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March 20, 2012
INOVONICS PRESIDENT MARK JARMAN TO PARTICIPATE IN PSIA PANEL AT ISC WEST 2012
Security industry leader to discuss the importance of standards in product development and implementation
WHO: Mark Jarman
President
Inovonics
Inovonics is a leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications.
For more than two decades, Jarman has served as an industry executive in the security and wireless industries. He has a deep technical background combined with sharp business acumen from his years of management and business development experience. He has an undergraduate from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from DePaul University in Chicago.
WHAT: “Implementing PSIA Standards: Perspectives from Industry Leaders”
Whether in product development or service delivery, it is important to develop industry standards in an open and collaborative manner to benefit the security industry as a whole. At ISC West 2012, Geoff Kohl of SecurityInfoWatch will moderate the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance’s (PSIA) panel of security industry leaders discussing standards, why we need them and their experience in implementing them into products. This panel presentation will demonstrate the importance, value and positive ROI effects of a collaborative standards development process.
Jarman will draw on his experience in the security and wireless industries to provide insight on how standards development activities in the security industry compare to other industries, and how companies can become part of the standards development process. Other panelists include, Gary Myers, vice president of engineering at ObjectVideo, Deon Chatterton of Cisco STS, Mike Regelski, vice president of engineering at UTC Automation Control Systems and Frank Gasztonyi, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Mercury Security Corp.
WHERE: ISC West 2012
Bellini Room 2012
Venetian Hotel/Sands Expo Center
3355 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
WHEN: Thurs., Mar. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. PDT
CONTACT: For more information or to set up an interview with Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics, please contact Christie Denniston at Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760, ext. 13 or (cdenniston@catapultpr-ir.com).
February 16, 2011
Making the case for wireless long-term care facilities
Making the case for wireless long-term care facilities
Mark Jarman February 15, 2011
Today, wireless technologies have become the standard life-safety monitoring solution for assisted living, skilled nursing and the full spectrum of continuing care retirement communities (CCRC).
As the baby boomer generation continues to age and increase in numbers, so does the need for reliable technology that not only will protect and ensure resident safety, but also contribute to increasing the care center’s efficiency. Innovative new wireless applications allow staff to focus more on their job rather than constant manual check-ins for resident activity.
Residents, on the other hand, can have increased freedom of mobility, while being assured proper safety measures are taken to ensure their well being. Wireless technologies can provide passive sensors that instantly detect a resident’s activity. For example, residents traditionally are required to push a button or open a door to initiate a daily check-in. A new, automated approach involves wireless sensors that detect activity, which essentially eliminates the need for active check-in.
Key advantages
The “first generation” call systems implemented in CCRC and assisted living facilities were hard-wired. Although these systems are highly reliable and remain on the market today, they carry a higher cost to install, replace or expand. A wireless system is easy to install and use, ensuring significant cost savings from installation to deployment.
In addition, wireless offers a unique benefit that a wired solution cannot – the ability for installation almost anywhere in a building or campus without having to run wire or pull existing cable. Wireless manufacturers have worked hard to ensure their systems can be seamlessly relocated and reconfigured to meet the needs of building/campus changes. These systems can be expanded for new construction and facility upgrades and used to retrofit complete buildings/campuses that are being converted into senior care facilities. This ease of installation and low cost is especially compelling in a time where the aging population will soon increase dramatically.
Over the years, wireless has proven to be a reliable option for life-safety call system monitoring. However, with so many choices now available in the market it is difficult to determine which solution has enough range and can guarantee reliable emergency and distress response, despite what could be described as RF noisy environments.
Wireless options
There are primarily four different wireless technologies used in long-term care facilities: Wi-Fi, Zigbee, 900 MHz and 433 MHz systems. Each has its own unique performance characteristics, causing variations in range, location capabilities, battery life, etc.
