franchise store installations and monitoring.

For more information on HD view 360 products and services visit: www.hdview360.com

source: http://www.securityinfowatch.com/press_release/12145117/sia-examines-use-of-safety-tech-to-facilitate-productive-and-safe-schools

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Looking back at Surveillance in 2015 Presented by Dennis Mancino HD View 360

Stepping into new trends: Video surveillance in 2015

Source: Eifeh Strom, a&s International | Date: 01/30/2015

A new year brings new trends. Many of the trends from 2014 have since turned into industry standards, such as HD resolution and IP surveillance; however, new ones have emerged to keep the security industry on its toes in 2015.

The Market at a Glance
In 2014, video surveillance accounted for approximately 53% of the total market share (US$13.5 billion) in terms of global physical security product sales, according to Memoori Business Intelligence. Double-digit growth has been the norm in the video surveillance market over the last decade, and analysts at IHS forecast similar growth in the new year, predicting more than 10% growth in 2015. Furthermore, Marketsandmarkets has predicted that the global video surveillance market will reach roughly $42.1 billion at a CAGR of 17% for the period 2014 to 2020, with the IP system market expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.5% during the same period. Rising crime rates, an increase in terror attacks, and growing security concerns all are contributing to this growth.

Who Reigns Supreme? IP vs. Analog The move to IP is no longer so much a trend as it is simple fact: New installations are going IP and many analog users are upgrading to network-based solutions. With that said, does that mean that IP has finally taken over analog in video surveillance? The answer is yes and no. In terms of revenue, IP sales have surpassed analog sales; however, in terms of quantity, analog shipments still outnumber those of IP. This is poised to change, with analysts believing that IP shipments will take over analog by the end of the decade. Evidence of this shift can be seen in markets like Latin America where the overall market — one that is heavily focused on analog — is now leaning toward IP equipment for the first time (by supplier revenue), according to a report by IHS.

Asia Leads the Way
In the world of security, Asia has had a tendency to be a step behind when it comes to the most up-to-date technologies. In the coming years, though, APAC is forecast to be the fasting growing region for IP video surveillance globally at a CAGR of 44.3% during the period 2013 to 2020, according to a report by Allied Market Research. The report also pointed out that North America is expected to experience the highest share in the IP video surveillance market by 2020, predicting that the continent would be the highest revenuegenerating segment with a value of about $19 billion in 2020. However, China is estimated to have been the largest regional market for video surveillance equipment, accounting for a third of global revenues in 2013.

Trends for the Growing Market
Along with growth come trends, trends that help drive growth and keep the market up-to-date with new and exciting technologies. In 2014, we saw IP surveillance become a norm and HD resolution become a standard. In the following, a&s explores a few of what we expect to be the most popular video surveillance trends for 2015.
High Efficiency Video Coding (H.265) One of the most important developments for 2015 will be that of high efficiency video coding (HVEC), also known as H.265, which directly relates to another trend: 4K resolution. HVEC will play a significant role in the feasibility of 4K in security applications. According to security experts, about 90% of surveillance products currently use HVEC's predecessor H.264 for compression. However, that is set to change. “Our outlook is that most future advancements in the market will focus on compression, as the megapixel market has evolved extremely quickly and the compression will need to advance nearly as quickly to meet the growing demand for higher resolution images. H.265 may be the answer to this as there is a tremendous amount of computational power required for the compression and decompression of these images that the industry is currently grappling with,” said Stephen Carney, Director of Video Product Line Management at Tyco Security Products.
Pervasive use of H.265 has many implications for the security industry. With the ability to double the data compression ratio compared to H.264 at the same level of video quality, H.265 will greatly improve the usability of 4K in security applications. In fact, both Hisilicon and Ambarella introduced IP camera SoCs based on H.265 at the end of 2014 and widespread use of H.265 is expected within the security industry by the second quarter of 2015. This will in no doubt directly impact the adoption of 4K.

