More than 400,000 cameras are always monitoring us in a car park, station, shopping complex, on our way to office or may be even in our private spaces, unwanted. General people are day by day supporting its presence to fight against internal and international crime.
In post 9/11 scenario, are being installed more and more round the corner primarily for better and entrusted public security.
This monitoring is widespread not simply in our own country. Recorders are being installed on the Trans Europe Motorway from the Greek border through Turkey towards Ankara. This is covering a distance of 700 kilometres. This huge project supports over 1,400 camera inputs and 480 audio channels and it is probably the largest networked recording system contracted until today.
Fifty wi-fi enabled CCTV cameras are installed across central London that may revolutionize the police patrolling system within 18 months of trial period. In recent future, police will be able to track a suspect from a handheld device as the system can be controlled locally within that network coverage.
One thing must be mentioned here that, general people may also use such technology as IFSEC hand-held PDA applications provide security personnel with the ability to view both live or recorded camera images from any installation, located anywhere in the world.
However, this may end up the age long debate that these closed circuit TV cameras only can record a crime in progress. Now the police persons will have more opportunity to reach the spot and take necessary actions on time.
Future really holds hard for drug dealers, peddlers, and an easy finder of parking spaces for citizens.
Nevertheless, currently there are no cost effective night vision systems available for object identification for distances from 150 metres to 2000 metres. On the other hand, active infrared systems have a narrow field of view that makes navigation and orientation difficult.
Still there are some cameras available in the market that can serve the purpose as good. These cameras are ideal for covert applications since they utilises a laser light that operates below the visible spectrum to illuminate the target area.
However, it all depends on the needs of the users.
There is a good lot of software like EVIS that can provide tailor-made solution for the end users and is flexible enough to meet all custom requests by the use of a modular system.
Is there any harm in taking protection beforehand if the users are conscious of their social limits and responsibilities! Time to decide.
We all know the story. The date was April 14, 1865. Four people were in the presidential box of Ford's theater, enjoying "Our American Cousin," a comedy play about a rugged American and his noble English relatives. They included Major Henry Rathbone, Civil War veteran; and his fianc? Clara Harris, daughter of a U.S. Senator. Also seated in the box were President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Marry Todd Lincoln. Lincoln was shot while watching the performance. He died the next day. His assassin was John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate supporter. But how did Booth access the location of the President of the United States? Booth had performed several times at Ford's theater, so he was very familiar with the building's design. He arrived at the theater's back door, at around 9:00 in the evening. Then, Booth walked down a tight hallway between the theater's balcony, and Lincoln's box. Booth entered the box's door, secured it, and then murdered one of America's most popular presidents ever. Could Lincoln's assassination have been prevented if a closed circuit TV, or CCTV, had been available in 1865?
Protecting Presidents
Abraham Lincoln was the first American President to be assassinated. Others who were killed while in office include James Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901), and John F. Kennedy (1963). Today, security for the American President has improved dramatically. A small army of bodyguards constantly protects him. The U.S. Secret Service guards the lives of the President and his family, as well as other executive officials. It includes over 3,000 agents and 1,000 uniformed officers. Closed circuit TV is one of the tools that assist in the protection of the president and other government officials.
Protecting Politicians
Today, closed circuit TV has become useful in protecting government officials in local, state, and federal government buildings. Due to their being high profile areas, government buildings require additional security. This is especially true in political surroundings and those that could become hostile. Local governments must also provide security for numerous areas in town. These include town halls, administration buildings, galleries, zoos, libraries, swimming polls, gardens, and parks. In fact, cities are putting closed circuit TV cameras to monitor several public areas. The goal is to reduce crime, harm to government property, and burglary. Installing closed circuit TV creates "virtual" patrols that are very cost effective. Also, the recording can be used as proof against wrongdoers. Today, the White House is one of numerous governmental buildings monitored by closed circuit TV.
Protecting Privacy
While closed circuit TV has become a useful tool for protecting a government's officials and its jurisdiction, would closed circuit TV be lawful to watch Lincoln's presidential box at Ford's Theater today? A place where one expects to be safe from surveillance that is not authorized is a private place. In fact, the majority of U.S. video recordings are legal, whether or not consent has been secured. Nonetheless, many laws addressing the idea of expected privacy involve "Invasion of Privacy." This concept includes areas such as bedrooms, changing rooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and restrooms. In all of these locations, one would demand a particular degree of personal privacy. Therefore, it is always wise to consult with an attorney or a law enforcement official prior to installing closed circuit TV.
Today, one can only speculate whether closed circuit TV could have prevented Lincoln's assassination. However, it can certainly help to safeguard the nation's officials and citizens.
Both Phill Collins & Nahshon Roberts are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Phill Collins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Video Surveillance Security System. Phill Collins is an independent investigative freelance feature writer who is in a self-employed mission to shed light on various happenings across the web. For more information regarding networked and IP video recorders and video. Phill Collins's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.