Surveillance Technology and Security Issues - Coursework Example

Surveillance Technology Number Module Assessment Surveillance Technology Introduction Surveillance technology and security issues have become something of a major concern due to globalization. This is due to the fact that there has been increasing act of random crime and periphery of freedom contracts, be it at home, business premise, office, institutions or public places. This calls for surveillance of such malicious acts. Coleman and Mccahill (2011 p.2) argue that surveillance and crime are interconnected. In this case, he suggests that knowledge about criminal acts is not possible without surveillance coupled with efforts made to manage crime and criminality. Lyon (2007 p.145-178) notes that surveillance is a key aspect of crime management, which entails prevention, detection, control, categorization and correction of criminals and errant. This view calls for greater vigilance over anti-social, unruly, potential terrorists, nuisance and hardened criminals (Coleman and Mccahill 2011 p.3). They note that the knowledge surrounding these categories of crime are boundless and is seen as a problem of the street with which surveillance is the guardian. Building child parent classes’ for anti-social require respect to be observed, child curfews and spy cameras within the neighborhoods. Urban spaces on the other hand call for increased powers of police officers, more prisons and means of collating information about crime (Coleman and Mccahill 2011 p.3). All these attest to the knowledge of surveillance respond to criminal acts and disorder. Coleman and Mccahill (2011 p.3) notes that surveillance serves a vital purpose as it makes an individual feel better that something is being done, rule of law is being followed and the society is enlightened about criminality. It is for this reason that many people support the idea of surveillance. For instance, its supporters point its success in identifying and prosecuting criminals. This has been used in television shows such as the crime watch in BBC and in courtrooms. Van Brakel and De Hert (2011) note that the use of surveillance technology such as community patrols, credit checks, more police checks, nationality and street cameras and other surveillance tools makes the society more secure which promotes feeling of safety. The need for security and safety thus has led to the development of a number of surveillance technologies. One among them whose popularity has grown over time is the spy cameras. Its growth in popularity is to keep vigilance of homes, business offices and other malicious acts (Ditton1998 p.43-164). The question that many are asking is why there is such a tremendous growth in the use of Spy cameras? Many people have held different opinions, with regard to this question. However, a significant number cites its usability and benefits in providing security. The purpose of this paper is to examine Spy camera as surveillance and discuss its uses and benefits. It will also look at the advantages and disadvantages of using the technology. Spy Cameras A Spy Camera is a surveillance gadget used to monitor activities of persons within home or business environment. This device can be premade concealed cameras in a variety of objects, especially from teddy bears and arrangement of flowers to portable music player stations and electric shavers. This device usually uses digital video recordings to capture video images, which are then transmitted to the receiver or stored for play through a computer or television. An example of a spy camera is the nanny cam. The cameras exist in different types such as: hidden cameras, wearable spy cameras, spy sun glasses, spy camera watches, spy camera pens, spy camera clocks, lighter spy cameras, button spy cameras gum spy cameras and mini DVR. The spy cameras are used to keep watch over homes, property, and businesses and loved ones (Garfinkel 2000 p 46-147). Surveillance Technologies (2007) asserts that since people cannot be everywhere at the same time, recording technology devices help keeping vigil over homes, from walks, children rooms, driveways, businesses and yards either from television, digital video recording or computer system. These cameras are usually very tiny and discrete capable of recording in bright or low light or survey outdoors and in. The spy cameras are available in array of cameras such as full-motion internet control, e-mail alerts that are transmitted to the user while away from homes or businesses. Uses and Benefits of Spy Cameras It is a matter of fact that with the modern technologies coupled with changes in lifestyle and values across cultures have made raising of children a challenging task. For one to be a responsible