Closed-circuit Television (CCTV):
Closed-circuit television (CCTV), commonly known as video surveillance, is a system that uses video cameras to transmit television signals to a limited audience. It is unlike broadcast television, does not broadcast its signal to the public but only between specified points determined by the camera’s owner or operator. Private companies, such as retail stores, frequently employ CCTV to deter crimes, notably stealing. To prevent would-be criminals, many governments have installed these cameras in public places. As a result, these systems are commonplace, an unobserved and largely accepted phenomena.
Features:
CCTV cameras are frequently installed on walls or above doors. They are sometimes controlled remotely, allowing the user to track and focus on subjects. They usually have a fixed sight line, though. Some stationary cameras have a half-sphere shape that provides 360 degrees of view. Police departments have begun to use body-mounted recording devices in recent years, albeit these are not routinely aired live.
History:
In 1927, Russian inventor Leon Theremin created what is widely regarded as the first CCTV system. It was made up of a camera and a shortwave radio and was used to monitor visits to Moscow’s Kremlin. Walter Bruch, a German engineer, designed another famous system. It first appeared in 1942, during World War II, and was used by the German military to track rocket launches.
Use of CCTV Systems:
CCTV systems were being offered in the United States by the end of the decade, while British officials reportedly employed surveillance devices during Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. Its usage grew, especially after VCRs became commercially available. In the 1970s, this enabled the storage of data. Throughout the following decade, video surveillance systems were extensively promoted to banks, retailers, and other sensitive enterprises. Furthermore, police departments came to rely on video footage as a major source of evidence.