CCTV Security: It’s Everywhere
Although we may not think about it very often, closed-circuit tv(cctv) is a definite part of our daily lives. Much like Orwell’s “Big Brother,” cctv security is all around us. Once found mostly in banks, convenience stores and airports, cctv has spread to almost all public places, even our highways and schools.
Despite the fact that it is everywhere, many people confuse cctv with broadcast tv. Part of this confusion may be due to the fact that cctv footage has made its way into broadcast tv through popular television shows and the Internet. Many traditional cctv cameras have been replaced with higher quality resolution IP (Internet Protocol) cameras so that people view the footage or still picture on a computer much like they can a tv show or an image.
People are often familiar with the many public uses of cctv security cameras as they’ve seen them when they shop, when they bank or even when they received that ticket in the mail for running a red light. There are, however, some more obscure uses in places such as factories and laboratories where viewing a dangerous process or experiment could threaten human life.
Because higher-end cctv security can be rather expensive, many individual uses of cctv are smaller scale, including such equipment as the infamous “nanny-cam” type surveillance that allows parents to check up on the daycare provider in their home and general home security that varies with the value of the property it is protecting.
The entertainment industry has also capitalized on cctv security equipment with a twist, using a closed-circuit type surveillance to produce a show that is broadcast to a wide audience. Productions such as “Big Brother” depend on security cameras to record the show’s footage. Crime shows and “candid camera” shows also depend on cctv camera technology to provide entertainment for its viewers.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but is it the truth? With all the internet access and computer knowledge out there, how much can we trust the surveillance footage we get from cctv security. With the ease and prevalence of photo manipulation, we know we must always consider the reliability of the source when viewing a traditional image. The question of validity must be addressed as well when it comes to using cctv technology for its intended purposes, especially legal action.
How much cctv security do we want in our lives? Obviously we have a lot of it now. Does it really prevent and solve crime? Does it slow traffic down? Does it keep our homes and children safe? There seems to be some indication that cctv security does indeed accomplish many of its intended purposes including improving safety in workplaces and aiding in identification. And certainly, cctv security gives us a little peace of mind, something we can fall back on if something does happen to us that we need to view and analyze.
Christopher Williams is an expert in the cctv security industry. With over thirty years experience in cctv security his advice is well respected. If you want more information about cctv security please visit http://www.adt.co.uk