Video Surveillance Systems refer to closed-circuit video cameras used in buildings and business establishments in many modern cities across the globe. Surveillance technology is expected to aid law enforcement. Although this is primarily aimed to keep the peace, many criticize the constant monitoring of activities, calling it an invasion of privacy.
Types of surveillance video cameras:
- Analog video cameras can record straight to a video tape recorder, which can record analog signals as pictures. These are becoming outdated as digital cams invade the market.
- Digital video cameras work using a digital signal, which can then be saved directly to a computer.
Surveillance in the Workplace
A workplace surveillance system is mainly installed to thwart theft and ensure security both for employer and employees. Arguments exist to this day about the negative effects of surveillance in the workplace-employees feeling stressed and demotivated when their privacy is invaded. But employers argue that losses to the company also trickle down to employee level. From the conventional methods such as eavesdropping on phone calls and recording them, workplace surveillance has now gone high-tech.
Computer surveillance can be divided into two forms-Internet surveillance and Desktop surveillance. Internet surveillance is the active scrutiny of the user's Internet activities including a record of the websites visited and tasks performed. Desktop surveillance has the employer's computer catching a signal given off by the employee's computer. This can be remotely or physically installed on the computers. E-mail surveillance entails an employer reading email sent to and from employees. Programs that monitor computers come in names like Silent Watch, Shadow, Web Sleuth and SpyAgent. These range from a low of $30 to the thousands.
Most businesses feel most comfortable though with the use of video cameras to really monitor employee activity. Tiny cameras are embedded and directed to view the computer monitors and users.