I've done a lot of research on this topic as I've developed Nadine and have come to the same basic conclusions as Adrian. We use ISONAS card keys and I looked into integrating it, but it's always been more complicated then it's worth. I even got ISONAS to release all their back-end technical documents but didn't go very far down that road. I've talked about this quite a bit with Alex from Cobot and I know he was looking into it. I also know that WUN is now doing ISONAS support so maybe it will become a better product. So far I'm not very impressed and at $1000/door it's not exactly cheap. That said, it's all installed and paid for here at Office Nomads so I'm not about to make changes.
We also do some wifi accounting but don't do any billing off of it. It's too problematic to put any weight on. If someone stops by for an event their phone will jump on the wifi and show them as here when they are not in fact working for the day. I show up in the logs when I'm just walking by the office. So instead we rely on an iPad at the front desk to check people in and our system is simplified to not require checking out. Since Nadine does know who is on the network it can highlight if someone is here but hasn't signed in. We can then talk with them to remind them and it works out pretty well. No matter how smart the technology, humans are always required at some point of the process. That's the beauty of running a coworking space though. We have lots of humans and that's the secret sauce that keeps our members coming back for more. People that run business centers must have to work so hard. Jacob --- Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolation http://www.officenomads.com - (206) 323-6500 On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 5:15 AM, Adrian Palacios <adr...@nexudus.com> wrote: > Hi Jay,**** > > It is a common need indeed, but a difficult one to crack, particularly if > you want your access control infrastructure to communicate with the > software helping run the space (Cobot, Nexudus Spaces or any other) so, > when a member tries to access the space or a room, that software has a way > of opening or not the lock, rather than always relaying on the access > control software to make that call on its own.**** > > In most spaces we know, the software controlling the access control part > runs independently from the software running price plans, bookings, etc… > and you have to reconcile the access cards registration with what the space > software tells you. The reason behind this, we think, is that the companies > providing access control software are quite concerned about opening up > their systems to third parties, as this may reveal problems or ways to > hijack their systems. In short, integrating with access control providers > hasn't been easy – so far.**** > > When talking about this with some spaces, we came to realize that, even if > we managed to integrate with an access control manufacturer in a way that > we (as the software helping you run the space) can control the locks, then > there is an additional challenge, which is how to make sure that members > are not bypassing that controlled door, say for example by two members > going in using one card… it very quickly becomes an airport security model, > which is not what most spaces want.**** > > So, after all this, these are the options we can offer.**** > > · RFID Reader. If you have, or planning to have, an access > control system based on access cards, then you can register the member card > number in your Spaces account, connect a USB RFID Reader and check members > in and out of the space by touching the card on the reader, this will not > only check if the member can access the space at that time but also give > you real-time occupancy reports. In most cases, this will need a person on > the front desk to make sure members check in and out. More info here: > http://help.spaces.nexudus.com/en/managers/rfid-checkin-how-it-works.html* > *** > > · The good old WiFi checking. This just controls access to your > internet connection, but it uses that data to know who is in the space at > all times and how long they have been there for. You can use this time > towards time plan allowances. More info here: > http://help.spaces.nexudus.com/en/managers/wifi-getting-started.html**** > > Every time we talk about this subject we always seek for help, comments > and ideas from you guys running a space. We are always willing to offer our > technical expertise and resources to try new ideas that will help everyone > in this situation and also make Nexudus Spaces better and more useful to > the community.**** > > …. and that all I have to say about that :)**** > > On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 5:05:44 PM UTC+1, Jay Chubb wrote: >> >> Hi all... >> >> Massive thankyou to everyone for all the posts, such a rich resource >> (I've been lurking for ages!). >> >> I'm opening Nest Coworking in Melbourne, Australia, in 3 weeks. I'll >> introduce myself and Nest more fully another time (like when I'm not >> half-insane finishing up a 14 month design and construction process!). >> >> I wanted to ask some advice about locks - I've trawled through old >> threads, and followed the wiki (which pointed me to an Austrian coworking >> crew - who I've emailed). >> >> I guess it's a common need - I'm hoping for a lock system that allows >> multiple coworkers to enter with their smartphones and be logged, ideally >> interfacing with Cobot or similar for tracking use. RFID I guess - at least >> until iPhone ships with NFC. Be great to be able to send people temporary >> passes at will, open up remotely through call or sms, and to integrate with >> video and lights (way less important than the member access though). >> >> Anyone come across something that's working for them? >> >> I thought I remembered seeing one at CitizenSpace when I visited CA last >> year, but haven't heard back from them. >> >> Any advice much appreciated - thanks in advance. >> >> Jay :) >> > -- > Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
