As the use of CCTV cameras increases across the United States and globe, so does the debate over their numbers and motives. There are many arguments for video surveillance, including peace of mind, loss prevention, crime deterrence and crime solving, but what about the other side of the story? Thousands of individuals and groups oppose video surveillance, and many of them have extremely valid points. What are the consequences of allowing Big Brother access to our entire public life? Will that eventually lead to the invasion of our private going ons? When does it begin to be too much? The ACLU has an entire Web site, You Are Being Watched, devoted to the high costs of camera surveillance systems, both in terms of money and civil liberties, and that is just one example of a group that is taking action.
So, what are some of the main arguments against the use of CCTV surveillance systems? Lets see...
Invasion of Privacy This is the most common argument against surveillance systems. No one likes the idea of being watched, but yet we are starting to see security cameras on many more street corners and light poles. Cities normally justify these additions by saying they are monitoring and preventing crime, which is valid, but many people, both innocent and not, would rather the cameras not be there. While video surveillance is more commonly accepted in public areas, this sentiment comes into play more so with the use of covert and hidden cameras in private areas. Laws enforce restrictions in this arena, for now, but the main concern is the future of citizen privacy.
Mistrust The use of security cameras in your home or business can make its occupants feel mistrusted. If your family members or employees are under constant surveillance, there is likely to be hostility and animosity in the air. Feeling like every move you make is monitored and recorded is not only creepy, but downright scary. Even the most trusted employees can become paranoid and nervous when a camera is pointing at their cubicle all day. No more dozing off, checking facebook, text messaging or doodling, you are being watched!
Not Proven Effective Studies done in California and London have found that security cameras had little to no effect on reducing the crime rate. With an increase in the sheer number of cameras in many large cities, many replacing human security guards, this is a strong argument that will be the main target of many opposing groups. I think we can all agree that there is no replacement for a thinking, acting, problem solving human police officer or security guard, and if we begin to rely on cameras as pure deterrents, how do we plan on stopping crimes as they are happening?
Misuse and Abuse The footage captured by CCTV cameras becomes susceptible to abuse and misuse by those who have access to it. For instance, the footage can be used to discriminate against people and for voyeurism. In the age of the Internet, this is another huge deal, as can be seen by all of the hilarious YouTube videos out there. I doubt the subjects would find most of them as funny. This obviously ties into the invasion of privacy issue, and is one of the primary concerns of activists. All it takes is one funny guy security guard to post footage or still images of an individual doing something embarrassing or that they shouldn t be and reputations are ruined, privacy is obliterated and those that oppose CCTV will have more ammo.
All of these reasons are valid arguments against CCTV surveillance. There are many cities and countries that have massive surveillance systems, and we will likely see a large increase in public monitoring in the near future, so the more the public knows about the industry and their rights, etc, the more everyone can prepare for when it happens in your little corner of the globe.
Do you have any additional arguments against the use of security camera systems? What are your thoughts? Will you fight them or open your public life up willingly to being observed? Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions.
CCTV Security Surveillance - Information To Help You Choose The Right Products For You.
Buying a CCTV system is by no means easy. The vast array of products available nowadays could confuse anyone so we have tried our best to put together a guide to help you make an informed decision about what system should fulfill your requirements.
Before we go through how to choose a complete CCTV System, some people may only want to connect a camera to a TV/Monitor to view and record via a video recorder.
This is simple to do, when you have selected the camera you want pick the option with the correct length 'Plug & Play' cable. Make a note of the 'connector' type, this is usually BNC, then check your TV connections. They will probably be phono or scart. Then you will need to buy a BNC to Phono connector, and if necessary a scart connection. And you're done; you simply plug these connections into the end of your cable, and into your TV. Place the camera where you want and record images on to your video recorder, keeping in mind that it can only record for as long as there is space on the video tape. Of course you will need to "tune" in a channel on your TV to see your camera.
Below we go into more details about the two main parts of a CCTV security system, the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and the Camera's.
