Security Camera

Camera

The camera might seem like a recent invention, however, before the camera was first introduced around 1839, the concept of the camera might have been around since before the year 1000. Back then the concept was called a pin-hole camera, which is a phenomenon that happens when placing a small hole in the wall of a small room. Light will enter through the hole and produce an inverted image of the scenery outside on the wall across the hole.

After the invention of the camera, within less than a century the size of the camera shrunk from the size of a toolbox to a small size that can be held on two hands. This development allows the spread of cameras for the public. In another half a century, around the year 1991, the first digital camera was introduced, which allows the images to be stored in digital form. This is the start of the rapid development of digital cameras until they can now be fitted inside of mobile phones.

Security Camera

As the name suggests, a security camera is a part of a security system, which monitors many sections of a location through the continuous stream of images transmitted from the camera. This means a security camera needs to transmit a video or moving images. The earliest video camera was used by the entertainment industry to broadcast events and shows, and the success it reaps fuels the development of video cameras.

Through this development, the Closed Circuit Television or CCTV was born to monitor multiple locations from one room through multiple monitors. This first version of CCTV has many applications, especially in warfare and research. However, it is unable to record the video it transmits and requires at least one security guard to watch the video. Noticing this potential, many people tried to improve the security camera. A few decades later, around the year 1951, the VCR technology integration allows security experts to record the video and further improve the functionality of security cameras in general.

In 1969, the security camera has finally transformed for home security purposes. This system allows the user to monitor areas around their house to detect any intruders or suspicious activity. This development increases the popularity of security cameras for non-government entities. Since then, there have been many improvements on security cameras such as, improved video quality, and connecting the camera to the internet so it can be monitored from more than one location. Additionally, the development of technology also allows the security camera price to go down, and becoming more affordable, and suitable for personal use. For example, the PTZ IP outdoor Camera show below is equipped connected to the internet with cloud storage capability, audio recording, and human detection through the use of Artificial Intelligent.

Choosing a security camera

Unfortunately, it is the case with many other electronics, there have been many developers that join this market. This leads to a situation where it is hard to know which security camera is suitable for each customer. There are many features of a security camera that might be more useful for a user than others. Here are some things to look out for when considering buying a security camera for personal use.

Plan of use

That is why it is important to determine first what it is used for and which area needs to have a camera installed. The common example is whether the camera is only used to monitor a room or the whole house, which will decide whether to buy a standalone camera or a kit with multiple cameras. The location is also important to decide whether it has to be a weatherproof camera or not.

Motion Sensing

Since some cameras might be taking a still picture it is possible to utilize a motion-sensing feature to notify the user. It is also possible to use a setting where the camera only records the video when it detects movement, which is good for saving storage space and energy. This feature is also a good consideration aspect for the plan of use.

Wiring

While many cameras are now wireless, a wired connection still provides a more stable connection. However, it is also clear that a wireless camera is easier to install because it usually only requires a power supply and does not need to be connected to the internet using a cable. Additionally, there is some camera that is “wire-free”, which means that it runs on battery and can be easily moved depending on the user’s needs.

Hardware specifications

There are many different hardware specifications that need to be considered before selecting a product. The most important one is the image quality, depending on the needs of the user, storage capacity, connection transfer speed, the quality of the picture that needs to be selected carefully. Next, another important thing to check is how many cameras a system can handle, and whether or not some of them can be switched out when necessary. There are a few other optional features that are worth consideration, which include, night vision, sound recording, zoom in or out, and whether the camera can tilt and observe another area.

Storage

There are a few data storage options available to choose from. The easiest solution with no extra effort is to use a memory card. But the capacity is limited and if the camera is taken by an intruder, all the data will also go with it. Next, it can also be configured to connect and store data into devices such as phones, external hard drives, laptops, PC, or DVD recorders. This offer more storage but also vulnerable to be taken along by intruder. The best option to guarantee the safety of the video is to store it using cloud storage that backs up the data online. However, this feature often requires regular payment to maintain.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as technology advances, security camera has become more affordable and easy to use. However, this makes it a challenge to determine the best option for each user. There are some steps that can be done to shorten the list of possible choices. The steps start with planning, choosing wiring options, hardware specifications, and storage options.