Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the use of surveillance video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place to be viewed on monitors and to be recorded for future analysis. A CCTV surveillance system comprised of CCTV security cameras, monitors, recording equipment and software provides the security foundation for many home and commercial establishments.
CCTV security cameras differ from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point wireless links. The first CCTV security television cameras used in public spaces were crude, conspicuous, low definition black and white systems without the ability to zoom or pan. Modern CCTV security systems cameras use small high definition color cameras that can not only focus to resolve minute detail, but by linking the control of the cameras to a computer, objects can be tracked semi-automatically. The technology that enables this is often referred to as VCA (Video Content Analysis), and is currently being developed by a large number of technological companies around the world. The VCA current technology enables the systems to recognize if a moving object is a walking person, a crawling person or a vehicle. It can also determine the color of the object. Some companies claim to have technologies that can identify a person’s age by evaluating a picture of him/her and as well are able to identify people by their biometrics.
Applications of CCTV Security Equipment
CCTV security systems are often used for surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, casinos, airports, military installations, and convenience stores. It is also an important tool of distance education.
In industrial plants, CCTV cameras as part of a wireless surveillance system may be used to observe parts of a process from a central control room when, for example, the environment is not suitable for humans. CCTV security cameras may operate continuously or only as required to monitor a particular event. A more advanced form of CCTV, utilizing Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), provides recording for possibly many years, with a variety of quality and performance options and extra features (such as motion-detection and email alerts).
Surveillance of the public using CCTV is common in most Western and European countries. The increasing use of CCTV security surveillance has triggered a debate about security versus privacy. What the system can do is basically identifying where a person is, how he is moving and whether he is a person or for instance a car. Based on this information the system developers implement features such as blurring faces or “virtual walls” that block the sight of a camera where it is not allowed to film. It is also possible to provide the system with rules, such as for example “sound the alarm whenever a person is walking close to a particular fence” or in a museum “set off an alarm if a painting is taken down from the wall”.
CCTV security camera can also be used for forensics after the film has been made. It is then possible to search for certain actions within the recorded video. For example if you know a criminal is driving a yellow car, you can set the system to search for yellow cars and the system will provide you with a list of all the times where there is a yellow car visible in the picture. These conditions can be made more precise by searching for “a person moving around in a certain area for a suspicious amount of time”, for example if someone is standing around an ATM machine without using it. Maintenance of CCTV security systems is important in case forensic examination is necessary after a crime has been committed.
Video surveillance services and equipment sales is a large and growing industry. A home surveillance system, digital surveillance system, and DVR surveillance system are common terms to understand before purchasing a surveillance system online. One online retail shop receiving high marks from customers is www.CloseoutCCTV.com/Surveillance.