Digital Video Recorder Basics...
The Digital Video Recorder is the "brain" of a CCTV system; it takes the images from the cameras and stores them on to a hard disk drive. You can then look at the images recorded on the hard drive, and review what the cameras have been viewing by connecting a monitor (or other form of display unit) to the DVR. You can forward and rewind through the images in much the same way you may have done so with a typical Video recorder. On many you can search for specific dates and times to quickly find the footage you want to view.
Once you have your images recorded on the hard drive, from time to time there may be an incident which you will be required to give to the police as evidence, you will then need to back up the Data they require from the hard drive on to another storage device.
Backing Up Data...
All Digital Video Recorders store information on a hard drive, something you should consider when choosing your Digital Video Recorder is how you will back-up this Data if there is ever an incident that you may be required to provide evidence of to the police.
Common forms of back-up include:
• Connecting to Video recorder: This is mainly only for 'budget' Digital Video Recorders and involves connecting the Digital Video Recorder to a video recorder and recording the information on to tape.
• USB to PC link: Quite common, and simple to do, simply connect the Digital Video Recorder to a PC via cable and copy information to PC Hard drive, from there you can write on to disk, pen stick etc.
• USB Pen Stick: Quite common and simple to do, amount of storage depends on USB pen stick used.
• CD Rewriter (built in or external): simple to do, some Digital Video Recorders would also require you to load software on to any device that you wanted to then watch the CD on. You should keep this in mind if giving CDs to police as with this software they would not be able to view the CD. Also bare in mind CDs are limited to 750 Megabytes.
• DVD Rewriter (built in or external): simple to do, some Digital Video Recorders would also require you to load software on to any device that you wanted to then watch the DVD on. You should keep this in mind if giving DVDs to police as with this software they would not be able to view the DVD. 4.7Gigabyte of space available.
• Networked: You can copy data from your Digital Video Recorder on to any PC while viewing it over the internet
Digital Video Recorders are available as Standalone units or PC based units. Choosing which one is a personal preference, but I'll take this opportunity to point out a couple of things. Although many PC based Digital Video Recorders offer lots of added features and familiar use, standalone Digital Video Recorders are purpose built for the job and are considered more reliable and therefore less likely to fail. With PC based units we would strongly recommend the pc is used as a security device only and not used as a standard pc with surveillance, this should reduce the risk of failures.
Also if you are "PC savvy" and decide to buy a Digital Video Recorder PC Card and install it into your PC yourself, please check that you will not void your PC warranty before you do.
Last but not least, and this goes for all Digital Video Recorders, where possible try to use a purpose built hard drive. By this we mean that some people, to save costs, use a normal PC hard drive in a Digital Video Recorder. Unfortunately this usually ends up with the hard drive failing simply because a pc hard drive is not designed to be constantly "working" twenty four hours a day - seven days a week. Also please check the compatibility of the hard drive with your Digital Video Recorder, as some may require IDE drives, others SATA, and some may work better with Seagate, others Maxtor.
Ok, now hopefully you have a better idea about what a Digital Video Recorder is, and its purpose, now let's consider the Cameras.
CCTV Camera Basics...
For those who know little or nothing about what a CCTV camera is, or what it does.
CCTV Cameras are the "eyes" of a CCTV system, you place them inside and outside buildings to enable you to see and also record (via a Digital Video Recorder) what the camera is looking at.
Unfortunately that's where it stops being easy, we cant emphasize enough how you need to educate yourself as much as possible about what CCTV cameras are capable of and then look seriously as to what you want to use a camera for and what you need that camera to do. By this we mean there are literally thousands of cameras available nowadays, but this is because there are so many different situations where a camera is required that there isn't just one camera for all jobs.
So how do you go about choosing a camera, well you have to start with basics....
First where is the camera going? Indoors or outdoors? If outdoors use the weatherproof guide to choose what kind of an IP rating your camera requires.
Weather Proof Rating...
