CCTV Systems
CCTV systems are a type of security
system that has seen a rise in demand over the past decade. CCTV
systems or closed circuit television systems, involve the use of
video technology to monitor an area or areas and record what is
happening. These types of security systems are used by the
government, law enforcement, private business and even individuals.
The CCTV surveillance system technology continues to advance, making
this type of security system more affordable and more useful.
Originally, a CCTV surveillance equipment involved
a tape recorder. This had obvious disadvantages. Tapes often wear out and
can break which defeats the purpose of the system. Worn out tapes produce
blurred pictures or pictures that are unrecognizable. This prompted the
development of CCTV DVR systems. A DVR or digital video recorder provides a
better picture quality and more stability than a VCR. A CCTV digital video
recorder does not have the malfunctions that legacy VCR systems do either.
The size of the closed circuit security camera has changed through the years
too. There are regular sized cameras, but now there are also small camera
that can be hidden or disguised to look like an ordinary object.
The CCTV camera used by the government and in
businesses are usually obvious. Everyone has been to a bank and recognized a
closed circuit video camera or a few of them. Also government buildings
often have their closed circuit security system set up in an area that is
not hidden at all. They even post signs that the area is under video
surveillance. Law enforcement and personal systems, though, are not usually
so easy to spot. Law enforcement has recently begun setting up such
surveillance camera in areas like stop lights and street lights. They use
the smaller cameras because they are more convenient and less likely to be
disturbed. These cameras can not be turned like a regular sized camera and
in most cases the people being monitored may not even be aware of where the
camera is. Law enforcement uses of CCTV surveillance system often require a
posted sign that a system is in use, but that does not require them to let a
person know where the camera is hidden. The use by law enforcement is often
to deter or stop criminal activity or for use in traffic monitoring. Private
use of CCTV systems has become popular to monitor household help, like
cleaning personnel or baby sitters. The cameras used in homes are often
hidden in everyday objects and the person being monitored rarely knows a
camera is even there. Most of the time such systems are used to prevent
criminal activities from occurring, but in some cases they capture crimes
occurring and have even provided evidence in court cases.
CCTV systems are a step beyond the traditional
security system. They introduce the ability to actually see what is going
on. They provide an extra level of security that has not been available
before. The technology is continually being developed and in the future more
advance closed circuit surveillance equipment are sure to be introduced.
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