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Home > How Security Camera Systems Work
December 19, 2005
By: Derek Hanksworth
Security camera systems work via closed-circuit
television (CCTV). This CCTV differs from broadcast
television because all of the components of the cameras and
televisions are linked with cables or alternate direct
means. CCTV can be viewed in real-time, and there is no need
to broadcast a signal.
CCTV can be found in many places, including airports,
casinos, banks, and the streets. Cameras can be placed in
inconspicuous or obvious places. There is usually a security
room that has individual televisions that are directly
connected to a specific security camera. The amount of
security personnel needed to monitor the cameras varies with
respect to the amount of cameras needed. In casinos, there
can be hundreds of cameras.
CCTV has been used extensively in the United Kingdom.
Authorities place cameras in car parks and on the streets.
These camera placements have significantly reduced car
crimes. Authorities in the United Kingdom have been pushing
for the introduction of even more cameras. CCTV is very good
for crime detection and prosecution.
One draw back of security cameras is that many claim that
they are an invasion of privacy. Another argument is that
CCTV displaces crime instead of reducing it. CCTV has been
accused of being an invasion of civil liberties.
The history of CCTV dates back to when the cameras used
in public places were very simple and low quality. Today’s
cameras have high definition digital rendering and can even
track object movement. When cameras are positioned correctly
and synched, they can trace an objects movement over a long
period of time. Cameras can also have the potential ability
to have facial recognition. Currently, high-definition
cameras are unable to distinguish faces completely which
leads to a plethora of false positives. Critics of facial
recognition technology site the potentiality for mass
surveillance and the further loss of civil liberties.
Current CCTV technology being developed in the UK and the
US aims at creating a computerized monitoring system that
would allow security guards and CCTV operators to not have
to look at all of the screens. This would allow an operator
to run many more CCTV cameras, which could reduce security
costs. This type of system does not look at people directly,
but rather recognizes certain types of questionable
behavior. A drawback of this could be that computers cannot
distinguish between normal behavior, such as waiting for
someone on a busy street, and suspicious behavior, such as
loitering around a car.
Security cameras are very effective for crime conviction
and identification, but not as effective for crime
prevention. The idea is that security cameras help prevent
crime because people are less willing to commit infractions
if a camera is in plain sight. The down side to this is that
some security cameras are hidden, so criminals have no
deterrent. Security camera technology is constantly becoming
more advanced, and so security cameras should be able to
find criminals, and hopefully prevent more crimes in the
future.
Derek Hanksworth is interested in security systems and
related topics. See
http://www.prosecuritys.com for more information.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Hanksworth
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