Weather proof is measured using an IP Rating, if a camera doesn't state an IP rating you can consider it is for internal use only.
IP Ratings Guide
The IP classification system designates the degree of protection provided by an enclosure against solid objects or water ingress.
There are always two digits in an IP rating, the first digit refers to the protection against solid objects (dust) and the second digit refers to the protection against water.
Dust Protection (first digit):
0 = Non-protected
1 = Protected against a solid object greater than 50mm, such as a hand.
2 = Protected against a solid object greater than 12.5mm, such as a finger.
3 = Protected against a solid object greater than 2.5mm, such as wire or a tool.
4 = Protected against a solid object greater than 1.0mm, such as wire or thin strips.
5 = Dust-protected. Prevents ingress of dust sufficient to cause harm.
6 = Dust tight. No ingress of dust.
Water Protection (second digit):
0 = Non-protected
1 = Protected against dripping water.
2 = Protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15º.
3 = Protected against spraying water at an angle of up to 60º.
4 = Protected against splashing water from any direction.
5 = Protected against jets of water from any direction.
6 = Protected against heavy seas or powerful jets of water. Prevents ingress sufficient to cause harm.
7 = Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water.
8 = Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water.
So for using CCTV cameras outdoors, I would recommend a very minimum IP rating of 55, but preferably 65 and above.
Once you know this, go to the area where you want to install the camera and look at what you want the camera to see. How far is the scene you want to capture from the camera? How big is it? Think about this and make sure you know what lens size you need to be able to see the scene you want at the distance it is away. There are many CCTV Lens Calculators on the internet to help you.
Consider, will you need to be able to see in dark conditions? Or only during the day time? If its needs to see in low light conditions, how dark does it get? Is there a street lamp near by? Or is there a security light on the premises? Go back at night time and see how dark it actually is, then use the Lux guide to see what kind of "minimum illumination" your camera requires. Keep in mind during the winter it gets dark very early, no good having a camera that's only useful during the summer.
Lux Guide:
0.00005 lux = Starlight
0.0001 lux = Moonless overcast night sky
0.001 lux = Moonless clear night sky
0.01 lux = Quarter Moon
0.25 lux = Full Moon on a clear night
1 lux = Moonlight at high altitude at tropical latitudes
3 lux = Dark limit of civil twilight under a clear sky
32000 lux = Sunlight on an average day (min.)
100000 lux = Sunlight on an average day (max.)
Is the camera going to be installed in such a place it may be subject to vandalism? If so make sure you use a vandal resistant camera.
Ok, now hopefully you have a better idea about what a CCTV camera is and what kind best suits your situation. With all the above knowledge, I hope it helps you choose a suitable CCTV system for your needs.
CCTV Video Surveillance: Acquiring Adequate Understanding about CCTV and the Advantages of Making use of It
CCTV stands for closed circuit Tv. But, the boom is applying CCTV for security cameras using video surveillance. Schools, military, organizations, and any one else employs them every day for protection. Here is an exploration of why they are so handy and valuable for safeguarding your family, organization, and catching men and women in the act of doing extremely bad things.
At school, the CCTV can watch college students everywhere. This is not essentially spying as a prison warden recognizing they’re there. It can be made use of for protection. With school shootings on the rise, a jail break, as well as a ticked off spouse in search of their spouse which is faculty or maybe a teacher to take revenge, it’s needed.
This gives parents, teachers, staff, and faculty peace of mind that if the big poor did occur, CCTV will capture it in action. This can seriously aid the police to seek out and catch the undesirable guy or gal if they got away. This can guide with gang violence and selling drugs on campus. If a weapon or perhaps a gun did make it by way of, you understand sooner or later it’ll be caught on camera. This aids shield girls from stalkers and rapists if they know a camera is proper there in there face.
CCTV security cameras are wonderful for a business enterprise. With the similar idea, operating late at night by your self assists give peace of mind. They also show the owners of the enterprises if the workers are actually operating, undertaking their chores list, and how their consumer service is. Also, the employee can not see every little thing in any way occasions. So, in the back with the retailer, the CCTV video surveillance cameras will catch a thief in action.
