Here are the release notes for Facit’s Identity Cloak Milestone Plug-in 7.0.1
This is the latest version of our Identity Cloak Milestone Plug-in (also referred to as our post-incident redaction plug-in).
What’s changed:
- Import video
- With and without audio
- Screen Recorder
- AI-tracking:
- Automated processing
- Head
- Body
- Switching between the three modes has never been easier.
- Advanced Detection
- Removal of full-body
- Licence Plate
- Inverse
- Full Screen
- Manual redaction
- Permanent masking
- Interface design changes
Import Video
The new import video functionality will allow you to bring in videos from outside of Milestone (with and without audio) to be redacted within your Milestone Smart Client. This allows our users to bring videos that might be stored on another system i.e. mobile/ cell phone footage or Body-worn footage and carry out the redaction in their plug-in forgoing the need for an additional licence to be able to use our standalone application or subscribe to another redaction tool. We recommend importing videos in the formats MP4, AVI, VOB, MOV, ASF, CVA and MKV files formats.
If your clip also has audio, you will have the option to include this with the imported video. Please note that when including audio with your imported video, you will not be able to trim the clip. Please note that Audio redaction feature will be available in a future release.
Screen Recorder
If you have a video file which can’t be imported (generally these are the files that can’t be played in a VLC player) you will be able to record the screen that the video is being played on. This feature will allow you to draw a box over the area of the screen you wish to record as well as selecting the screen if you have more than one attached to your device. This allows our users to bring videos that might be stored on another system i.e. mobile/ cell phone footage or Body-worn footage and carry out the redaction in the software.
AI-Tracking
After you have imported and trimmed your video, you will get a pop-up stating, "Please Wait...". When this is showing Identity Cloak is processing everyone within your clip and tracking them. Depending on the length of your video and how many people are in it you may find that it takes longer than other videos. Once this process is completed, you will now be able to select your target(s) to track. This change saves 25-58% of redaction time.
In addition, with the new and improved automated tracking, you are now able to track an individual either by their head or their body. You can easily select which tracking mode you would like. If you select to track the target’s head, then all other heads will be redacted. If you select to track the target’s body, then all other bodies will be redacted.
Switching between modes
Previously, if you have tracked someone and then wished to switch to a different mode you would have to delete the work you had already done. You were able to select the modes underneath the track list box within the tracking screen. These modes have now moved to the adjustment screen within the “Advanced Detection” section.
By default, you will start all your redactions in our Standard mode (the one with automatic redaction), after you have tracked the individual(s) in question you can then select to move into the “Inverse” or “Full-Screen” modes by selecting the relevant icon.
Advanced Detection
Formally, the “Advance Detection” section included “Licence Plate” and “Full body”. Now you will find the “Inverse” and “Full Screen” modes within this section as well as the option for “Licence Plate” redaction. To turn any of these on simply click on the icon. “Full body” has now been removed from this section due to the new AI tracking allowing you to track either the head or body of an individual. This change will allow you to easily change between the three redaction modes – “Standard”, “Inverse” and “Full Screen” without losing the tracking work you have already completed. In addition, the full body tracking will now work within all three modes whereas previously it only worked in the “Standard/ default” mode.
Manual Redaction – Permanent Masking
Previously to mask a portion of the video, i.e. static camera view with a notice board, you would have to create a track with the rectangle or circle tools, this has now changed to our “Permanent Masking” tool on the adjustment screen. This tool will allow you to draw lines to create the shape of the area you wish to mask. This will benefit users as they are no longer limited to either a circle or rectangle for the area they wish to mask, allowing for more precise redaction. The “Permanent Masking” tool when in use will cover that area of the screen throughout the whole clip.
If you wish to keep this area permanently visible, you carry out the same steps using the permanent masking tool and then right-click on your shape (after saving) and select the “un-blur”.
Manual Redaction – Manual Tracking
In previous versions, you could draw a circle or rectangle to create a manual track when you are on the tracking screen. Now you will see a "+" as your cursor before you draw your shape, (the shape will still be determined by the tracking detection you have selected circle in Head tracking and rectangle in Body tracking). After you have drawn your shape, the cursor will show this outline with the "+" in the centre to save you time on having to try to re-draw the shape perfectly. While still allowing you to change the shape, if you require to, by drawing a new circle or rectangle.
Interface design Updates
Over the summer to celebrate our growth, we unveiled our new branding that reflects our respected position in the tech sector. This change is now reflected within Identity Cloak. Once the new version has been installed you will find that the icon for Identity Cloak is now blue not orange. As well as the font and open screen now matches our new look and feel.
We have tested this successfully on Milestone SmartClient XProtect 2023 R3.