CCTV

Closed circuit television systems are used as a method of surveillance primarily used for security purposes, however they have other applications. The first CCTV system was developed in Nazi Germany as a method to monitor V2 rockets during their launch. Since then CCTV has become widely implemented in everyday life, primarily as a method of crime prevention as the presence of a camera will often deter an individual from engaging in criminal activity. Advances in technology have improved the efficiency of CCTV systems, many of which are small and discrete. Technological advances has also allowed CCTV systems to incorporate aspects such as facial recognition software, or software that has the ability to read number plates of vehicles and then instantly check the number against a database of stolen vehicles.

Whilst many would argue that CCTV systems are a necessary aspect of modern day security systems others would disagree instead arguing that the prevalence of CCTV is infringing on peoples civil liberties, particularly those that are capable of incorporating facial recognition software and citing that research into software that will be able to detect potential criminals by the type of body language the display is taking things a step too far. Whilst many people are against the dominance of CCTV it seems that is certainly here to stay with more and more systems being implemented each day.