Finding Applications for 4K
The entrance of 4K resolution into the security industry was met with both curiosity and excitement. Similar to how HD was expected to be the new standard for image resolution when it was first introduced into the industry (which it since has become), many believe that 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) will eventually replace HD as the standard, and the availability of H.265 in security will be a catalyst to this; however, this change will not happen overnight. “4K will certainly be a trend to watch, though broad adoption will be problematic for the security industry at this point due to limitations on current camera form factor/lens combination, bandwidth, and storage constraints and the cost of the equipment versus the benefits or necessity of the additional resolution gained with the technology,” Carney said.
Despite the current limitations, many of the obstacles should soon be resolved. Aside from H.265 helping with data compression, the rapid rollout of 4G across the globe should assist in dealing with bandwidth problems, as well as better, improved accompanying hardware (e.g., lenses, monitors, etc.).

Bigger, Better Image Sensors With the trend of 4K in 2015, along with the fact that HD has become the standard, bigger, better sensors are now needed to support such high-quality images. The trend toward increased value of total image quality will utilize large image sensors, the latest iris system, and high picture quality at near IR, said Koji Maunari, GM of the Industrial Optics Business Unit at Tamron. In fact, the image sensor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% from 2014 to 2020, according to a recent report by Marketsandmarkets. Not only are manufacturers coming out with bigger sensors, they are also adding special technologies to further enhance image quality, specifically designed for video surveillance use. Well-known sensor makers such as Aptina, Omivision, and Pixelplus are now pushing out larger image sensors, while companies such as Sony have come out with new sensor technology specifically addressing the needs of the video surveillance market. The new Starvis technology, a back-illuminated pixel technology used in CMOS sensors specifically designed for video surveillance, was released by Sony in mid-2014. The technology extends from the visible light range to include the near-infrared range to support filming at night, which is often a problem area for 24/7 outdoor surveillance in most CMOS cameras. The improved performance at night will help more extensive adoption of CMOS cameras in the near future. Additionally 4K sensors are also being developed. These new sensors can support up to 12 megapixels (4:3) and 4K (17:9), and even support 4K at up to 60 frames per second. Furthermore, with sensors now reaching 1/1.9 inches, even higher resolution and clearer images are possible.

HD-over-Coax Gets More Advanced
HD-over-coaxial solutions are not new to the security industry. In fact, IMS Research, an IHS company, named HD-over-coaxial solutions a trend for 2012; however, at that time the solution in question was more or less limited to HD-SDI, which turned out to be not nearly as cost-effective as the security industry had initially hoped. Yet, like with any technologies a little time has yielded new-and-improved solutions, and 2014 saw just that with the introduction of new HD-over-coaxial solutions. One of the major proponents of HD-over-coax is Dahua Technology, who came out with their HDCVI technology in late 2012. However, it is not until more recently, in the last year, that the industry has really seen HD-over-coaxial solutions take off, with many other companies coming up with their own technologies and solutions as well, such as AHD, ccHDtv, and HDTVI. HD-SDI has also evolved: The new generation has upgraded in long-distance transmission, and more importantly, has become more cost effective.

Despite the fact that the overall market is going digital, many definitely still see plenty of room for HD-over-coaxial solutions, noting acceptance of the technologies particularly in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Renewed Life in Intelligent Video Solutions Intelligent functions have been touted for a while in security, but it isn't until more recently that they have been widely incorporated and desired in video surveillance. In fact, as of recent, a certain degree of analytics on the edge has become a standard feature for most IP cameras. From entry-level to high-end, cameras can now be differentiated by how “smart” they are. As part of this, video surveillance has proved capable of not just recording and reviewing, but preventing and analyzing. “The IP revolution has changed the surveillance cameras from a forensic tool aimed at solving problems after an incident has occurred to becoming a vital part of proactive intelligence chain. Network video cameras collect valuable data that can be analyzed and turned into actionable insights,” said Johan Paulsson, CTO of Axis Communications.

The idea of actionable intelligence is one reason intelligent video solutions are seeing an up surge in demand. “We [Verint] believe that actionable intelligence presents an opportunity for customer to implement solutions that enhance security and safety, while reducing operating costs and increasing productivity and efficiency,” said Brian Matthews, VP of Global Marketing and Product Development for Video and Situation Intelligence Solutions at Verint Systems.
Another reason demand is growing is due to more developed technology. “Advancements in analytics should also not be ignored, as this segment of the market has progressed to where analytics are accepted as reliable, accurate, and part of the day-to-day operations of a large percentage of users. Some analytics, such as facial recognition, will definitely benefit from the higher resolution images and increasing levels of clarity as camera technology continues to progress,” Carney said.

