- Also called:
- video surveillance
- Related Topics:
- television
closed-circuit television
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What is closed-circuit television (CCTV)?
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is a system using video cameras to transmit signals to a specific, limited audience. Unlike broadcast television, CCTV does not openly transmit signals to the public, but rather between points determined by the camera's owner.
CCTV systems are commonly used by private companies to prevent crimes like theft, and governments install them in public spaces to deter criminals. These cameras are often fixed, but can be remotely operated to track subjects. While early systems couldn't record, the advent of VCRs in the 1970s allowed for data storage, expanding CCTV usage, and by the 1990s, digital systems became widely available.
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How does a CCTV system work?
A closed-circuit television (CCTV) system uses video cameras to transmit signals to a specific, limited set of viewers, unlike broadcast television which is open to the public. CCTV systems commonly have fixed cameras, sometimes operated remotely, with some using a half-sphere design for a 360-degree view. Modern systems can record footage, a feature that became widely available with VCRs in the 1970s.
Digital CCTV systems became popular in the 1990s due to their ability to store more footage in a compact format. Today, AI is integrated to identify faces, vehicles, and crowd sizes, enhancing searchability. CCTV is used in both public law enforcement and private security for surveillance.
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What are the main parts of a CCTV system?
A closed-circuit television (CCTV) system uses video cameras to transmit signals to a specific, limited audience, unlike broadcast television, which is open to the public.
CCTV systems commonly include:
* Cameras, often fixed but sometimes remote-controlled, to capture video.
* A transmission system to send the video signal to a specific location.
* A monitoring system for viewing the video.
* Digital systems record footage in a compact format.CCTV is used by businesses to prevent theft and by governments in public spaces to deter crime. AI technology has been integrated to allow for facial recognition and searchable footage.
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Where are CCTV systems commonly used and why?
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems are used to send video signals to a specific, limited audience, unlike broadcast television. CCTV systems are commonly used by private companies to prevent crimes like theft, and governments install them in public spaces to deter criminals.
CCTV cameras are often fixed, but can be remotely operated to track subjects. They are used in a variety of settings, including train stations, shopping malls, parking structures, bus stations, supermarkets, hospitals, workplaces, schools, police precincts, and prisons. Though widely accepted, some object to CCTV use in public spaces because they consider it an infringement of civil liberties.
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How do modern CCTV systems use digital technology?
Modern closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems widely use digital technology, which took hold in the 1990s because digital systems can record more footage in a compact format compared to analog technology. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the 2010s further fueled the growth of the CCTV industry. AI video surveillance uses computer learning to identify faces, vehicles, license plates, and crowd sizes. AI-capable systems can filter surveillance footage to make it searchable.
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What are some benefits and concerns about using CCTV for security?
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) offers benefits and raises concerns regarding security. It is used by private companies and governments to deter crime. Police use CCTV for surveillance, to monitor traffic offenses, and to record events.
However, the effectiveness of CCTV in preventing crime is debated. Some worry about the loss of privacy rights and the potential for abuse, such as unjust targeting or political repression. Despite these concerns, CCTV use continues to expand, integrating AI for facial recognition and other capabilities.
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closed-circuit television (CCTV), system that uses video cameras to send television signals to a specific limited viewership. Unlike broadcast television, closed-circuit television (CCTV) does not openly transmit its signal to the public but rather between set points that are decided by the camera’s owner or operator. CCTV is often used by private companies, such as retail stores, to prevent crimes, particularly theft. Many governments have installed CCTV cameras in public spaces to deter would-be criminals. As a result, CCTV systems are ubiquitous, a widely unnoticed and generally tolerated phenomenon.
CCTV cameras are commonly fixed on walls or above doors. They are sometimes operated by remote control, enabling a user to track and focus upon subjects. More often, however, they have a fixed sight line. Some immobile cameras are equipped with a half-sphere design, providing 360 degrees of view. In recent years police departments have adopted body-mounted recording devices, though these do not typically broadcast live.
In 1927 Russian inventor Leon Theremin developed what many consider the first CCTV system. It consisted of a camera and a shortwave radio and was used to watch visitors at the Kremlin in Moscow. Another notable system was created by German engineer Walter Bruch. It debuted in 1942, during World War II, and was used by Germany’s military to monitor rocket launches. However, the system—as with the one devised by Theremin—was unable to record information, thereby requiring someone to monitor the live feed. By the end of the decade, CCTV systems were being sold in the United States, and in 1953 British officials reportedly used surveillance systems for the coronation of Elizabeth II. The usage of CCTV continued to expand, especially after VCRs became widely available in the 1970s, thereby allowing for the storage of data. During the following decade video surveillance systems were increasingly marketed to banks, stores, and other businesses vulnerable to theft. In addition, police departments began relying on footage as a critical source of evidence.
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By the 1990s, digital systems were widely available, and their ability to take in more footage in a far more compact format allowed them to rapidly eclipse analog technology. Cameras appeared on ATMs and in crowded areas, such as sporting venues and train stations. The September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center led to a dramatic increase in government-operated CCTV in public spaces. Governments around the world justified public surveillance as a necessity for the safety of everyone. A boom in spending allowed camera developers to equip their products with facial recognition, a widely implemented technology by the early 21st century.
In the ensuing years, however, surveillance became a greater political issue for the public. Concerns about the loss of privacy rights and personal liberties were accompanied by questions over the effectiveness of CCTV. Notably, critics have argued that such systems fail to prevent crimes, despite that being their most oft-stated use. The evidence is equivocal, for example, whether the presence of cameras has resulted in decreases in crime in cities with high crime rates. Furthermore, it has been noted that surveillance cameras can be abused by their operators. This could involve unjustly targeting individuals or using CCTV information to commit crimes. Observers also note that governments can utilize CCTV for political means, such as repressing the populace. For example, China, which has the largest surveillance system in the world, is often accused of using the technology to stifle dissent.
CCTV figures as a symbolic proxy for government control across different media. Although it does not directly describe CCTV technology, British author George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-four (1949) is perhaps the best-known critique of mass surveillance. Various feature films (e.g., Minority Report [2002] and V for Vendetta (2005]) and documentaries (Citizenfour [2014]) have brought further attention to the ethical issue of unchecked government observation via video surveillance.
CCTV, in no small part because of its use by governments worldwide, is a rapidly growing industry. Its increase has been partly fueled by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the 2010s. AI video surveillance uses computer learning to identify faces, vehicles, license plates, and crowd sizes. AI-capable systems can filter surveillance footage to make it searchable. Other developments include the increasing prevalence of CCTV in private homes. Companies have developed cameras that can be installed at various entrances, and the footage is delivered directly to the homeowner’s smartphone or computer. Even computer and laptop webcams, when paired with an appropriate software application, can be considered a form of CCTV.
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