WiFi: This wireless technology is capable of moving large amounts of data over a moderate distance, usually measured in hundreds of feet, making it a perfect fit for mobile computing applications. Many retailers, communities, airports and other public locations offer Internet through WiFi. These systems will only move data with an established infrastructure. WiFi also has high power consumption and limited range, which are not suitable for battery-powered devices in remote locations. Because of the amount of traffic on these networks today, WiFi technology is not ideally suited for critical information or life safety applications.
ZigBee: This technology is a standards-based wireless networking solution that can support moderate data rates and low power consumption. ZigBee systems send small data packets through a series of nodes, where each node of the network repeats the messages from its neighbor until the message reaches the head end. Typically, the range of a ZigBee device is less than 500 feet. This is a relatively new and still evolving technology that often is chosen for home, building and industrial automation fields. However, latency is lengthy, which is not ideal for applications where urgency is required, such as life safety.
900 MHZ: The performance of technology at this spectrum is ideal for life-safety systems. Open field range on 900 MHz devices varies from about a half mile to one mile. Information then can travel through a repeater network within the campus or building. The battery life of 900 MHz technologies usually achieve 2-5 years, which can significantly reduce maintenance and support expenses. Many 900 MHz technologies rely on Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology. FHSS systems send redundant messages across multiple channels to avoid interference obstacles. A transmission at a specific channel may be blocked; however, the following retransmission on the next channel will most likely be multiple channels away and thus avoid the interfering signal. FHSS systems not only avoid interference but also can tolerate in-band interference signals more than 10,000 times stronger than the desired weak signal. These characteristics make FHSS the best choice for short message communications such as life safety and distress alerts.
433 MHz Systems: This technology is very similar to 900 MHz in terms of range, battery life and relatively low overall cost. While 433 MHz has greater worldwide acceptance for general wireless applications, one of its major disadvantages is that it operates on a very narrow band channel making it more susceptible to interference. This fact makes it a less desirable technology for applications in senior care that rely on wireless to protect human lives.
New wireless applications
The assisted living market is focusing on solutions that offer flexibility to run several different applications with a single system or technology. Wireless providers are working toward achieving this goal.
A well-known application for wired is the traditional call system, which is the call device from an apartment or living space that requires residents to push a button or open a door in order to initiate a daily check-in. Today, there is a wireless 900 MHz solution, an activity sensor that enables passive detection of activity. It includes an extended sleep timer that reduces unwanted radio frequency traffic in large installations. This technology automates the daily check-in procedure, eliminating the need for the resident to perform a check-in activity. It also dramatically reduces the number of unwanted alarm signals-one of the largest offenders of excessive alarm traffic, which can impact the effectiveness of a wireless system.
In addition, wireless offers a mobile device, in the form of a pendant, that the resident wears. This device can move throughout the building or campus and provide a duress call capability for the resident while they are mobile. There also are applications for real time location capabilities and for asset tracking.
Seniors in the early stages of dementia can benefit from wireless systems that can create boundaries or restricted areas and provide a notification to caregivers when an individual enters an area that she or he shouldn’t, or gets too close to an exit.
Fall detection and prevention is a primary need within assisted living centers and skilled nursing areas. Wireless devices can easily help monitor when somebody might get up out of a wheelchair or bed and provide information to the caregivers about the activities of the individual so they can be alert and aware.
Typically, if somebody has a propensity to fall, the staff is aware and they’ll be looking and watching out for those people. One way to closely monitor individuals who are at a higher risk of falling would be to put a pressure sensor on their bed, or motion sensor in their bathroom or hallway so if they get up in the middle of the night and need to use the restroom, a caregiver would know they need to check on that resident.
Impact of wireless on staff
The wireless technologies for today’s nurse call systems provide flexible notification methods. This allows caregivers to be mobile-they don’t have to be sitting at or near a nurses station to receive a notification. Caregivers can do different activities throughout the day and can use mobile devices such as pagers, mobile phones, two-way radios, or Spectralink phones that will receive the alert.
The ability for caregivers to be mobile offers increased work efficiency. Nurses and other staff are spending time doing the appropriate tasks for their job and receive and act upon notifications while they’re mobile.
