Wireless Video Surveillance For The Boston Marathon

Strix Systems announced the deployment of Strix Integrated Wireless Video System for the Boston Marathon event held April 21st, 2008. Strix Access/One Outdoor Wireless System (OWS) provided the foundation for the rapid temporary deployment of multiple Integrated Wireless Video Surveillance Systems (IWVS) that delivered high quality Milestone video surveillance to a number of state and local public safety agencies.

Home Consumer/DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Video Surveillance Camera Market to be $1 Billion by 2012

Video surveillance in consumer homes promises to drive a new market for consumer/DIY cameras and remote home monitoring services. Growing consumer awareness and product offerings will enable the market for consumer/DIY surveillance cameras to grow to over $1 billion dollars by 2012. This presents a promising expansion opportunity for camera manufacturers, broadband operators and semiconductor manufacturers, according to MultiMedia Intelligence.

The applications driving home video surveillance range from simple doorbell cameras to remote surveillance and recording services. Companies are positioning do-it-yourself (DIY) surveillance kits that include cameras, network adapters, and PC and internet-based monitoring and recording software. Such systems also allow consumers to monitor their home remotely over the Internet, or even via their mobile phones.

Surveillance Pictures Released in Search for Armed and Dangerous Robber

Police believe the same man robbed two liquor stores and they're releasing surveillance pictures in hopes someone will recognize him.

Police believe this man to be armed and dangerous.

Surveillance Cameras Don't Cut Crime, Says Expert

Surveillance cameras may help police with criminal investigations but wouldn't prevent crimes by themselves, according to one surveillance expert.

Josh Greenberg, a mass communications professor at Carleton University, who has studied the impact of closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, says people support the idea because they believe it will help protect them from robberies, sexual assault or other violent crimes.

Greeley Schools Won't Let Parent See Bus Surveillance Video

Greeley school officials say privacy laws prevent them from letting a parent see a surveillance videotape after his son was disciplined for a fight on a school bus.

Mike Moskalsk says he asked to see the video taken on the bus after his son was suspended for 10 days after the April fight. Moskalsk says his son didn't start the fight but was defending himself.

Do You Want Spies With That?

While the Patriot Act has raised fears about the U.S. government spying on ordinary citizens, the growing threat to civil liberties posed by corporate spying has received much less attention.

During the late 1990s a private security firm spied on Greenpeace and other environmental groups, examining activists' telephone records and even sending undercover agents to infiltrate the groups, according to an article in Mother Jones. In 2006 Hewlett-Packard was caught spying on journalists. Last year Wal-Mart apologized for improperly recording conversations with a New York Times reporter.

And now it turns out that Burger King, home of the Whopper, hired a private security firm to spy on the Student/Farmworker Alliance, a group of idealistic college students trying to improve the lives of migrants in Florida.

On Using a Hidden Camera in Your Home

Our agency occasionally gets calls about setting up covert cameras in the home. The reasons for the requests vary from personal belongings missing, a new baby sitter or nanny being hired or concerns that children may be misbehaving.

Setting up a covert camera in your home is legal in all 50 states. This refers just to the video aspect. Providing sound along with the pictures is a different matter and falls under a separate law.