Say “CCTV” and most people know what you’re talking about. It’s synonymous with surveillance cameras that monitor our actions. CCTV actually stands for Closed Circuit Television. And it has quickly and significantly evolved since its inception. Today, the mention of CCTV evokes diverse responses; people applaud the evidence that’s been provided for crime solving; but people also have grave concerns over “big brother” and the invasion of privacy. So, how did we get here? What is the history of CCTV technology? It’s an intriguing journey. We take a look at it in this article.
A Timeline of CCTV Development
1942 – The Inception of CCTV
The history of CCTV can be traced back to Germany in 1942. The first documented use was by German engineer Walter Bruch who developed a system for monitoring the launching of German V 2 rockets in Peenemünde. The system used a series of cameras and mirrors to relay images back to a central control room, where the V2 rocket launches could be monitored in real-time. The technology was seized on by US scientists. Now scientists could study nuclear bomb tests without ever being in harm’s way by utilizing surveillance cameras. This allowed scientists to learn about the effects of nuclear weapons from a safe distance and never come into touch with the dangerous aftermath.
1949 – First Known Commercial CCTV
A US government contractor called Vericon, released the first commercial CCTV television system. The video couldn’t be recorded so the footage was viewed live.
1956 – VCR Invented
The invention of the well-known VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), revolutionized CCTV technology with the ability to record and store video footage. In 1956, the Ampex Corporation produced the VRX-1000. This video recorder used a rotating head design to create video and audio on magnetic tape. It cost a staggering $50,000, making it an unattainable investment for most people. To make matters worse, the spinning heads needed a skilled operator and had a service life of only a few hundred hours. However, the idea and technology triggered a revolution in CCTV (as well as home entertainment).
1960 – First High Profile CCTV Use
The British police force used CCTV technology to help with security measures when the Thai royal family came for a visit in 1960. They deployed just two cameras. All video was monitored in real-time.
1961 – British Transportation Experiments
A year later, in 1961, London Transport began installing CCTV cameras throughout the train station to improve public safety. Within a few years, Liverpool followed suit and started experimenting with similar technology.
1965 – Consumer-level VCR released
Sony launched the CV-2000 in 1965. This system utilized a reel-to-reel recording method and recorded only in black and white. This was a game changer because it was more affordable and accessible to the regular consumer. It would pave the way for storage of video recordings from video cameras. Even so, it meant that for CCTV security to be effective, it required physical management: video cassettes needed to be changed, cataloged and a system in place for re-using them.
1968 – First Public Use of CCTV
In September of 1968, Olean was the first municipality in the United States to use video surveillance on its main street in order to combat crime and protect stores. Mr. Arnold was president of Allband Cablevision Co. and was running the new cable television technology to the city of Olean. After hearing the complaints of the Olean Sears store manager about theft and being told to buy guard dogs, Arnold instead suggested piping video footage from the main street to the police station. All agreed. It cost $1.4 million and took over two years to install but it was a sensational success attracting reporters and techies from around the world.
1969 – First Patented Home Security CCTV System
Marie Van Brittan Brown‘s groundbreaking home security system was patented in 1969. It included peepholes, a camera, monitors, and a two-way microphone. The last item was an alarm button. By pressing it, you could immediately get in touch with the police. Brown’s invention formed the basis for subsequent security systems that make use of the concepts she introduced: video surveillance, remotely controlled doors, push-button alarm triggers, direct communication to security providers and police, and two-way voice communication.
1973 – CCTV Goes Big In TimesSquare
In 1973 the NYPD installed CCTV cameras in Time Square New York. The intention was to deter crime. However, the installation didn’t have the hoped result. Crime rates didn’t drop as the NYPD had expected.
1980’s – CCTV Spreads Across USA
While the early installations of CCTV didn’t produce the desired effects, nevertheless video surveillance continued to spread across the metropolitan USA.
1985 – UK Introduces Outdoor CCTV
In spite of the unsuccessful CCTV trials throughout the 1970’s, the UK went all in on CCTV and installed the first outdoor CCTV system in Bournemouth on the south coast. The trial was successful and paved the way for subsequent installations that would eventually lead to the UK population becoming the most surveilled in the world. There are now well over 500 CCTV cameras in Bournemouth. They’re utilized for a variety of reasons, including traffic monitoring, crime deterrence, and apprehending criminals.
