Specifically Speaking with Jeremy Barndt

What kinds of systems do you design/specify and what services does the company provide? 
Spectrum Engineers is a full service engineering company offering MEP, audiovisual, telecommunication, active IT, security, surveillance, access control, acoustics, lighting, data center, structural and other design services. I specialize in the technology disciplines of security, surveillance and access control as well as audiovisual, telecommunications and data center design.

What vertical markets does the company specialize in?
Spectrum Engineers does a wide gamut of design work including government, hospitality and business.  We have significant experience in almost all types of facilities.

How did you get started in security and designing/specifying? 
I started designing/specifying security, surveillance and access control systems in Las Vegas, primarily in casinos. Casinos encompass so many aspects of security, surveillance and access control because it includes not only gaming but also hospitality, retail, food and beverage, entertainment venues and pool areas. These venues really emphasize the use of technology to make the venue safer.

Can you talk about what new or emerging technologies you are seeing or specifying today? 
Most of the technologies I'm seeing today are really not new. Certainly, higher megapixel cameras and faster networks but really these are just improvements of existing technologies. What I'm seeing is the use of the information that is being captured.  Artificial intelligence is mining the captured information to enhance the guest experience, monitor trends and anticipate needs, trends and provide a safer and more secure environment. The use of AI to anticipate trends, predict events or even using AI to more effectively market to customers.

What is your view on the industry moving forward? 
The industry is going to be in higher and higher demand. We live in a world where threats to safety and security are always around. There is no way to completely eliminate threats but using technology to minimize the effectiveness of threats is paramount.  People working in tandem with technology make systems even more effective. At some point we have to strike a balance between totalitarian society watching over us, and the security of maintaining our safety; we currently are working fervently to enhance the technology we have to secure the future.

Specifically Speaking features a Q-and-A with a different security consultant every month. Consultants are provided to Security Systems News by www.SecuritySpecifiers.com.