Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video
surveillance, is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific
place, on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in
that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point
(P2P), point to multipoint, or mesh wireless links. Though almost all video
cameras fit this definition, the term is most often applied to those used for
surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, casinos,
airports, military installations, and convenience stores. Videotelephony is
seldom called "CCTV" but the use of video in distance education,
where it is an important tool, is often so called.
In industrial plants, CCTV equipment may be used to observe
parts of a process from a central control room, for example when the
environment is not suitable for humans. CCTV systems may operate continuously
or only as required to monitor a particular event. A more advanced form of
CCTV, utilizing digital video recorders. (DVRs), provides recording for
possibly many years, with a variety of quality and performance options and
extra features (such as motion detection and email alerts). More recently,
decentralized IP cameras, some equipped with megapixel sensors, support
recording directly to network-attached storage devices, or internal flash for
completely stand-alone operation. Surveillance of the public using CCTV is
particularly common in many areas around the world. In recent years, the use of
body worn video cameras has been introduced as a new form of surveillance.
Some businesses especially those that were prone to theft,
began to use video surveillance. From the mid-1990s on, police departments
across the country installed an increasing number of cameras in various public
spaces including housing projects, schools and public parks departments. CCTV
later became common in banks and stores to discourage theft, by recording
evidence of criminal activity. In 1998, 3,000 CCTV systems were in use in New
York City. A study by Nieto in 2008 found many businesses in the United States
had invested heavily in video surveillance technology to protect products and
promote safe workplace and consumer environments. A nationwide survey of a wide
variety of companies found that 75 percent utilize CCTV surveillance. In
private sector CCTV surveillance technology is operated in a wide variety of
establishments such as in industry/manufacturing, retailing,
financial/insurance/banking, transportation and distribution,
utilities/communications, health care, and hotels/motels.
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