parent, he or she needs to do everything to instill values to his children. However, children of these days are quite different from these of the olden days. This is mainly because value has changed and children are becoming more exposed to negative influences through imitation of things they see. A major concern for parents who are working is how they can monitor the progress in their children while they are away. Some parents would like to see every stem and actions in their children as they grow up each day. They do not want anything to pass them by be it a new activity or something weird happening to around their kids. This is where the spy cameras become helpful. This use has been extended to security personnel (Chan 2011). Since many parents tend to leave their children with their nannies, why out for work and usually wants to be sure that their children are safe and are not mistreated or molested under the care of other people. This calls for the use of a spy camera. This is the reason why several homes nowadays have installed spy cameras so as to be able to track the activities of both the nannies and the children. With spy cameras, parents are able to monitor their kids. In this case, abusive nannies would easily be caught on camera unaware. This explains the reason for its popularity in many households (Chan 2011). According to Chan (2011), spy cameras are also a useful tool in monitoring properties to prevent tress pass, thieves and other forms of malicious acts. This was evident in South Africa when a camera was found on the neighborhood of the ex-president Nelson Mandela. Police officers who suspected that the camera was being used to spy on the former President confiscated his camera. However, upon investigation, the ex-president’s neighbor refuted allegations labeled against him as spying on the president saying that the Camera was meant to survey her property (BBC News 2011). This confirms how useful the camera is in protecting precious properties. Chan (20110 notes that spy cameras have also proved useful to the police officers in tracing movements of suspects in dark Street, mountains and other places with poor visibility. People sometimes wonder how they would be able to visualize things clearly in the dark especially at night without anyone noticing them. Thus, this gadget is able to reveal all that happens in the dark. Issue of unfaithfulness has become a matter of concern all over the world. However, catching a cheating spouse is not that easy by just relying on self-monitoring or employing somebody to do this. It is here that the spy gadget comes in. The technology such as the use of Nanny Cams helps keeping vigil of spouse movements without the individual being traced knowing (Chan 2011). This has helped in many marriages where a spouse, either wife or a husband cheat on the other. The spy cam is also advantageous in keeping vigil of housekeepers at home (Chan 2011). This is because the gadget is capable of revealing whether they are doing their job as expected or not. An individual who installs this gadget will also be able to see if their housekeepers steal or misuse certain things from the house without their consent. In this case, an individual does not have anything to worry about, as the camera is capable of tracking all that happens. The cameras are not only helpful at homes but also in offices. Chan (2011) argue that the spy cams can be used to tab employees and monitor what is going on within an office. For instance, a manager does not need to monitor what is going on at work place manually by walking from one room to the next. Instead, he can monitor all the activities of his employees by just installing a spy camera within the office to keep track of all that is happening. He also notes that the spy cams are also helpful in enhancing security of the office and equipments from being damaged. In case any damage is caused, the camera would be used to reveal whoever does it. Chan asserts that the spy cams are used to thwart office theft, something very important thus its popularity. Chan (2011) notes that spy cams are beneficial to an organization since it has the potential of earning a company discounts on insurance. He argues that most insurance companies award discounts to individuals or corporate who goes an extra mile in attempt to secure their properties by installing spy cams besides purchasing insurance. Disadvantages One of the main disadvantages of the gadget is that it is expensive in terms of cost (Hier and Greenberg 2007 p.41-77). As such, many people may not be at a position to afford it. For instance, a spy Camera Tie with Key Chain Remote Controller cost £54.99 while wireless IP camera with Night Vision and Motion Detection Alarm costs £59.99. This cost