1987 – First UK Local Government Install
It was in King’s Lynn, Norfolk where the first local government in the UK installed an official public CCTV system. The results were encouraging and proved to reduce crime. This was a trigger for widespread CCTV deployment in public spaces across the country.
1990’s – Multi-Camera Viewing Using Multiplexers
The 1990s saw the development of multiplexing solutions for CCTV, which revolutionized the technology. By using this technology, video signals from numerous CCTV cameras can be combined and displayed on a single monitor. For example, if a business has four security cameras, the multiplexer synchronizes and records each of these video signals on the same tape. The footage from each is viewable together on a screen too. This reduces the equipment required and the likelihood that events are missed during live monitoring.
1998 – CCTV Installs Continue
By 1998 over 3,000 CCTV systems were in use in New York. Private businesses and government departments were now investing heavily in surveillance technology. By this point, private businesses are seeing success in using CCTV for internal security measures.
1998 – The First DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
1998 saw the invention of the first working DVR at Stanford University. The technology was rapidly released in 1999 by numerous companies like TiVo, ReplayTV and Dish Network, and has become ubiquitous today. Digital video recorders (DVRs) have made CCTV systems way more user-friendly. They typically include multiplexers and many other features, making them easier to install and use. The DVR eliminated the need for video tapes, reducing the cost of storage and operational expenses.
2001 – 9/11 Catapults CCTV Growth
Following the 9/11 attacks in New York, CCTV was seen as a key tool for fighting terrorism and the use of surveillance cameras rocketed around the world.
2006 – Study Paves the Way for Facial Recognition
Efforts to detect human faces began in the 1960’s. But it was until the early 2000’s when the technology saw rapid development into facial recognition where not only faces could be detected but could be recognized and differentiated from each other. In 2006 the Face Recognition Grand Challenge (FRGC) assessed the newest face recognition algorithms available. To do this, high-resolution images of faces, 3D scans of faces, and iris images were used in a series of tests. The results showed that the new algorithms are 10 times more accurate than face recognition algorithms from 2002 and 100 times more accurate than 1995. Some of the outperformed human beings in recognizing faces and were able to identify identical twins. The study provided confidence in facial recognition technology, paving the way for widespread use in CCTV.
2009 – CCTV Deploys Facial Recognition Databases
In 2009 the first forensic database of faces was established for law enforcement. The leaps made in machine learning and artificial intelligence made this all possible, and accuracy and options in facial recognition continue to advance.
2013 – UK has One Camera per Eleven People
By 2013 the UK population becomes the most monitored per capita in the world. The British Security Industry Association calculated one CCTV camera for every 11 people in the UK with approximately 5.9 million cameras actively monitoring the UK population.
2014 – First Criminal Convicted with Facial Recognition Evidence
In 2014, the Chicago police department used face recognition technology to identify its first criminal, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for armed robbery.
2018 – China’s CCTV Domination Advances
China is developing a sophisticated and successful CCTV face recognition network. By 2018 there were about 170 million CCTV cameras in China. And they hoped to purchase over 400 million by 2020. By scanning the face only, these cameras may be used to scan the public for age, race, gender, and other information. With the help of AI, CCTV cameras in China are used to identify and track people’s activities, as well as those of their friends. The cameras are also utilized to look for jaywalkers, fugitives, and other people of interest. It is also allegedly used to predict crime. It is knot known just how many cameras are deployed today, nor how the technology is really being used. But, it’s claimed that Chinese technology is so quick that it can scan the whole Chinese population in one second and the entire worldwide population in two seconds.
2020s – Facial Recognition Technologies Widely Available for Private Business
Facial recognition technology in security cameras is increasingly made available for private businesses, even smaller enterprises. These are used for access control but also monitoring employees, customers and their behavior at business locations.
2020s – Widespread Availability of NVRs
The evolution of DVRs into NVRs (Network Video Recorders) has revolutionized how and where security footage is stored and accessed. NVRs allow simple remote viewing of footage. Cameras encode and process the video and then stream the footage to NVRs for storage. The footage is then available on the network or across the internet for remote viewing. The remote viewing solutions are particularly useful for businesses with numerous site locations since they allow users to see different departments at the same time across the network or internet more readily and in good quality than remote viewing with a DVR. Today’s consumer-grade IP cameras use NVRs and the cloud, allowing businesses and homeowners to install effective CCTV systems for themselves.
