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Surveillance Cameras, VS, Privacy.

For many years, many different people have used security surveillance cameras to help protect their personal property; in addition, companies also take advantage of this technology. Some of them even have heat sensors, and night vision. Many of these cameras take a steady stream of photo’s at set intervals’, while others record non-stop, functionality is pending the intended use.
In industrial plants, CCTV (closed caption television) equipment is used to observe parts of a process from a central control room; when, for example, the environment is not suitable for humans. CCTV systems 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).
However, many people believe that surveillance cameras are an invasion of privacy. While others believe that security, is top priority and should be held to its highest regard.
I believe surveillance cameras are a great idea, more importantly, are a deterrent.
Residents in high-crime areas, their political leaders, and police officials often see surveillance systems as an obvious solution to crime. Often, however, little consideration is given to the significant evidence demonstrating that camera surveillance is ineffective, especially when compared with other alternatives. Even less consideration is given to the expanded surveillance infrastructure’s long-term impact on privacy and on the relationship between the government and the people. Cities throughout California have approved and implemented camera systems without guidelines to guard against abuse and, in most circumstances, with little or no public debate. It was argued that any person would tend to refrain from crime if they know they are being watched. This, it was claimed, is just common sense. Thus, surveillance cameras will deter crime. In addition, it was argued that surveillance cameras would be cost efficient.
"What is privacy?" Definition: "Privacy is freedom to conduct oneself without unwanted or unexpected observation or interference." With that said, here is the other side of that coin. It was argued that surveillance cameras should not be introduced because they are subject to various forms of abuse, such as blackmail or tampering. Also saying surveillance cameras were discriminatory, because they would be concentrated in certain neighborhoods namely the poorer and/or black or Hispanic neighborhoods. Video surveillance has doubled in the last five years: It is now a $9.2-billion industry, and J. P. Freeman, a security industry consultant, estimates that it will grow to $21 billion by 2010. He predicts that “Pretty soon, cameras will be like smoke detectors: They’ll be everywhere.” Moreover, the technological sophistication of new camera systems adds an entirely new dimension to surveillance. These cameras do not produce the grainy footage of yesteryear. Many of these state-of-the-art systems (perched atop utility poles with 360-degree views, rolling 24 hours a day) generate DVD-quality video footage, and some have the capability to record sound. They can zoom in close enough to show the title of the book someone is carrying, the name of the doctor’s office someone is entering, or the face of the person someone is talking to or kissing goodbye. Everything a camera sees or hears can be stored in perpetuity on its hard drive or in a central database. In response to privacy concerns, the owner of a software company dismissed worries, saying: “With the world of intelligent video we will only be recording suspicious behavior . . . We won’t be recording you walking down the street.” The “eye in the sky” is a term given to casino and other commercial security closed circuit cameras. In casinos, they are positioned to monitor seats, tables, hallways, restaurants, and even elevators closely, often with enough clarity to read the time on the watch of a player at a table. They’re also known as a Pan Tilt Zoom camera, or a PTZ, an industry standard term. A semi-transparent plastic globe covering the camera that makes it nearly impossible to see which direction the camera is facing from a distance. Retail stores often install empty globes, giving the appearance of additional cameras. The cameras’ are mounted on a series of interconnected gears and levers that usually allow two axes of rotation. This rotation either can be controlled manually by an operator using remote control, or can be automated using motion sensing technology. In most commercial and civilian applications, both control methods are used simultaneously to allow automated surveillance of general movement, while allowing a manual over-ride mode to view specific subjects more closely. These cameras often help casino official’s judge whether the person is "counting" which is popular in Blackjack. If you are not doing anything wrong, and are not being watched in your own home. Only those who are up to no good, are the ones who do not like the idea, I support surveillance and believe it has helped us catch those who have done wrong, and were stupid enough to have been caught on camera.