In today’s fast-paced and increasingly complex operational environments, command and control centers play a critical role in ensuring efficient and effective management of information and resources.
Despite their importance, several myths persist about the capabilities and requirements of modern command and control technologies.
Below are the top 13 Myths, and how recent advancements—particularly visability from Activu—are changing the way these centers operate. From the misconception that such systems must be hardware-intensive, to the belief that only onsite AV contractors are required to manage their upkeep, explore how innovations like cloud-based data management, Direct View LED technology, and automated dashboards are revolutionizing command and control centers.
Myth 1
Command and control technology is always hardware-intensive, requiring server racks and extensive cabling.
Myth Buster
Recent advancements with visability from Activu, command and control room operators can now manage data via the cloud, eliminating the need for hardware intensive solutions.
Myth 2
Antiquated DLP Cube video walls are superior to DV-LEDs.
Myth Buster
Advancements have come quickly in the display industry, and direct view LED displays are more economical, brighter, less power-hungry, easier to install, easier to repair, and are available in a range of fine resolutions to more closely match their intended use, than old-style projection cubes.
Myth 3
The Common Operational Picture is only accessible within the facility.
Myth Buster
Visability enables seamless information sharing with key decision-makers across various devices, ensuring quick responses during emergencies, whether in the command or control room, conference room, or out in the field.
Myth 4
Access to necessary software is limited to operators within the facility.
Myth Buster
In emergencies, it’s crucial to share information with key stakeholders, including executives and other teams, to make swift, informed decisions.
Myth 5
Collaboration and interoperability with outside agencies is overkill.
Myth Buster
Visability ensures seamless structured communication and data sharing with local authorities and EOCs, which is vital for managing crises like a public safety emergency, severe weather, or cyberattacks and enhances coordination and decision-making.
Myth 6
Combining functions within a single facility is not necessary.
Myth Buster
Visability allows for operators to create customized dashboards called Spaces, which combat information overload by curating data sources such as streaming videos, SCADA, crowd-sourced data platforms, real time maps, ensuring relevant information is readily available various operations. This makes it easy to combine functionalities, corroborate, and make informed decisions.
Myth 7
Cabling and matrix switches are required to ensure a control room is secure.
Myth Buster
Visability unifies diverse networked assets into a Common Command Picture without traditional AV solutions. Accredited for secure networks, it’s trusted by federal agencies including the U.S. Military, Pentagon, NASA and Homeland Security.
Myth 8
A command and control center is essentially a conference room.
Myth Buster
Unlike conference rooms command/control centers monitor vast amounts of data and oversee critical operations, requiring sophisticated video walls and software to track and manage information effectively.
Myth 9
An onsite AV contractor is always required to change video wall content in the command center.
Myth Buster
Visability from Activu simplified content management on video walls, allowing operators to customize dashboards and simply drag them to the wall without needing special programming or specialists.
Myth 10
Applications used on a video wall layout require dedicated hardware.
Myth Buster
Visability integrates seamlessly with various monitoring and information platforms like Waze, Omnilert, & ServiceNow, eliminating the need for extra hardware.
Myth 11
Real-time responsiveness to a crisis is impossible, there’s too much information to be efficient.
Myth Buster
Visability’s Spaces feature streamlines information delivery, providing crucial data precisely when and where needed, leading to faster responses and resolution during emergencies.
Myth 12
Physical and cyber security functions cannot coexist in one Security Operations Center.
Myth Buster
Integrating physical and cyber security into a cohesive Security Operation Center enhances threat detection and response capabilities, data protection, and overall security through real-time monitoring and analytics.
Myth 13
Video wall “integration” means command center content is displayed on a video wall.
Myth Buster
Old AV uses the word “integration,” to describe the simple display of visual content on a device. Visability from Activu is the one and only control room software platform that provides teams with a true integration of their apps, empowering teams to see an automatically-assembled common operating picture in real-time, based on alert signals from monitoring platforms already in use. Visability aggregates any cameras, maps, dashboards, alerts, and more into a customized Common Operating Picture (COP) the moment a critical event is detected, delivering real-time situational awareness that results in swift incident response and decision-making.
Are you looking to enhance your control room? Schedule a demo with Activu today.