2020s & Beyond – Improved Technology & Drone Usage
The rate of change is astounding and technological advances are continually being made in the realm of digital video, storage and processing. Artificial intelligence is becoming smarter. And we have started to see the deployment of mobile CCTV, with the use of drones. These devices provoke more concern from the public, probably because they are more visible. But, they are increasingly used for crowd control and other applications. China reported had 30,000 drones in operation back in 2015.
CCTV Around the World – Where It’s Headed
It’s well-known that China has led the way in the growth of public CCTV. The technology deployed and the sheer number of cameras means that CCTV is being woven into governance, law enforcement and daily life. But China isn’t alone. Countries around the world are spending millions on CCTV development. Here are some insights into the plans for CCTV technology of some nations.
India
For hands-free use of public transportation, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will utilize facial recognition technology. The municipal body is focused on developing a smart city, and this initiative will help it one step farther in that direction. To advance the project, they intend to install around 7,000 CCTV cameras throughout the city presently.
Dubai
The United Arab Emirates has a mission to make the country one of the best in the world by 2021. As part of this goal, they are planning to build smart cities utilizing the latest in scientific breakthroughs and technology.
The authorities in Dubai have implemented thousands of CCTV cameras across various Dubai government agencies and will now provide live updates to a central command center.
This program will use face recognition technology and artificial intelligence to identify suspects from camera footage at the centralized command center.
The project, named ‘Oyoon’ which means “eyes” is being undertaken with the hope of reducing crime and traffic congestion.
Russia
CCTV face recognition technology has been used throughout Russia’s Moscow. The system links into the city of Moscow’s 160,000 CCTV camera network to cover 95 percent of its apartment complexes’ front doors. Because this technology is so expensive, only a few thousand cameras are operational at any one moment. To cut costs and expand coverage, the authorities of this metropolis are collaborating with NTechLabs right now.
Germany
In 2017, Germany also made steps in facial recognition deployment. Berlin’s Südkreuz train station is now home to a new face recognition monitoring system for experimental purposes. The German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere remarked that video surveillance “adds an important contribution” because it deters crime and helps to investigate offenses. “Video surveillance makes an important contribution [to the police effort] as it serves as a deterrent against crime and helps to investigate offenses,” he added.
What are Some of the Issues Surrounding CCTV Today?
While surveillance has had much success, it also comes with some significant concerns. At the top of the list is the concern over privacy.
According to a survey from British Privacy International, released in 2012, 71% of respondents were concerned about CCTV cameras being used.
While CCTV cameras were designed for security, their use has caused privacy issues in recent years. In some cases, footage from these cameras have been utilized to follow and harass people, creating a debate about how this technology should be used.
The cost has also been an area of concern. And that of the effectiveness and reliability. Some have questioned the accuracy with which judgments are made based on CCTV footage.
CCTV Protests
There have even been some major protests over the use of CCTV. In 2008, a petition against the use of CCTV cameras was started by the civil liberties group Liberty. The petition gathered over 30,000 signatures. In 2010, a protest against the use of CCTV cameras was held in London. The protesters argued that the proliferation of surveillance cameras was eroding our civil liberties.
CCTV Legal Cases
There have also been some major legal cases around CCTV usage. These include:
- United States v. Jones (2012): In this case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of GPS tracking devices to track a person’s movements constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- United Kingdom v. James (2008): In this case, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the use of CCTV cameras in public spaces could violate an individual’s right to privacy.
- Canada v. Ward (2013): In this case, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the use of thermal imaging technology to track a person’s movements constituted a search under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Even with these concerns, it’s evident that CCTV is a necessary tool in today’s world and its usage will only continue to grow.
The Final Score
So there you have it. A whistle-stop tour of CCTV’s history. It’s been quick to develop since it’s invention in 1942. And in recent years, with various government’s efforts to monitor their citizen’s movements and behavior more closely, CCTV has become more widespread. CCTV can be found in private businesses and in public streets. And the capability of CCTV has improved significantly as advances in things like facial recognition and drones have evolved. Where is it headed next? No doubt the public will also have more of a say as the benefits and the costs of CCTV growth and usage are weighed in the public square.
Be smart and stay safe.
References:
https://ethw.org/Milestones:Ampex_Videotape_Recorder,_1956