Penguins Under Surveillance

Yet another new and creative use of surveillance and biometric technologies. At the University of Bristol, scientists have designed an unobtrusive surveillance system that can be subtly integrated into the environment of various endangered species. The systems will help scientists observe and track endangered animals, starting with the African penguin, of which there are only 170,000 remaining. Though the project was initially designed with penguins in mind (it's called the Penguin Recognition Project), the scientists are confident it could have wide-ranging benefits for the conservation of other species.

Newark Uses Cameras to Deter Crime

Amidst reports of cameras not doing anything at all to deter crime, Newark opened its new Surveillance Operations Center last week, and released a report claiming that murders and rapes had declined since the installation of cameras in its high violence areas in 2007. The city's mayor also talked about a recent armed robbery that was thwarted thanks to the cameras. As I've said before, just having cameras doesn't do anything, but having usable footage helps close cases and deliver arrests, which typically helps to deter crime in the long run.

Too Much Information Makes Us Less Secure

How many cameras do you need to have before you can't see anything? How much video do you need to store before you can't find what you were looking for? Whatever that level is, the Brits passed it a long time ago when, as the author of this piece quips, the answer to the needle in the haystack problem became to "collect more haystacks."

"The answer in both America and Britain has been to collect more haystacks: useless, indiscriminately acquired information on people who've done nothing to arouse suspicion," he writes. "We even inveigle our citizens to become amateur curtain-twitchers and pecksniffs, demanding that they report "suspicious" activity to the authorities. Between DNA databases, mandatory fingerprinting for visa seekers, CCTV carpet-bombing, and Oyster card data, we've never collected more "security" information than we do today. But does this really make us secure? Is it possible to know too much?"

I think the question is not "Is it possible to know too much?", but rather "Is it possible for too much information to overwhelm our ability to know anything at all?". In which case the answer is a resounding yes! The delta between what security professionals can collect today and what they can process is called the "Security Gap" and it's getting bigger every day.

But, I'm not sure it's time to hoist the white flag just yet, however. A few years ago, after the bombing in London, closing the Security Gap meant assigning over one thousand MI-5 agents to manually review surveillance video. The process took over 6 weeks. Today, using new search and video analysis technology, just a handful of those agents could have probably completed much of the same work in a few days. Search technology in particular is rapidly closing the gap between the data we can collect and store and what we can "know". It's not unlike what happened with the Internet when tools like Google have made sifting through billions of images and pages as simple as typing a few key words. Suddenly this huge heap of information that had been sitting there unused by most became hugely useful when we could quickly and easily sift through it.

The prospect of these same advances in video search being applied to security is likely to greatly tame America and Britain's current jumble of haystacks, but such technology will of course bring with it a new set of problems. For those who have spent years working to close the Security Gap, I am reminded of another question about a dog chasing a firetruck.

"What's he going to do if he catches it?"

Surveillance as Handy Marketing Tool

A lot of new products are coming out that help companies use existing CCTV surveillance technology for marketing purposes--capturing everything from basic data about how many people stopped at a promotional display to more advanced details about particular customers. In addition to the camera-and-box equipped billboards being piloted by TruMedia and Quividi, Google recently announced its partnership with a company called Xuuk to produce a palm-sized camera called the Eyebox that will track how many times people look at both billboards and products in stores. The idea is to provide brick-and-mortar stores or companies the same tracking abilities in real life as they have with Google ads online. Personally, I think using face recognition with an already existent system (like, I don't know, a 3VR system!) makes better financial sense than spending $25,000 for a separate system and cameras, but even above and beyond that, using surveillance systems as marketing tools doesn't exactly help to assuage the public's "Big Brother" concerns about surveillance.

