Video Analytics, Intelligent Video, Biometrics: 20 Companies

3VR offers hybrid DVR appliances with built-in facial recognition software. The company primarily targets banking, retail and government applications. Founded in 2002, the company has received $30 Million in VC funding, most notably from Kleiner Perkins (one of the world's most well respected VCs) and In-Q-Tel (the VC funded by the CIA and other US intelligent agencies). 3VR recently released its own line of smartcams that embed facial capture inside of the camera. 3VR's main competitors are Verint and March Networks.

Agent Vi offers video analytics for both security and retail applications. Agent Vi offers a unique hybrid approach that splits the analysis between the camera/encoder and the server. This allows Agent Vi to run on a wide variety of cameras with lower processing power required. Additionally, though a server is required, Agent Vi can run dozens or hundreds of cameras on a server. Agent Vi's main competitors include Objectvideo and ioimage(both of which are pure smart cameras).

Aimetis offers IP video surveillance software and tightly integrated video analytics. While Aimetis offers its software without analytics (its standard series that MSRPs for $99 per channel), Aimetis is strongest where customers choose to use analytics. Key markets for Aimetis include outdoor focused applications and retail. Aimetis competes with a variety of leading IP Video surveillance software providers who generally offer 3rd party analytics to match Aimetis' offerings.

BiKal offers a complete line of IP video surveillance products including IP cameras, surveillance software and bundled analytics. BiKal focuses on making IP video inexpensive and easy for the broader market to use. Watch demonstration videos of Bikal's products. Though Bikal manufacturers their own IP cameras, their surveillance software supports a wide variety of third party cameras.

BRS Labs publicly launched their company in July 2008 with a potentially disruptive new approach to video analytics. Instead of the traditional analysis for specific activities (perimeter violation, loitering, etc), BRS Labs attempts to identify abnormal behavior relative to a given scene. For instance, if a person walking in a parking lot acts differently than the normal person walking in a parking lot, BRS labs would generate an alert. While this has great potential, it also is risky and is in need of further product maturation before it can be a major commercial offering. Read a review of BRS Labs and an announcement of $12 Million USD in additional funding.

Cernium offers video analytics primarily for security and airport applications. Cernium's current products are server based analytics though they will be releasing support for cameras/encoders. Cernium used to provide an integrated DVR/analytic appliance. Since 2008, Cernium has partnered with Milestone, using Milestone for video management and discontinuing its own DVR. Cernium has a number of customers in the campus market where their analytic alerts help security monitors identify security issues rather than actively monitoring video cameras.

ClickIt offers hybrid DVRs with built-in video analytics. ClickIt targets retailers.

Emza offers low-cost, rugged, video analytic appliances. These appliances generate alarms for perimeter violation and send images of the alert. However, these appliances are not cameras and, therefore, do not stream video. The appliances, which look similar to a motion detector, cost 1/2 the price of an ioimage smart camera. While the lack of video streaming is a disqualifier for many applications, the lower cost may provide a good fit for only alerting is critical or were megapixel cameras are being used for general surveillance. Read a review and test results of Emza.

Eptascape provides video analytics. Most unique differentiator is the use of MPEG-7 for the description of video analytic metadata. The promise of MPEG-7 is to increase interoperability and simplicity of integration with video management systems by leveraging this existing standard. In August 2008, Eptascape launched gotomycamera.com, a managed video surveillance solution for small businesses and residences.

Geutebrueck is a manufacturer of a broad variety of video surveillance products including DVRs, cameras and analytics. Strongest presence is in Europe.

Intellivid specializes in building an integrated intelligent video solution for retailers. In July 2008, Intellivid was purchased by Tyco. Tyco plans to integrate Intellivid's functionality with American Dynamic's DVRs, NVRs and encoders. Read a review on Intellivid's products and positioning and an analysis of the Tyco acquisition's impact.

ioimage offers cameras and encoders with built-in video analytics. Their products are considered to be high quality but expensive. ioimage continues to announce a steady stream of customer wins with innovative applications. ioimage's main competitors are ObjectVideo and Agent Vi with SightLogix a potential future competitor. Read an in-depth review of ioimage's strategy.

MATE IV offers a suite of video analytics for security and marketing applications.

NICE Systems is a leading provider of Video Management Systems specializing for corporate and government applications. The breadth of offerings including video management, video analytics and investigations is significant. The pricing is premium.

ObjectVideo offers video analytics for security and business intelligence applications. ObjectVideo partners with video surveillance manufacturers to embed their software in other's products. ObjectVideo's analytics are most typically deployed in cameras and encoders. In 2008, ObjectVideo announced that their analytics can now run on Intel chips such as PCs, servers and DVRs. ObjectVideo's main competitors are ioimage and Agent Vi. Read about the implications of ObjectVideo's support for running analytics on DVRs.

SightLogix offers advances outdoor video analytics in a smart camera, offering color and thermal options. SightLogix offers a geotracking feature and claims to cover 3x the distance of competing products. SightLogix's main competitors include ObjectVideo, ioimage and Agent Vi. Read a review of SightLogix's products.

via:sys offers video alarm software that can be loaded onto mainstream IP cameras including Axis and IQinvision products. They are offering an inexpensive (pricing under $300 USD for the software) and simple way to add perimeter violation and advanced motion detection to IP cameras. Companies should verify that via:sys accuracy is sufficient to meet your needs and that false alerts will not be a problem. This is especially important as via:sys is claiming to operate at much lower CPU levels than their main competitors such as Agent Vi and ObjectVideo.

VideoIQ integrates video analytics, cameras and storage to create all-in-one surveillance appliances. While traditionally, all 3 elements were run in separate devices (a camera, a recorder and a server for analysis), VideoIQ bundles all of them inside their camera (which they call iCVRs). Read our test results of VideoIQ's video analytics.

The company was acquired and then spun out of GE Security. In July 2008, they received a $10 M USD series B investment led by Lehman Brothers Venture Partners.

Their product approach is daring and is likely to completely fail or revolutionize the industry. Currently, the product's strongest competitive strengths are in niche markets like small 1 to 3 camera deployments or for use in wireless networks where unreliable or low bandwidth benefits from storage inside the camera. While there are no direct comparables, VideoIQ competes with numerous traditional product offerings that tend to be less expensive and scale better.

VideoMining

Vidient is a manufacturer of video analytics specializing in high end solutions for the government and transportation markets