is very expensive and cannot easily be afforded by many people (Flying Penguin 2012). Most of the cameras are only capable of covering a small radius, thus is not viable for large areas. For this purpose, in case the area of coverage is large, whoever uses the garget has to install as many of this cameras as possible to be able to track everything happening. This is also mainly due to the fact that some rooms have corridors that a single camera may not be able to cover. As such, malicious people may take advantage of this and move away uncaught by these cameras. The usability of this cameras depend much on whether whoever being spied is aware of what is happening or not. For instance, when the garget is installed in a house and the housekeeper becomes aware of this, he or she may tamper with the garget to conceal any evidence caught on camera. The cameras may also be used for ill motives, as was the case in Winnipeg Pool change room. In this case, CBC news (2012) reported a case in which a spy camera was found inside a change room of a public swimming pool at Seven Oarks. Here a spy camera in the form of a pen was discovered by a female swimming instructor hidden underneath a swimming pool to take pictures of swimmers. The controvert surrounding this discovery was the fact that the camera happened which had a USB device placed in a disposal box filmed the woman naked (CBC News 2012). This is one such incidence where spy cameras are misused. A similar incidence Smith (2011) in which Starbucks sued for Spy Cam in bathroom. On this incidence, ABC News reported that a Norfolk, Va, man whose 5-year old daughter happened to find a spy camera in one of the birth rooms of Starbucks sued the company for breaking her privacy by showing her nakedness. In conclusion, Surveillance technology has proved a very useful tool in enhancing security in the society. This is evident from the use of spy cameras to monitor homes, businesses, offices. For instance, the use of spy cam has made it easier for many parents to monitor the movements and actions of their children with ease while a way on work schedule. It has also enable individuals to keep vigil of their properties preventing trespass and damages. Managers have also benefited from the use of this technology in tracking employee’s actions. This in turn has helped in thwarting theft in offices, as employees know that their actions are being monitored. The gadget however has disadvantage in that it is expensive in terms of installation cost, and may not cover what is taking place in a large area. The other disadvantage of spy cam is that it can be used for ill motive, as was the case in Seven Oarks and Starbuck in which they were used to film naked women in bathrooms. All that being said, it is acknowledged that the technology is very much useful and should be embraced in the society to abate crime and other malicious acts. References BBC News Africa (2011). Nelson Mandela ‘spy’ cameras confiscated by police. 15 Dec. Retrieved on 4 April 2012 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16203513 CBC News (2012). Spy Camera found in Winnipeg Pool Change room Washington: CBC News 11 March. Retrieved on 4 April 2012 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/03/11/mb-spy-camera-seven-oaks- Chan, H. (2011). Spy Cameras-Benefits and Laws Regarding the Use of Spy Cams. 31 Aug. Retrieved on 4 April 2012 from http://ezinearticles.com/?Spy-Cameras---Benefits-and-Laws-Regarding-the-Use-of-Spy-Cams&id=6513238 Coleman, R. & McCahill, M. (2011) Surveillance and crime. London: SAGE Publications. Flying penguin (2012). Retrieved on 4 March 2012 from http://www.flying-penguin.co.uk/ Ditton, J. (1998), ‘Public Support for Town Centre CCTV Schemes: Myth or Reality’ in Chapter 12, Norris, C. Moran, J. and Armstrong, G. (Eds.), 1998, Surveillance, Closed Circuit Television and Social Control, Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Garfinkel, S. (2000) Database Nation: the death of privacy in the 21st century. USA: O’ Reilly and Associates. Hier, S. & Greenberg, J. (eds) (2007) The Surveillance Studies Reader. Berkshire: OUP Lyon, D. (2007) Surveillance studies: an overview. Cambridge: Polity Press. Retrieved on 4 April 2012 from http://abcnews.go.com/US/virginia-man-sues-starbucks-bathroom-spy-cam/story?id=14564247#.T3w9Mtln5kg. Smith, C (2011) Starbucks sued for Spy Cam in Bathroom. Washington: ABC News. 20 Sept. Retrieved on 4 April 2012 from http://abcnews.go.com/US/virginia-man-sues-starbucks-bathroom-spy-cam/story?id=14564247#.T3xjv9ln5kg. Van Brakel, R and De Hert, P. (2011) Policing Surveillance and Law in a pre-crime society: Understanding the consequences of technology based strategies. http://www.vub.ac.be/LSTS/pub/Dehert/378.pdf Read More