Impact on residents
The biggest impact that wireless has on residents of CCRCs and other care facilities is increased sense of security and freedom. They no longer have to be tied down to one particular spot; however, they still carry the call device with them. This benefit not only increases quality of life, but also allows residents to have more independence and privacy.
Implementation considerations
There are several key items that an operator should consider when determining which wireless system is best. The list includes, but is not limited to:
* Does the system provide sufficient coverage to meet your needs?
* Can the system withstand interference and assure life safety applications will be reliably deployed?
* Are there any line-of-sight issues or dead spots where coverage may be difficult?
* Have you reviewed and compared all options as they apply to your particular installation?
* Does this technology provide the most efficient solution possible?
* What are the installation costs vs. equipment costs?
* Are the wireless devices monitored or supervised to notify the facility if a device fails?
* What is the battery life of the devices, and how long will it provide a low-battery alert before the battery dies?
* Will the pendants work throughout the facility vs. only near the resident’s room?
* Can the system provide location coordinates for mobile pendants activated anywhere on the premises, and at what level of accuracy or resolution?
Conclusion
New applications for long-term care centers aim to satisfy the need for increased efficiency, cost savings, reliability and life safety. The aging population will dramatically increase in years to come, which will require the development and expansion of more CCRCs and other care facilities.
Wireless technology for life-safety applications should be selected based on the highest level of performance, resistance to interference, and message redundancy. In addition, the cost savings for installation and deployment of wireless is dramatically greater than wired.
While the benefits of wireless technologies are straightforward, decision-makers must understand the different types of wireless available in order to select the best possible option for their facility or campus. Using the correct wireless technology offers more freedom to residents, greater effectiveness for staff and the best overall economic benefits.
The author has served in the security industry for more than 20 years and is the president of Inovonics.
To view the full article at McKnight’s Long Term Care Information website, please click here: http://www.mcknights.com/making-the-case-for-wireless-long-term-care-facilities/article/196424/
February 9, 2011
INOVONICS PRESIDENT MARK JARMAN TO PRESENT AT TECHSEC SOLUTIONS 2011
INOVONICS PRESIDENT MARK JARMAN TO PRESENT AT TECHSEC SOLUTIONS 2011
Jarman and a panel of experts to discuss the increasing role of wireless technologies in the security industry
WHO: Mark Jarman
President
Inovonics
(www.inovonics.com)
For more than two decades, Jarman has served as an industry executive in the security and wireless industries. He has a deep technical background combined with sharp business acumen from his years of management and business development experience. He has an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from DePaul University in Chicago.
WHAT: Panel Session: “Look Ma, No Wires”
Never before has wireless security been of greater importance than it is today for commercial and life safety applications. Jarman will explain why wireless provides increased flexibility, performance, reliability and confidence that make it a leading choice for security applications. He will cover the new, innovative wireless solutions that provide the trusted backbone for an increasing number of security implementations, including access, intrusion and asset protection within some of the nation’s most secure government, education and corporate environments.
Jarman will draw from his deep experience in the wireless network and security industries to share his expertise regarding the current state of wireless technologies and how security professionals can use wireless within a wide range of environments, situations and applications.
WHERE: TechSec Solutions 2011
Delray Beach Marriott
10 North Ocean Boulevard
Delray Beach, FL 33483
WHEN: Mon., Feb. 14 from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
CONTACT: For more information or to set up an interview with Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics, please contact Christie Denniston at Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760, ext. 13 or (cdenniston@catapultpr-ir.com).
February 4, 2011
Implementing an Emergency Mass Notification/Location System
Implementing an Emergency Mass Notification/Location System
Things to consider prior to purchasing an MNS solution
By Mark Jarman, President of Inovoics
To view the full article on SecurityInfo Watch.com, please click here: http://www.securityinfowatch.com/implementing-emergency-mass-notificationlocation-system
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In today’s world of increasing concerns over safety, security and protection of lives and valuable assets, the need for developing and implementing a comprehensive mobile duress, situational awareness and mass notification system has become not just nice to have, but rather a mission critical requirement.
