More than three decades of experience sets Hunt Electronic apart in the surveillance field. After achieving a smooth transition from analog to digital networking, the firm is now pivoting toward artificial intelligence (AI), edge computing and other smart imaging solutions in areas often overlooked by traditional security firms, from long-term care to traffic flow, while still providing the benefits of experience and dedicated manufacturing.

Brand new care solutions for an aging society
Amid a falling birthrate and lengthening life expectancies, Taiwanese society is aging rapidly, with one in every five people projected to be aged over 65 as soon as the year 2025. Long-term care centers have seen a corresponding uptick in utilization, leaving many increasingly understaffed and stretched for resources.

After originally bidding to produce medical equipment, Hunt identified a need for more AI-based products in the growing elderly care field — a natural fit, considering the company’s guiding philosophy of “making people’s lives easier and free of hardship through security systems.”

At present, many seniors wear a bracelet or other device for fall and location detection, but it is not a solution that works for everyone.

“This kind of equipment is relatively expensive and care centers tend to allow family members to provide it themselves,” Hunt said. “But through an AI system, we can achieve the same effect at a much lower cost.”
The firm worked with the Yiqing Garden Elderly Care Center in Taipei’s Beitou area to install smart cameras, which come equipped with a suite of features to help staff monitor resident safety.

Facial recognition cameras backed up by edge computing can instantly analyze images to keep track of who enters and exits the building and individual rooms, automatically alerting staff if it detects a stranger. Similarly, geofencing technology allows the center to restrict people from certain areas, such as around the hot water dispenser.

Like wearable devices — but at a fraction of the cost — fall detection devices can alert staff to an emergency in areas commonly frequented by residents such as hallways and pantry, allowing for a rapid response.
Put together, these capabilities act as a kind of auxiliary caregiver that “relieves the burden on staff and allows them to focus their attention on maintaining the facility’s sanitation and comfort,” Hunt said.

Durable 4G cameras that can be deployed anywhere
At any time of day, Taipei’s many riverside parks are seen bustling with people enjoying an escape from the city. However, these miles of pathways pose a security challenge for police, who can’t monitor every remote area through traditional means.

When looking for a security camera supplier in 2019, Hunt was a natural choice for the Taipei Police Department. Not only does Hunt have a strong track record when it comes to dust and waterproofing, but solar panels and 4G LTE connectivity allow its cameras to be installed anywhere without sacrificing instant streaming access.

Yet hardware was not the only consideration for the project. Hunt also worked closely with third-party software vendors to provide a secure access system, mapping and data management services tailored to the department’s specifications. Officers can view the full high-definition feed at a central workstation or on mobile, while storing the data on an on-board SD card, solid-state drive or in the cloud.

“This is a case that required integration of hardware and software systems, so we naturally needed to provide professional support in all areas,” Hunt said.

Hundreds of Hunt’s cameras are now helping the police department protect the residents of all 12 of Taipei’s administrative districts.

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Traffic management through geofencing
Local governments are always looking for better ways to stretch limited public school funding. In Hsinchu, officials saw an opportunity in Taiwan’s high-tech prowess to offer a technological solution to school security.

Hunt’s experience was of course a selling point, but even more important was the company’s “attitude and competitiveness when it comes to front and back-end system integration.”

The city chose Gangnan Primary School for the pilot project, which saw the installation of Internet protocol (IP) cameras equipped with geofencing technology. However, since the school is only 2km from the ocean, the IP cameras needed to be strong enough to withstand ocean winds for at least five years without breaking the bank.

“We actually have cameras that are anti-corrosion certified, but it’s an industry specification, which might be too advanced for a school!” Hunt said. “The school’s budget was also limited, so we used more lightweight materials without sacrificing capability.”

Through the system, the school’s security problem was “basically solved.” Teachers were freed up to focus on education more than managing students’ movements, while parents feel secure that no stranger is entering the school building without school staff knowing.

SELLING POINTS

• Three decades of experience and an independent production network make Hunt well-equipped to meet any security or surveillance need
• AI-enabled cameras with edge computing allow for video analytics in real time
• Facial recognition integrated into the camera provides a turnkey surveillance solution for campus security
• Range of anti-corrosion and durability specifications for IP cameras can conform to budgetary needs
• Deployed hundreds of solar-powered 4G LTE cameras in all 12 districts of Taipei for city police to surveil remote areas in real time