Finally, A Balanced Take on Security Cameras

Okay, in this case, Fox News actually is providing a "fair and balanced" take on things. Apparently security camera neither put a complete stop to crime nor are completely useless privacy invasions. In known, high-crime areas, the deployment and use of surveillance systems can actually help fight crime. Maybe not all crime, but at least enough to make it worth doing. Obviously, privacy is important. I get that. But I think the way to get folks on board with privacy protection is not to make unfounded statements like "cameras have absolutely zero effect on crime." That's just absurd and patently false. Extreme statements like that will just keep people on opposite sides, not solving either the privacy problem OR the security problem.

On a lighter note, with the suggested increase of cameras in Lynwood, Paris Hilton's crime spree may finally come to a halt.

Surveillance Rocks

This is a pretty clever idea and sort of cool, but on a more serious note, it brings up some interesting aspects of the freedom of information act. I think I'd rather that surveillance just be more targeted, rather than something that rock bands and divorce lawyers can use to get footage.

The Costs and Benefits of Face Recognition

Most people think face recognition is great when it's catching baddies and weird or invasive when it's tracking innocent people. The technology has sparked debate after debate over whether privacy or security is more important. Honestly? I think we can have both.

First off, people need to understand what facial recognition can and can't do. This ABC story about a face rec system analyzing someone's face and telling a clerk that they're underage is bogus. If the kid had been in the store previously and been busted for buying liquor then yes, the system could alert the clerk, but no one is suggesting that face rec can tell the difference between 17 and 18 any more than a human can.

One thing face rec can do, which hasn't gotten a ton of press, is include simple privacy measures. We have been working on this at 3VR and I wrote recently about a team in Canada that's working on a similar project. Basically, software engineers can write a password-protected program that blurs faces and when an incident occurs, an investigator can unblur faces in particular pieces of video. This way, while people may still feel uncomfortable about being on camera, at least they will not really be watched unless they happen to be present during a robbery or some other incident, in which case they'll typically be glad the cameras were there to help catch the bad guys. Also, because this type of application can also have auditing capabilities written into it, it provides a crucial and often overlooked capability: a way to "watch the watchers," if you will.

The same could feasibly work in the grocery store situation described in the ABC story - if someone was a match with a suspect in the database, then the system could alert the clerk. For everyone else, faces could be blurred, and if someone is caught buying liquor or cigarettes underage, then the store manager could unblur the face and save it to the suspect list.

There has also been a lot of press recently about the rise of surveillance that risks privacy without actually improving security. I agree. Thing is, the bulk of new cameras installed are meant to catch traffic violators and raise money for municipal governments, not improve security. These cameras misfire fairly often, sometimes costing a city more than they're worth, and invading citizens' privacy for no good reason.

During the bombings in London, however, investigators were able to use video footage to find their suspect. If they had had face recognition and video search capabilities, that investigation would have been far shorter. And as banks have begun installing surveillance systems, they have seen a marked increase in the number of fraud cases they're able to solve.

Surveillance clearly has a place in modern society, but I do think that the industry needs to continue to work towards securing both people and their privacy.

Surveillance as Voyeurism

I knew it was bound to happen - the security industry finally found a way to hobnob with celebrities and artists.

Why Fuzzy Footage Is Useless

The fact that even with several minutes of video footage the police are stilling calling a suspect in a recent Palm Springs robbery Hispanic or African American is a prime example of why poor quality surveillance systems are a huge waste of money. Even if they catch this guy, the video evidence will not be enough to prosecute him.

Here's hoping he cracks and confesses during the interogation.

The Science of Face Generation

Advancements in facial recognition are not the only interesting face-related technologies making some astounding leaps these days. Driven by demand out of Hollywood, start-ups like Image Metrics are now taking the first steps to generate near perfect artificial faces that can be animated in real-time. The technology gives actors the ability to effortlessly bring digital characters to life with astounding realism; transferring every muscle movement and twitch to their digital puppet-selves.