The many benefits that intelligence brings to video surveillance, especially now that the technology is more reliable, are being realized across verticals. Certain verticals like retail have found particular use for intelligent video, where the data is being used for business intelligence. “Especially video content analysis solutions like Bosch's that do not only automatically trigger alarms on the basis of pre-defined alarm rules, but also enable the tracking of objects,” said Erika Gorge, Corporate Communications Manager at Bosch Security Systems. “This kind of intelligence can also be used to obtain information that goes beyond a pure security purpose such as marketing intelligence information on the scenes being under surveillance — for example number of people (people counting), movement of people, registering characteristics like color or crowd density information.”

Furthermore, we will also see a higher adoption of big data for multiple applications, such as smart cities, in 2015, where a smart surveillance camera with advanced VCA could definitely play an important role. We will see how VCA changes a surveillance camera into a content provider for big data.

There is a catch, though: Avigilon's recent acquisition of ObjectVideo's entire patent portfolio and licensing program. In the future, Avigilon will replace ObjectVideo as the patent holder to lead the future development of VCA technology, once again reshuffling the intelligence market. The impact this move will have on the security industry as a whole will be massive, and not necessarily in a good way — Avigilon now holds 124 US and international patents and 202 US and international patent applications as a result.

Integrated Systems Become a Must
In the past, integration of disparate systems has been a struggle for many users. With newer solutions, the ability to integrate is in high demand, and as such integration has become a focus for many security players.

“Integration has been talked about a long time — but as a user experience it has been less than ideal. You will soon see systems that deliver on that promise of a seamless user experience,” said David Gottlieb, Director of Global Marketing Communications at Honeywell Security. William Ku, VP of the Brand Business Division at VIVOTEK echoed confidence in the integration trend: “The full integration of disparate systems, including video surveillance, intrusion systems, perimeter detection, access control, and real-time intelligent analysis on data will be the trend in managing security in every vertical application since the security could be secured seamlessly and enable staff to respond to intrusion or threats in a short time and solve the events on-site in an effective way.”

The trend for more integrated systems is also what will help push IP growth forward, as the IP market has matured and entered into the late growth stage of its product life cycle. Yet, the low-end market still has significant potential for IP growth, as noted by Karl Erik Traberg, Head of Corporate Communications and Business Development at Milestone Systems.

In the middle and high-end markets, however, the trend for more integrated systems will continue to drive IP growth. “In the market for advanced solutions with high camera counts there is a significant opportunity to offer more advanced integrations with access control and other security applications,” he added. “Verint believes in and has realized increased demand for innovative, integrated solutions that combine situation management, communications, and cyber intelligence, and facilitate collaboration across security and law enforcement agencies. We believe that today's government organizations, institutions, and multinational corporations, in connection with safe city, border control, transportation security, critical infrastructure, and other large-scale security initiatives, are interested in and preparing to deploy unified security solutions that fuse data from a wide range of security systems and intelligence sources to enable efficient information correlation and analysis,” Matthews said.

Hope for 2015
A lot of major changes took place in 2014 that has in a way left a question mark hanging over the fate of the security industry — the Canon Europe acquisition of Milestone Systems, Anixter acquisition of Tri-Ed, and most recently the selling of Samsung Techwin to Hanwha Group. Yet, one thing is for certain: there will always be a need for security and video surveillance. This sentiment is what industry players are emphasizing when it comes to future growth of the security/ surveillance market. Development for the overall market may not be as rapid as it once was, but with the above trends helping to drive surveillance growth, as well as the continued growth of things like video surveillance as a service and cloud computing, there is definitely still upward hope for the future of video surveillance.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

HD View 360 Launches new website- Presented by Dennis Mancino

We have recently Launched our new website at www.HDView360.com

Our Services Include:

Remote Control Systems

Who says you can’t be everywhere at once? If you have a laptop, smart phone or any web-enabled device, you’ve got everything you need to check on your business wherever you are over a highly secure internet connection.
Access and operate your system remotely from anywhere in the world. You can even download a convenient App! HD View 360’s remote keypad is the perfect fit for your business because it’s security that goes with you—so you can enjoy your life and keep an eye on your business at the same time.

