A Breif History About CCTV security Systems Past and Present
CCTV security systems were introduced within the US and the UK during the 60s and 70s.
CCTVsecurity systems are in excess of a thousand fold more advanced than the basic camera and monitor configurations that first appeared 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 plugged into 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, mercantile establishment , shopping mall, public facilities, community parks, garages and parking lot .
CCTV Technology Development 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 watched at once. The 70′s brought Multiplexers, VCRs and solid state cameras. Multiplexers allowed the screen to be broken into numerous frames on the same monitor. VCRs allowed easy recording and video distribution . Solid state cameras helped improve dependability and the integration of VCRs.’First generation’ CCTV security technology was initially impeded by some fairly major operation related problems .
In the 80s we ascertained that VCR recorders had many troubles. VCR recorders were erratic. The quality of the recordings was not very good . The combination of low resolution camera pictures, poor quality video tapes and low tech solutions meant that grainy and ill defined pictures couldn’t be relied on even for conclusive recognition purposes.
VCR technology couldn’t allow the operator to review and record happenings simultaneously and it was a very time consuming procedure to find and go over specific events .There was no motion sensing capableness and no way of viewing events from a removed location.
Pricey for what you get Even though early CCTV systems furnished only relatively introductory functionality and moderate performance , they were very costly – both in terms of the initial equipment cost 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 based Digital Video Recorder (DVR) DVRs allow images to be recorded at a great deal higher resolution than previously . DVR did away with 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 taped images, the DVR continues to tape. Images are time and date stamped and are very easy to review. DVRs using IP (Internet Protocol) technology allow authorized removed 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 online . With such pliable access, the New generation of CCTV cameras may be operated remotely from a control center or, in fact anywhere with internet access.
Equally, superiority 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 also now part of CCTV DVR technology. An operator is now able to sync movement established video events with audio analysis. Two way audio transmission 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 incorporated with a wide range of other management systems, such as access control and building management systems.
CCTV has surely come a long way since the 1960s ; it’s clear that the future of CCTV is secure and that technology helps keep to develop to meet the needs of the surveillance market.