Surveillance cameras have evolved from early, stationary systems to advanced, mobile, and AI-integrated solutions that enhance security and proactive monitoring capabilities. This evolution has transformed them from simple observational tools to sophisticated components of modern security strategies.
When it comes to the longevity of products in the marketplace, it can be a case of survival of the fittest, where the product either evolves or dies. We can all think of once ubiquitous gadgets that were deemed irreplaceable now resting in the graveyard of obsolete goods. Beepers, Palm Pilots, and even the screeching sound of dial-up internet all seemed revolutionary at one time. Today, they are as extinct as the dinosaur and the dodo bird.
While some products die out, others evolve into better, faster, stronger iterations of previous models. From clunky typewriters came the power and portability of laptops. From head-bopping Walkmans (that’s a tape player for the unfamiliar) and portable CD players came iPods. Clunky mobile phones that looked (and felt) more like a brick morphed into the smart phones that we know and rely on today.
And when it comes to the field of security equipment, perhaps nothing has had as dramatic an evolution and impact as the surveillance camera.
While the roots of surveillance cameras and systems are a bit debatable, some suspect that the origins began in 1927 Soviet Russia. Russian physicist, Leon Theremin was believed to have created a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system utilizing a camera and television. However, some uncertainty remains as it is believed that the Kremlin kept the entire operation classified.
As a result, many historians credit Walter Bruch, a German electrical engineer as designing the world’s first closed-circuit television system in 1942 for Nazi Germany. He created the internal CCTV system so that military personnel and scientists could safely observe the launch of V-2 rockets as they were happening.
In 1949, an American company began selling CCTV cameras for commercial surveillance purposes. While it began to gain some popularity as a method for real-time monitoring, it had limitations in that there was no ability to record or playback the video. It required someone to continuously watch the video feed for it to be effective.
With influences from the movie industry and video cameras, the videotape recorder made its debut seven years later, which allowed images from a camera to be recorded onto a separate device. It was a groundbreaking invention but was restrictive as it was extremely expensive and quite large. The cost was prohibitive for many, but large corporations and governments saw the possibilities and implemented the technology for security purposes. So much so, that it was reportedly used to protect dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth during her coronation and members of the Thai Royal Family on occasion. It was also used to keep tabs on important public areas such as in New York’s famed Times Square and in key train stations in London. As the cost became a bit more affordable, towns in the U.S. began to install cameras in main streets that would directly broadcast their video feeds to police stations so that the areas could be kept under constant surveillance.
The popularity of surveillance cameras wouldn’t become more widespread until the late 1960s when the videocassette was introduced. The videocassette revolutionized the way video could be captured. Not only could video be recorded on cassettes that were cheaper and smaller than their predecessors, but they also had the advantage of being able to play back the video. This added an important feature to be able to review video repeatedly, and its cost and size allowed for better storability.
The surveillance camera continued its evolution by becoming smaller in size while offering better resolution images. Often the advances of surveillance cameras also mimicked those same Hollywood cameras they first got their inspiration from. Some similar advances such as higher quality lenses, better images, the addition of color, and the ability to adjust for low light situations mirror the advances of the broadcast industry.
The same Hollywood and broadcast TV influences introduced pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) cameras to security systems. Cameras that were once fixed in place were now being controlled remotely to follow the action. Broadcast television was experimenting and using these cameras more frequently in sports, reality TV, and in other entertainment capacities. By adopting the advancements of PTZ cameras in a security environment, it allowed businesses and organizations to leverage the technology to transition from a passive type of surveillance to a more proactive one. The user was empowered to have more active control and adjust cameras to improve their angles and views to better monitor and protect their premises and assets.
Almost around the same time PTZ cameras were introduced, there was a move towards digital storage which proved to be revolutionary. Where security cameras once were recorded onto videocassettes, they could now be stored digitally on drives which didn’t degrade video quality as quickly and were able to hold a lot more video. This freed up time and manpower as digital storage didn’t require someone to manually change cassettes when storage was at full capacity. This would also lead to remote monitoring of surveillance cameras and allow for remote management to retrieve, playback, or delete video without being onsite.
Since the shift to digital, security cameras are even better at recording high-quality images remotely. Many also have capabilities to enhance low-light situations and implement infrared imaging when lighting is insufficient. Beyond that, cameras are becoming even more sophisticated and an increasingly proactive tool to deter, defend, and protect.
With the advent of mobile security units, it has created a turnkey one-stop shop that enhances mobility and flexibility. This allows users to employ outdoor security cameras anywhere and everywhere within minutes. These mobile security trailers can be a primary security system within themselves or can be part of a larger effective surveillance solution.
Surveillance cameras today not only provide eyes in the sky protection, but also can be integrated seamlessly with other security features such as floodlights and loudspeakers. With emerging advances in artificial intelligence (AI), such as facial and license plate recognition and the ability to recognize certain patterns, surveillance cameras are continuing to push the envelope when it comes to streamlining and automating your security.
As businesses seek to implement the latest and most advanced technologies into their enterprise security systems, it can be overwhelming to sort through the many options and solutions available. It’s important to work with a partner that can evolve with the times and your business. Reach out to see how LVT can be a fit for your security needs and provide an effective surveillance solution for your business.
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