An increasing number of organizations are turning to integrated intelligent security systems that incorporate location, situational awareness and emergency mass notification capabilities to help protect their premises and human resources. These types of systems not only can help notify security personnel when an event occurs-anything from a fire to unwanted temperature increases to an injured person-but also pinpoint where it occurred. It also integrates emergency mass notification capabilities so that a security director or facilities manager can notify appropriate personnel and get people out of harm’s way quickly and safely.
There are several considerations prior to purchasing a wireless location/situational awareness and emergency mass notification system:
1) Basic System Needs: Specifying any security system begins with understanding the basics, such as premises size and layout, as well as who will interact with the system. How large is the overall site? Does it consist of one building or is it a large multiple-building campus? Who needs to access the site, how frequently and during what times of day/week? Who will be responding to events when they occur?
2) Construction or Environment: Since wireless systems offer much more flexibility and allow you to easily move sensors, repeaters and transmitters where needed, strong consideration should be given to utilizing these technologies. Installing a hardwired system is much less forgiving and can cost more without offering greater security or reliability. Robust wireless technology with a repeater network can overcome most potential obstructions and ensure complete coverage of the site.
3) Location Capabilities: Historically, wireless duress alarms required multiple technologies in order to pinpoint location. Although 900MHz wireless devices are the standard for duress and have been for many years, they have not been effective at pinpointing location. This can be overcome by adding supplemental technology, such as RFID tags, infrared sensors or ultrasonic sensors, as examples. While effective at achieving location, the system cost goes up significantly each time another technology is added, as does the overall system complexity. Newer IP-based wireless duress solutions now use the same long-range wireless to both summon help and reliably pinpoint location, which greatly reduces the system’s overall cost and complexity.
4) Multiple Application Support: Another important element to consider is whether the system will support the integration of other devices and systems. For instance, it should support standard intrusion sensors, such as door contacts and motion sensors, as well as a wide range of unique sensors, such as outdoor photo beams, fire extinguisher monitors and carbon monoxide sensors, as well as duress pendants. The system should take alerts from any of these devices, as well as information from other in-building systems, like intrusion, access control and fire panels, and integrate them into a single notification engine. Rather than just looking for a system that only offers mobile duress, look for a system that leverages your existing investments into a single platform at greater value and similar price.
5) IP-Based System: An IP-based system is a necessity, particularly with the emergence of the Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) concept. It quickly is becoming the next standard for all security devices and systems so it is important that what you buy meets these requirements to help guarantee a sound investment for the future. There are numerous functions such a system can monitor to offer you a way to derive business information as an added benefit. Such systems can serve as an excellent perimeter protection solution. Other items, like fire extinguishers and all the different kinds of sensors that can be employed-whether they are analog output or contact types of sensors-can be tracked. Monitoring critical temperatures or processes also is possible and can provide a measurable payback. All of this information can be put onto the network to then generate information which can be correlated and presented to management to help them better manage the business and increase their efficiency.
6) Simplicity is Key: Simplicity of a system is a very critical component in determining the best solution that fits your needs. The system should be something that is 1) easy to install and deploy 2) easily integrated with existing systems, and 3) easy to maintain and modify as your needs change.
7) Outbound Communication Options: An emergency mass notification system needs to offer a variety of ways to get the word out fast to the people who need to know. At the basic level, there is the need to know incident information, risk/hazard locations and resource locations. Each role, from security personnel to security director to dispatcher to command and control, requires access to information. These information requirements are role-specific and vary in degrees of urgency.
In addition, the mass notification system should deploy several ways of notifying key emergency personnel when needed with escalation capabilities if confirmation is not received. Managed alerts can be simple text messages, e-mails and phone calls and may be directed to mobile responders. You want to ensure the solution fits your internal response and workflow methodology so that you send managed alerts to the proper authorized people based on the time and day of the week.