For a look at what’s possible, check out this demo reel:



Hollywood and the gaming industry won’t have a monopoly on this technology though. I fear that these same tools might be used to undermine the evidentiary value of traditional surveillance video and even perpetrate new kinds of identity theft. When faces and bodies can be swapped in an out of video clips with this level of ease, and interactions that never existed in the real world can be recorded to video using only a laptop, it will be come even more critical that law enforcement find ways to separate face-fact from face-fiction.

Challenges and developments in "intelligent video surveillance"

Referred to variously as "intelligent video surveillance" or "intelligent scene analysis", video analytics employs algorithms and vector partitioning to detect unexpected movement or unusual behaviour that may pose a threat to people, property and infrastructure.

Common scenarios observed by analytics suites include border security, abnormal pedestrian or vehicular motion, suspect packages, and many forms of street crime or deviation from social norms. Such deviation can cover prostitution, kerb crawling, drug dealing and trackside intrusion. Here, ATM loitering and platform suicide behaviour are depicted.

As analytics continues to improve and the leading providers respond resourcefully to a broad range of user demands, scene analysis will gain wider acceptance in both government and commercial spheres. The scenarios detected will become increasingly subtle, allowing innovative end-users to improve public safety by employing this exciting technology.

Axis study claims that IP cameras save costs

Axis Communications has released a study that claims an IP-based system of 40 cameras offers a lower total cost of ownership than an analogue-based surveillance system. It also claims that if IP infrastructure is in place, the IP surveillance system will always cost less.

Axis UK managing director Steve Gorski said: "This study shows that on a like-for-like basis where cost is the only consideration, IP-based systems make sense at a relatively low number of installed cameras. In our experience, most end-users will have some IP infrastructure to integrate into already, which network cameras can take immediate advantage of. When you add in the wider benefits of IP-based systems, such as scalability, remote monitoring and image quality, solely basing a comparison on cost becomes less and less relevant."

The study's findings suggested that the cost to acquire, install and operate an IP-based system was 3.4 per cent lower than a traditional system consisting of analogue cameras and DVR-based recording. Overall, it says, an installation with 32 cameras is the break-even point for IP-based systems versus analogue systems.

Video surveillance gets smarter in Verbania, Italy

Verbania, the capital of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy, was created when the towns of Intra and Pallanza merged. As one of the most idyllic and famous tourist destinations on Lake Maggiore, the town relies heavily on holidaymakers to fill its streets and generate income. To ensure the safety of visitors and citizens, the town council decided to launch a community surveillance project based on a system of network cameras.

Monitors linked to the ten Sony SSNC-RX550 network cameras are installed in the Verbania Municipal Police control room, which is currently undergoing restructuring. Even so, the system does not require the intervention of dedicated security operatives. The human element only comes into play when real-time monitoring is needed (for example during a major event), or when an automatic alarm is triggered.

Today the Municipality of Verbania can be assured that those who commit crime will be identified, thanks to technology which directly recognizes objects and reads vehicle registration plates. In fact, the town's network cameras have been positioned so that they can monitor all arrival and escape points in every area of the town. Intelligent image analysis functions now enable allow the city to keep special areas such as no-stopping zones under control. Using these features, live images can be monitored in unattended mode until suspicious activity occurs, at which point the operator is proactively alerted to the threat by means of an appropriate alarm.

Justice Chief Wants Cops Monitoring Cameras

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's new anti-crime adviser said Wednesday that he will recommend a major change to the city's beleaguered video surveillance program, allowing police to watch footage in real time as officers do in other cities. San Francisco, in deference to privacy concerns, only allows detectives to request footage if they have information that a crime occurred on camera.

In part because of a lack of costly data storage space, San Francisco achieves 80 percent of the resolution that its cameras are capable of producing and gets choppy footage comprised of, at best, two to four frames per second, telecommunications officials say. The problem is not with the manufacturer, but with the implementation of the cameras on a tight budget. The hearing made clear that city officials, and residents, have tough choices ahead on how much money to put into surveillance.

