CCTV security systems were introduced in 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, consisting of very low resolution black and white cameras connected by coaxial cable. Each camera was attached to a black and white monitor. A 16 camera configuration required 16 monitors. New applications of camera security systems include : underground trains and stations, sports stadiums, retail store , shopping center , public facilities, community parks, garages and car park.
CCTV Technology Development The basic technology developed in the 60s. First , 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 watched at once. The 70′s brought Multiplexers, VCRs and solid cameras. Multiplexers allowed the screen to be broken into multiple frames on the same monitor. VCRs allowed simple recording and video distribution . Solid state cameras helped improve reliability and the integration of VCRs.’First generation’ CCTV security technology was initially impeded by some fairly major operation related troubles.
In the 80s we ascertained that VCR recorders had many problems . VCR recorders were temperamental . The quality of the recordings was not very good . The combination of low resolution camera images , poor quality 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 permit the operator to review and record events at the same time and it was a very time consuming procedure to find and review specific events .There was no motion detection capability and no way of viewing events from a distant location.
Costly for what you get Even though early CCTV systems supplied only relatively basic functionality and moderate functioning, they were very costly – 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 fresh technology was a computer grounded Digital Video Recorder (DVR) DVRs allow images to be recorded at much higher resolution than in the past. DVR got rid of a major problem with first generation CCTV systems Video Tape! Worn out, forgot to change the tape, VCR recording tape.
DVRs are automatic and never necessitate 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 view , transmit two way audio, fully command the cameras and system itself over a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or on the internet . With such elastic access, the modern generation of CCTV cameras may be operated remotely from a control center or, in fact anyplace 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 developed 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 ‘ scotopic vision. Audio is too now part of CCTV DVR technology. An operator is now able to synchronize movement based video events with audio analysis. Two way audio transmitting allows the operator to query possible intruders , give directions to faculty and to tape search replay in both audio and visual form. Next generation DDTV DVR systems are compatible with former camera technology, and are scaleable, flexible and can be integrated 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.