Portable Convenience

Arm and check the status of your security system
Receive and view security-related events
Disarm and silence your system
Multiple account capability—great for vacation homes, investment properties or franchises
Bypass a door for unscheduled maintenance or service
Control garage or warehouse doors
Turn lights on and off remotely

Theft / Asset Protection

Protecting “portable” electronic devices such as laptop computers, monitors and peripherals is a universal challenge to business owners. HD View 360’s asset protection modules can track movement of these devices and sound an alarm when they are moved outside of a predesignated area. Instantly receive alerts when expensive equipment is moved or tampered with.

Access Control Systems

Managing access into and throughout your facility

Whatever size your building may be, our systems can monitor what goes on in and around your facility so you can focus on more important things – your business.

Restrict Access

Knowledge of everyone that enters and leaves your facility is critical. HD View 360 offers innovative access control for large or small, multi-site or single-site locations. Our access control solutions can integrate with your security system to streamline your operations.

Manage Security 24/7

Our state-of-the-art systems use proximity readers. Forget expensive key cards and access codes that constantly need updating. Your door opens when a person approaches and our system logs the person, time and date. We can also limit access to certain people at pre-defined times of the day. Let’s design a plan around your business needs.

Environmental Control

Control Your World

Adjust lighting and temperature remotely using easy web-enabled devices.

Monitor your environment

Detect a failing freezer or furnace, a flooding basement, low heating oil, burner lockouts and a host of other environmental conditions BEFORE they become bigger problems.
Detect dangerous carbon monoxide levels or changes in temperature instantly.
Our 24/7 monitoring assures that you are alerted immediately if these environmental conditions pose a risk to your business.

Robbery – Hold Up Alarms

Any business that handles money has the potential to be robbed. An armed robber is the most dangerous and confrontational criminals.

Increase the longevity of your employees.

Giving your employees the opportunity to summon help undetected ensures their safety and your peace-of-mind.

Let them feel protected at work

From cash drawer alarms to wireless pendants, we make workplace safety a priority.

Video Surveillance

The best security for your business will deter burglars, protect your employees AND protect you from a multitude of risks that can hurt your business.
video_surveillance

For Peace of Mind

Security Cameras Surveillance for maximum viewing flexibility.

Camera Options:

Closed Circuit television cameras
Indoor domed cameras
Multi-directional outdoor cameras
Infrared, low-light and night vision cameras

Digital Recorders

See your business more clearly.
Video surveillance packages for:

Shrinkage: Helps deter shoplifting and employee theft.
Legal Protection: Reduce your liability from fraudulent claims.
Workplace Safety: Reduce workplace hazards. Thwart potential risks.
Employee Morale: Helps monitor and improve productivity.
Savings: Lower insurance premiums.

View live-streaming video to monitor action at your workplace or access your DVR to view historical activity. We’ll customize a package that’s right for you.

Fire Detection

Commercial fire detection is not just about smoke or heat detectors.

Avoid water and fire damage

At HD View 360, your state-of-the-art sprinkler system is professionally monitored.
We’ll be happy to review your existing plan or design a fire detection program that fits your business and budget.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Unblinking Eyes Track Employees Workplace Surveillance Sees Good and Bad- Reposted by Dennis Mancino HD View 360

Unblinking Eyes Track Employees

Workplace Surveillance Sees Good and Bad

originally By STEVE LOHR JUNE 21, 2014

Jim Sullivan, a manager at Bread Winners Cafe in Dallas, monitoring restaurant activity from the back office, via a live video feed. Credit Dylan Hollingsworth for The New York Times

A digital Big Brother is coming to work, for better or worse.

Advanced technological tools are beginning to make it possible to measure and monitor employees as never before, with the promise of fundamentally changing how we work — along with raising concerns about privacy and the specter of unchecked surveillance in the workplace.

