BOSTON, Nov. 1 -- A steady stream of exhibit-only visitors Wednesday boosted attendance at Vision Show East to a level that show officials described as "better than expected." As with most trade-show exhibits, traffic ebbed and flowed throughout the day, and some booths drew more attention than others.
   Arrays of boards, detectors, cameras, software, motion controllers and other vision-related products and services greeted exhibit attendees at the show, being held at the Hynes Convention Center, next to the Prudential Center. In typical vision exhibit fashion, many firms demonstrated functioning machine vision systems for a variety of applications.
   Although some exhibitors said their businesses are feeling the effects of the current economic downturn, most were upbeat about prospects, in light of the increased demand for security solutions and the likelihood of more interest in vision-based intelligence, surveillance and war-fighting equipment by the military.
   Tightened security at the convention center was evident to attendees. A photo ID and a vehicle search were required to enter the parking garage, and guards at the Vision Show area entrance searched bags, handbags and briefcases. Visitors to the Prudential Center were also required to show a photo ID and to sign in at the visitors’ desk.