There are a number of technologies available in the market today that can meet the needs of security directors and integrators. Emerging new wireless systems are one possible effective solution because they are easy to install, highly reliable, offer situational awareness capabilities and are also able to pinpoint the mobile location of a call for help so that responders know where assistance is needed. They also can easily interface with mass notification systems that are simple and easy to understand, such as text, e-mail and text-to-speech messages to reach mobile responders. In addition, wireless systems can easily connect with other existing in-building protection solutions, such as fire alarms, access control and environmental monitoring systems. For these reasons, when evaluating emergency mass notification and location systems, wireless is one of the most appealing choices to consider.
Mark Jarman is president of Inovonics (www.inovonics.com). He has served in the security and wireless industries for more than two decades and can be reached at mjarman@inovonics.com
October 12, 2010
INOVONICS INTRODUCES RADIUS, SECURITY INDUSTRY’S FIRST WIRELESS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SYSTEM WITH LOCATION
INOVONICS INTRODUCES RADIUS, SECURITY INDUSTRY’S FIRST WIRELESS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SYSTEM WITH LOCATION
Mobile duress system combines latest mass notification capabilities with advanced positioning technology to pinpoint alarm devices
DALLAS, Texas (ASIS, Booth #1646 ), October 12, 2010 – Inovonics (http://www.inovonics.com), the industry leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications, today announced RadiusTM, the security industry’s first situational awareness system utilizing Inovonics’ wireless positioning technology. Radius combines the latest mass notification capabilities with advanced positioning technology to pinpoint mobile duress alarm devices for use in multiple industries, including manufacturing/industrial plants, retail, education, government, and the financial sector.
Radius monitors any Inovonics’ security, and sensor, end devices and interfaces to fire, access control and environment systems, providing instant notification to mass communication alert devices. For example, when a potential life-threatening event occurs, it is automatically transmitted to Radius. The system then processes and locates the position where the event is taking place and alerts the appropriate authorities immediately so they can get help and move affected people to a safe, secure location.
“Radius fills a critical need in today’s security marketplace,” said Jeff Kessler, managing director of Imperial Capital (http://www.imperialcapital.com/), a leading security market research and advisory firm. “Most systems only can notify when a duress alarm has been activated, but, with Inovonics’ wireless Radius system, users can now tell exactly where the [mobile] alarm is coming from. No other system in the security marketplace can do that today.”
Unlike traditional hard-wired control panel systems that have been used to detect safety issues and report alarms, Radius provides a complete end-to-end, IP-enabled wireless solution for the security market. Radius can work alone or be integrated with other safety and security systems. Key features and benefits of Radius include:
„X Location: Radius allows for mobile duress applications by accurately determining where an alarm is coming from within a building or campus setting. It allows users to locate employees, faculty or students immediately when they signal for help.
„X Monitoring: Radius works with the complete line of Inovonics end devices, including pendant transmitters, universal transmitters and motion detectors. It also supports integration with Inovonics’ extensive list of system partners who provide fire extinguisher monitoring, wireless perimeter beams, fence tilt sensors, man hole cover monitoring, water sensors and a host of many other types of solutions. Radius also can alert users even when people are not present, such as after-hours. The sooner users are notified of an issue, the faster they can take action.
„X Notification: Radius coordinates event monitoring and mass notification. It communicates information from in-building systems and routes them to alert devices, such as pagers, emails and mobile phones using text messaging or voice mail. Radius also packages multiple in-building systems into a single notification solution allowing for more efficient and quicker responses.
“Inovonics is committed to providing the most advanced technology on the market today for ensuring the safety and security of organizations’ most important assets – their people, buildings and housed resources,” explained Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics. “Radius exemplifies this commitment and provides the highest degree of trust, reliability and proven accuracy available in the market today regardless of structural, physical or geographic challenges.”