Through these new means, companies have found, for example, that workers are more productive if they have more social interaction. So a bank’s call center introduced a shared 15-minute coffee break, and a pharmaceutical company replaced coffee makers used by a few marketing workers with a larger cafe area. The result? Increased sales and less turnover.

Yet the prospect of fine-grained, digital monitoring of workers’ behavior worries privacy advocates. Companies, they say, have few legal obligations other than informing employees. “Whether this kind of monitoring is effective or not, it’s a concern,” said Lee Tien, a senior staff lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco.

When Jim Sullivan began working as a waiter at a Dallas restaurant a few years ago, he was being watched — not by the prying eyes of a human boss, but by intelligent software.

The digital sentinel, he was told, tracked every waiter, every ticket, and every dish and drink, looking for patterns that might suggest employee theft. But that torrent of detailed information, parsed another way, cast a computer-generated spotlight on the most productive workers.

Mr. Sullivan’s data shone brightly. And when his employer opened a fourth restaurant in the Dallas area in 2012, Mr. Sullivan was named the manager — a winner in the increasingly quantified world of work.

Still, even people involved in the workplace analytics business say rules governing privacy are needed, if the emerging industry is to flourish.

Ben Waber is chief executive of Sociometric Solutions, a start-up that grew out of his doctoral research at M.I.T.’s Human Dynamics Laboratory, which conducts research in the new technologies. Sociometric Solutions advises companies using sensor-rich ID badges worn by employees. These sociometric badges, equipped with two microphones, a location sensor and an accelerometer, monitor the communications behavior of individuals — tone of voice, posture and body language, as well as who spoke to whom for how long.

Sociometric Solutions is already working with 20 companies in the banking, technology, pharmaceutical and health care industries, involving thousands of employees. The workers must opt in to have their data collected. Mr. Waber’s company signs a contract with each one guaranteeing that no individual data is given to the employer (only aggregate statistics) and that no conversations are recorded.

“Privacy policy,” Mr. Waber said, “is going to have to deal with the workplace and not just the consumer issues.”

The payoff for well-designed workplace monitoring, Mr. Waber said, can be significant. The underlying theme of human dynamics research is that people are social learners, so arranging work to increase productive face-to-face communication yields measurable benefits.

For example, the company studied workers in Bank of America call centers and observed that those in tightknit communications groups were more productive and less likely to quit. To increase social communication, the shared 15-minute coffee break was introduced to the daily routine.

Afterward, call-handling productivity increased more than 10 percent, and turnover declined nearly 70 percent, Mr. Waber said.

Mr. Waber’s company also provided the data-guided insight to help the pharmaceutical company increase sales with its new cafe area. At a tech company, his company found, workers who sat at larger tables in the cafeteria, thus communicating more, were more productive than workers who sat at smaller tables.

Bryan Koop, a commercial office developer who has worked with Sociometric Solutions, points to the potential for more scientifically designed work environments. There are current fashions in office design, he said, that are assumed to increase productivity, like stationing workers at communal bench-style tables and constructing work cubicles with lower dividers.

“We don’t know if those tactics work,” Mr. Koop said. “What we’re starting to see is the ability to quantitatively measure things instead of just going by intuition.”

Skeptics warn of a digital-age rerun of Frederick Winslow Taylor’s “scientific management” from a century ago, whose excesses were satirized in Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times.” Taylor’s instrument of measurement was the stopwatch, used to time and monitor a worker’s every movement. His time-and-motion studies determined the best way to do work.

Initially, Taylorism was hailed as a progressive force that would free workers from the whim of autocratic bosses and benefit all. “This is the way workplace analytics is being presented now,” said Peter Cappelli, director of the Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

But the ideas of Taylorism, he said, were simplified and hardened into a speedup dogma used by bosses, and workers hated it.

Digital tools for workplace surveillance, according to Lamar Pierce, an associate professor at Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, can be simplistically viewed as either good or bad. “The real challenge for all of us,” he said, “is what is the right level and in what context is it being done.”

Mr. Pierce was a co-author of a research paper published last year that examined the effect of the monitoring software used in restaurants, like the one in Dallas where Mr. Sullivan works, on employee behavior.