If an issue arises in between staff or shoppers, the CCTV video surveillance will aid solve the problem. It’s going to show their behavior and actions. Typically if the cameras are witnessed, it does assist deter a robbery. The only controversy is invasion of privacy. So, the enterprise owners will have the new workers sign a waiver saying you are allowing oneself to be taped although working. If you’d like a job, no selection.
Amidst controversy of is it necessary to take a person’s privacy away versus protection and security of recording every little thing applying a CCTV security camera, the answer is usually yes. The governments have cameras in all their setting up and they do not ask our permission. With terrorist attacks on the rise, we want that protection. CCTV security cameras are still the wave from the long term. Instead of thinking of it as taking away your privacy, believe of it protecting you, your household, and friends whatsoever instances with the day or night.
Opposing Arguments Against CCTV Surveillance
The use of security systems is increasing across the United States and world, and so is the opposition. There are several arguments for video surveillance, such as peace of mind, theft prevention, crime deterrence and crime solving, but what about the other side of the story? Globally, millions of people fight video surveillance, and many of them have valid points. What are the repercussions of allowing "Big Brother" access to our every affair? Will it eventually lead to the invasion of our private going-ons? When does it begin to be too much? The ACLU has an entire Web site, You Are Being Watched, devoted to the "high costs of camera surveillance systems, both in terms of money and civil liberties," and that is just one example of a group that is taking action.
So, what are some of the arguments against the use of security camera surveillance systems? Lets see...
Invasion of Personal Space
This is a frequent argument against CCTV systems. Hardly anyone likes the idea of being monitored, but yet we are starting to see CCTV cameras on many more street corners and light poles. Cities normally justify these additions by saying they are monitoring and preventing crime, which is true in some cases, but many civilians, both innocent and not, would rather the cameras not be there. While video surveillance is more commonly accepted in public domains, this argument comes into play more so with the use of covert and spy cameras in private areas. Laws enforce restrictions in this arena, for now, but the main concern is what the future will bring.
Loss of Trust
The use of surveillance cameras at your home or work can make its people feel mistrusted. If your family members or workers are under constant surveillance, there is likely to be animosity and hostility in the air. Feeling like every move you make is monitored and recorded is not only creepy, but downright scary. Even the most trusted workers can become paranoid and nervous when a camera is pointing at their cubicle constantly. No more napping, checking Facebook, texting or doodling, you are being watched!
Not Proven Effective
Research completed in California and London have found that surveillance cameras had little to no effect on bringing down the crime rate. With an increase in the sheer number of security cameras in a number of large metropolitan areas, many replacing human security guards, this is a strong argument that will be the main target of many activists. I think we can all agree that there is no replacement for a thinking, acting, problem solving human police officer or security guard, and if we begin to rely on security cameras as only deterrents, how do we plan on interveining with crimes as they occur?
Misuse and Abuse
The video captured by surveillance systems becomes susceptible to abuse and misuse by people monitoring them. For instance, the footage can be used to discriminate against people and for peeping. In the age of the, this is another huge deal, as can be seen by all of the "hilarious" Vimeo videos out there. I doubt the subjects would find them as funny as everyone else. This obviously ties into privacy issues, and is one of the primary concerns of opposers. It only takes one "funny guy" security guard to post video or pictures of an individual doing something embarrassing and reputations are ruined, privacy is obliterated and those that oppose CCTV will have more ammo.
All of these are valid arguments against security camera surveillance. There are a lot of cities and countries that have massive CCTV systems, and we will likely see a large increase in public monitoring in the not-so-distant future, so the more the public knows about the surveillance world and their options, etc, the more everyone can prepare for when it happens in your town.
Do you have any additional thoughts about the use of surveillance systems? What are they? Will you fight them or open your public, and possibly personal life up willingly to being observed? Please leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions.
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