Tenant companies in the Maxum Business Incubator at The Innovation Hub, Versec Systems and Tactile Technologies, recently entered into a joint venture to create an estate management and access control system that enables unskilled and computer illiterate security guards to operate hi-tech security software easily and efficiently.
According to Versec's MD, Jan Hendrik Otto, the system is unique in its functionality that allows estate residents themselves to control access to their estate. "The key is to prevent access by unknown parties. Criminals will be less inclined to target an estate where access is controlled in this way," he says.
Using a unique security code, residents pre-book visitors by voice or SMS for a specific day or selected period of time. The information is entered into a custom-designed database system, which includes a residential database as well as a temporary database to control visitors, contractors and service providers. Information about the visitor and the person being visited is verified against the database before access is allowed.
By incorporating touch monitor technology, developed by Tactile Technologies, into Versec's security software, the companies have managed to completely do away with using a mouse and keyboard in interfacing with the system. This means that, with some training, unskilled security guards can operate the complete system.
The elimination of keystrokes also reduces user abuse or the risk of users inadvertently altering settings in other sensitive areas of the system. The use of Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology to detect the finger's position on the screen allows the use of a glass screen rather than the conventional touch sensitive membrane, which increases the durability of the monitor.
According to Otto, the relationship with Tactile Technologies and the resulting benefit to Versec's own product offering is a direct result of being situated at the Hub. He says that exposure to the technologies of other tenants in the precinct acts as a trigger for innovation, providing a much larger view of the possibilities of real value-addition for the client. "It really gives you the edge. You approach a client as one company but with the capabilities of 50 companies", he added.
Versec is already considering more products where Tactile's touch monitor technology will add considerable value, including an e-mail-enabled visitor booking system and access control solutions for the corporate environment.
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