The researchers studied the data on all transactions and patterns suggesting theft, before and after the software was installed, at 392 restaurants, in 39 states. The savings from the theft alerts themselves were modest, at $108 a week per restaurant. More startling, revenue increased an average of $2,982 a week at each restaurant, about 7 percent, a sizable gain in the low-margin restaurant industry.

Servers, knowing they were being monitored, pushed customers to have that dessert or a second beer, which resulted in the increased revenue for the restaurant and tips for themselves.

The monitoring software is a product from NCR called Restaurant Guard. The product, introduced in 2009, exploits the rapid progress in so-called big data technology, for collecting, storing and analyzing vast amounts of data. “That’s the big change that makes this possible,” said Jeff Hughes, general manager for digital insight at NCR.

]The software is used in several thousand restaurants. But to test the prototype software in 2008, Mr. Hughes visited his brother Jim Hughes, who owns a few Bread Winners Cafes, a midprice restaurant in the Dallas area. The software has steadily improved, he said, so that it now “lets you see everything that goes on in a restaurant.”

Today, Mr. Sullivan is the one using software to monitor workers. For example, he said, the data might show that someone who is efficient at serving several tables is not very good at sales, if that person’s average ticket is less than the restaurant’s.

That server, Mr. Sullivan said, would benefit from advice on how to talk to customers and suggest featured dishes and drinks. “The data allows me to go back and coach and train them,” Mr. Sullivan said, “so we can make more money and so can they.”

for more information on HD view 360 services and products visit www.hdview360.com

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/technology/workplace-surveillance-sees-good-and-bad.html?_r=0

A version of this article appears in print on June 22, 2014, on page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: Unblinking Eyes Track Employees. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe

Friday, December 4, 2015

An Easy Guide to Video Surveillance Laws_ Presented by Dennis Mancino HD view 360

The prevalence and dependability of video surveillance cameras has become very popular recently. Thousands of business and home owners have begun using video cameras for security purposes to guarantee safety, to catch criminals, sketchy behavior at home, monitor loss prevention from employees and customers and to enforce rules and regulations.

It’s considered covert surveillance when the cameras can’t be identified or can’t be seen. Security cameras are, for the most part, legal in the United States as long as it doesn’t intrude upon a person’s fourth amendment right to privacy. This article will go into the details of what is considered legal and what is not legal as far as surveillance goes so that all questions are answered.

On the Uses of Covert Surveillance

A saying that holds true in court is “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Studies have shown that when a jury is presented with surveillance footage, they are more likely to convict than if there is no video surveillance shown as evidence.

The calculated placement of hidden surveillance cameras help with the detection and prosecution of theft, vandalism, elder neglect, child abuse, harassment and stalking.

Some of the most common places that use camera surveillance are retail stores, hospitals, prisons, construction sites, nursing homes, police stations, casinos and of course in the family home.

Watching the activities of household help and babysitters or nannies with covert surveillance cameras is on the rise. With newer technology, cameras can now be installed in such places as house plants, teddy bears, wall paintings and clocks.

What Exactly is Illegal?

In the US, most camera surveillance is considered legal.

What you cannot do legally is post cameras where people have an expectation of privacy.

bathroom stalls
dressing rooms
locker rooms
changing rooms
someone else’s house

When is Audio Illegal?

Most all situations involving an unattended recording device.
Conversations you are not a part of.

Covert surveillance may also be illegal when you have audio surveillance taking place without the permission of those monitored when the person under surveillance has a practical expectancy of privacy.

Another case where video surveillance may be against the law is when the surveillance shows an illegal activity and the person under surveillance has a right to legal counsel, such as when being questioned by the law and the person in charge of the premises have not consented to video surveillance.

Audio recording for the most part is only legal if you are recording and are an engaged member of a conversation. Engaged doesn’t just mean you are there, it means you are actually participating.

Is It Okay to Use Video Surveillance?

Studies have shown that in the US and the UK video surveillance does act as a great deterrent to stopping crimes before they occur. Studies also show that video surveillance can be a very powerful tool in detection and prosecution of crimes.