Configurations, Availability and Pricing:
Radius can be used within single buildings or scale to large multi-building campuses spread over hundreds of acres. It can be easily integrated with other fire and safety and security systems and be customized based on customer preference. It is available now and is priced based on customer configuration. For more information, visit Inovonics website at (www.location-is-everything.com) or join the conversation at (www.facebook.com/inovonicswireless).
About Inovonics Wireless Corporation
Inovonics is the industry leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications. Founded in 1986, the company pioneered and patented the use of 900 MHz wireless technology to deliver the most reliable, cost-effective and flexible solutions for critical wireless applications. A leader in security and senior care markets, and the standard for multi-family submetering solutions, the Inovonics family of transmitters, receivers and control modules provides the wireless backbone for many of the world’s most widely used wireless systems. Renowned for exceptional performance and reliability, more than 6.5 million Inovonics wireless systems have been deployed in the most challenging of commercial environments, where structural limitations and multiple wireless networks can prove disruptive to lower quality systems. Working with leading OEMs and service provider partners, Inovonics provides network design and system engineering support to continuously advance the use of wireless technologies for corporate, industrial, government and educational applications. For more information contact Inovonics at (www.inovonics.com), or call 800-782-2709.
Contact:
Christie Denniston
Catapult PR-IR
Office: 303-581-7760, ext. 13
Mobile: 303-827-5164
cdenniston@catapultpr-ir.com
September 14, 2010
INOVONICS’ PRESIDENT MARK JARMAN APPOINTED TO THE UTILITY MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
INOVONICS’ PRESIDENT MARK JARMAN APPOINTED TO THE UTILITY MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Latest addition to UMCA Board of Directors brings more than 16 years of business management and development experience to the table
LOUISVILLE, Colo., September 14, 2010 – Inovonics (http://www.inovonics.com), the industry leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications, today announced that Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics has been named to the Utility Management and Conservation Association’s (UMCA) board of directors (www.utilitymca.org). Jarman will leverage his industry experience to raise awareness for utility conservation and cost management initiatives in the multifamily housing industry.
The UMCA community serves the multifamily and commercial real estate industry specific to resource conservation, metering, and utility management. The UMCA community focuses specifically on submetering and allocation billing methods in an effort to promote conservation to help reduce costs through resident accountability.
“I am delighted and honored to join the board of directors UMCA,” said Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics. “The UMCA provides a valuable service to the utility management and resource conservation communities, and I look forward to making reaching out to these parties to discuss ways we can achieve the UMCA’s mission.”
About UMCA
The Utility Management and Conservation Association, formerly known as the National Submetering and Utility Allocation Association (NSUAA), was formed in 1998 and its members consist of property owners, billing providers, meter manufacturers and apartment associations with an interest in promoting a “Green Lifestyle” of conservation and accountability. The UMCA community offers members a unique set of membership services that include principle’s and best practices for managing your metering, conservation, and utility management programs. For more information on the UMCA, call 888-504-4080 or at (www.utilitymca.org).
About Inovonics Wireless Corporation
Inovonics is the industry leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications. Founded in 1986, the company pioneered the use of 900 MHz wireless technology to deliver the most reliable, cost-effective and flexible solutions for critical wireless applications. A leader in security and senior care markets, and the standard for multi-family submetering solutions, the Inovonics family of transmitters, receivers and control modules provides the wireless backbone for many of the world’s most widely used wireless systems. Renowned for exceptional performance and reliability, more than 6.5 million Inovonics wireless systems have been deployed in the most challenging of commercial environments, where structural limitations and multiple wireless networks can prove disruptive to lower quality systems. Working with leading OEMs and service provider partners, Inovonics provides network design and system engineering support to continuously advance the use of wireless technologies for corporate, industrial, government and educational applications. For more information contact Inovonics at (www.inovonics.com), or call 800-782-2709.
Contact:
Christie Denniston
Catapult PR-IR
Office: 303-581-7760, ext. 13
Mobile: 303-827-5164
cdenniston@catapultpr-ir.com
