CCTV security systems were brought out within the US and the UK during the 60s and 70s.
CCTVsecurity systems are in excess of a thousand times superior to the basic camera and monitor configurations that first came out in the 1960s. Systems from the 60s were basic, comprised of very low resolution black and white cameras connected by coaxial cable. Each camera was connected to a black and white monitor. A 16 camera configuration needed 16 monitors. New applications of camera security systems include : belowground trains and stations, sports stadiums, retail store , shopping mall, public facilities, community parks, garages and car park.
CCTV Technology Evolution The basic technology developed in the 60s. Foremost, cctv switch boxes were added. A switchbox would allow the operator to switch between cameras. Operators now could see multiple camera views on one monitor. Only one camera could be viewed at once. The 70′s brought Multiplexers, VCRs and solid state cameras. Multiplexers allowed the screen to be broken into multiple frames on the same monitor. VCRs allowed easy recording and video dispersion. Solid state cameras aided improve reliability and the integration of VCRs.’First generation’ CCTV security technology was impeded by some fairly major functioning related troubles.
In the 80s we ascertained that VCR recorders had many problems . VCR recorders were erratic. The quality of the recordings was not very good . The combination of low resolution camera pictures, poor caliber video tapes and low tech solutions meant that grainy and ill defined images couldn’t be relied on even for conclusive recognition purposes.
VCR technology couldn’t allow the operator to review and record occurrences simultaneously and it was a very time consuming process to find and review specific events .There was no motion detection capability and no way of looking at events from a remote location.
Expensive for what you get Even though early CCTV systems furnished only relatively introductory functionality and moderate performance , they were pricey – both in terms of the initial equipment price and the installing. Since this is still a new growth industry, there is still a deficiency of qualified and proficient installers.
The Next Generation CCTV security systems arrived in the mid 90s. The new technology was a computer grounded Digital Video Recorder (DVR) DVRs allow images to be recorded at much higher resolution than previously . DVR eliminated a major trouble with first generation CCTV systems Video Tape! Worn out, forgot to change the tape, VCR recording tape.
DVRs are automatic and never require user intervention. When it is time to look at recorded images, the DVR continues to record . Images are clock time and date stamped and are very easy to review. DVRs using IP (Internet Protocol) technology allow authorized remote users to see, transmit two way audio, fully control the cameras and system itself over a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or via the internet . With such flexible access, the New generation of CCTV cameras may be controled remotely from a control center or, in fact anywhere with internet access.
Equally, high quality digital images may be streamed anywhere and captured at a convenient and secure location. But it is n’t only the operating platform that has evolved significantly ; camera technology too allows far more functionality.
Today’s generation cameras can PTZ – pan, tilt and zoom, have higher resolution options, a large variety of lenses and are also capable of operating in ‘night vision . Audio is too now part of CCTV DVR technology. An operator is now able to synchronize motion established video events with audio analysis. Two way audio transmitting allows the operator to query possible trespassers, give directions to faculty and to record search replay in both audio and visual form. Next generation DDTV DVR systems are interchangeable with other camera technology, and are scaleable, flexible and can be incorporated with a broad range of other management systems, such as access control and building management systems.
CCTV has sure come a long way since the 1960s ; it’s clear that the future of CCTV is secure and that technology will continue to develop to meet the needs of the surveillance market.
