Security Cameras - How they evolved & where surveillance technology is headed

Security cameras have followed an interesting timeline, evolving as rapidly as the technology in other fields. The first security cameras were deployed in the 1940s and 1950s, but they didn't start to proliferate until the 1970s. These first models were relatively bulky and had a couple of noteworthy drawbacks. For one, the quality of video taken by the cameras was very poor. The second drawback was how costly the cameras were to use. Film was needed in order to record the video taken by the cameras, and that was a prohibitive cost for many.

In the 1990s, the quality of images taken by security cameras had improved. The biggest improvement came with the introduction of the multiplexer. The multiplexer allowed for several cameras to record their entire display to a shared cassette, significantly reducing the cost of maintaining a security system that consisted of multiple cameras. By rapidly alternating which camera's frame was recorded, one tape could be used for several cameras. By using the multiplexer to play back the tape, only the frames from one camera could be watched. These improvements led to cameras being more commonly implemented by private business owners and others with an interest in securing an area.

By the turn of the century, digital video recorders were beginning to come to market. DVRs became wildly popular in households, but their use for security systems might have been even more lucrative. Once DVRs became integrated into cameras, there was no longer a need to purchase and waste film. This allowed for security systems to feature more cameras, and it also allowed for them to record in a higher quality without the same cost concerns that were previously associated with traditional cassette-based cameras.

All of the leaps in technology over the last few years, such as widespread broadband access and more affordable high-definition cameras, has led to IP cameras. Short for internet protocol, cameras utilizing IP are able to broadcast their feed over the internet or a closed network for viewing by the security system owner. Thanks to this, IP cameras are the most effective form of security camera available. An IP network camera presents these remote viewing advantages, but one of the biggest benefits of an IP camera is the quality. These cameras offer features such as 360-degree panorama mode with up to 20-megapixel resolutions, ensuring that no detail is missed. As time goes on, these cameras will improve, but for right now there is no better solution for security than an IP security camera.