The main thing to keep in mind is to know your local laws and to not just record anyone and everyone without their consent. If you follow all rules for covert surveillance, you should be okay under the law. Catching criminals is a great idea, just be sure you are not taking audio of people unknowingly.

This message and repost is brought to you by: HD View 360

for more information on HD View 360 and its services and products visit our website at: www.hdview360.com

this information was provided by: http://www.securityoptions.com/an-easy-guide-to-video-surveillance-laws/

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

12 Tips for Educating Kids on Home Security Reposted by: Dennis Mancino HD View 360

Posted by Kristi on October 2, 2014 at 11:58

As a parent, each morning when I wake up, there is an unspoken goal to keep my kids safe. They do their best to make that a challenge by jumping on the couch, trying to climb in the bathtub or trying to eat an entire banana in one bite – and that’s all before breakfast. It’s impossible to predict what will pop up in 24 hours’ time within the walls of our home – anything from boogie men at bedtime to stranger dangers while we play in the front yard are possibilities.

Just about the only way we can be ready for anything is to prepare safety rules and plans, teach our kids the safety basics and practice what-to-do scenarios with our kids starting at a young age. We can hope that we are never tested on any of the following, but I’d rather study for the test and have it canceled rather than walk into class unprepared for the exam.

Have a safe word. Create a sort of secret password just for your family. Let your kids know that any stranger that approaches them in the driveway or who comes to the front door claiming to need something or claiming to know their parents should know that word.
Keep doors, gates and windows closed and locked. It’s a simple preventative measure that your kids can learn as soon as they’re old enough to reach the locks. You might even get them in the habit of checking locks before leaving the house.
Keep the front yard free of toys. A yard littered with toys indicates to anyone driving by that a child lives there. True, our car with two car seats is sitting in our driveway, but someone would have to be in our driveway, peering into the car windows to see that, which is a lot more work than simply driving by.
Teach kids that strangers in the neighborhood are still strangers. Just because someone walks up to talk to them in the driveway claiming to live down the street doesn’t make the person trustworthy.
Be sure your kids can recognize the smell of gas. If they smell it in or around the house, they should know to quickly alert an adult.
Practice makes perfect. Once you’ve planned safety routes for your kids (for use in case of fire, home intruder, earthquake, tornado, blackout, etc.) practice them with your kids – even if their plan is to simply stay put and wait for you. They’re far more likely to be in the right place at the right time under pressure if it’s familiar.
Make sure your kids know when to answer the phone. In the old days, when I first started staying home alone, we didn’t have caller ID, so I had to answer every call in case it was one of my parents. They simply taught me not to reveal that I was alone. Today, though, I teach my kids not to answer the phone without me or my husband present. When they’re a little older, they may answer it if they recognize the contact.
Teach your children how to call 911 and when it’s appropriate to do so. For example, calling 911 because your sister pinched you is not OK, but if mom is hurt and asks you to call, then they should know how to dial and that it’s OK to share personal information with the dispatcher.
Help your kids remember their phone number and address. This can be confusing for military children who move frequently, but it’s worth it to learn.
Make sure your kids know to stay away from critters. While they might be harmless, teaching your kids to alert an adult to a wild or stray animal, a snake in the yard or that weird bug in their room could prevent a dangerous bite or sting.
Teach off-limit areas. Make sure your kids know to steer clear of outlets, cords, sharp or hot kitchen objects and household cleaners and why.
Be direct. I used to soften and over-explain consequences to my kids to prevent scaring them. I’d say things like, “You shouldn’t reach for things on the stove because there might be something hot up there that could hurt you.” Explanations like this one got me wide, confused eyes and didn’t stop the action from repeating. I’ve found being direct without being overly scary is the best method. In the stove situation, I held my son up to see that when a burner is on it’s hot, and if he touches it, he’ll get burned – message received.

At Holiday time and any time of the year it is important for parents and kids alike to be familiar with these kinds of techniques to make your lives safer.

This message and repost is brought to you by: HD View 360

for more information on HD View 360 and its services and products visit our website at: www.hdview360.com

source: http://blog-brigade.militaryonesource.mil/2014/10/02/12-tips-for-educating-kids-on-home-security/