While informative, this article neglects to include an important option that could solve San Francisco’s dilemma—intelligent video surveillance.

Rethinking Surveillance

Video surveillance has become a fact of everyday life. Each time you withdraw cash from the corner ATM, travel through an airport or visit a national monument, your image is probably being recorded. But you may be surprised to learn that there are no federal laws governing how these images can be used, where they should be stored, with whom they may be shared and when they must be destroyed. In this age of YouTube, TMZ and "Cops," it's hard to know where your image might reappear.

The laissez-faire approach of our national legislators is no longer an option. As an increasingly sophisticated surveillance blanket covers more of the United States, we need federal laws to preserve an individual's right to privacy while setting principles governing the use of closed circuit television and other surveillance technologies for bona fide security purposes.

Surveillance technologies will continue to gain in capability -- and become more intrusive. Issues of privacy and public surveillance may appear vexing, but the United States must move forward with laws to effectively adapt to the inevitable spread of this technology. If the public is to trust business and government to watch over us, we need to follow the lessons of Britain and protect video images as we do other private data.

Video Focuses on Storage

With digital video on the rise in enterprises, storage teams will play a key role in accommodating the petabytes of data that can be generated by video surveillance systems.

http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/magazineFeature/0,296894,sid5_gci1293369,00.html?offer=STWNB1 (Registration required)

The need to store 30GB to 40GB per camera per day isn't unusual. That comes to 1TB or more per camera per month. Now, if a retail organization has 30 to 40 cameras per store and 1,000 stores, you're looking at multipetabytes of storage, even if you're rewriting over some old data.

No matter who controls the video surveillance budget, the storage team will be asked to build out the necessary capacity to store video. And they'll have to learn the idiosyncrasies of surveillance storage because it's not going away.

Video Surveillance Trailer Provides Visual Backup

Law enforcement agencies across the country can now rapidly deploy a live remote mobile surveillance trailer in high risk locations. Russell Turner, Vice-President of Sales for NetVision Mobile, states that "Law enforcement professionals at the National Association of Police Chiefs Annual Conference remarked on how the NetVision Remote Surveillance System 'will help protect personnel and property during large public gatherings, covert operations and in high risk situations.'"

Officers can view the cameras from within their vehicles. Monitoring companies, such as Securitas, can automatically dispatch EMS resources to the exact location while providing vital real-time information for effective planning & preparation. Should priorities change; the entire system can be taken down in five minutes, rapidly deployed at another location, and set up in five minutes.

The NetVision Mobile Security Surveillance Trailer is just skimming the surface with Law Enforcement & the Construction Industry because this mobile security solution will be used by many other types of businesses that need an 'Eye in the Sky' for their piece of mind.

FBI Wants Palm Prints, Eye Scans, Tattoo Mapping

CLARKSBURG, West Virginia (CNN) -- The FBI is gearing up to create a massive computer database of people's physical characteristics, all part of an effort the bureau says to better identify criminals and terrorists. But it's an issue that raises major privacy concerns -- what one civil liberties expert says should concern all Americans. The bureau is expected to announce in coming days the awarding of a $1 billion, 10 year contract to help create the database that will compile an array of biometric information -- from palm prints to eye scans.

Given the recent request for a $3 trillion budget, $1 billion doesn’t seem like all that much anymore.

Biometric Powered ‘Medicine’ Dispenser…Dude

Biometric technology stands ready to change forever the way we visit the pharmacy…potentially rendering a lot of people in white lab coats obsolete in the process. Anytime Vending Machines or AVMs went into operation in California today and employ a variety security features designed to make the automated vending of controlled and prescription medicines possible without any human intervention. The first product to benefit from AVM technology, however, might catch you a little by surprise. It’s marijuana, and here is how the process works:

Patients have to present a prescription and be fingerprinted before they are issued with a pre-paid credit card that stores the dosage and type of drug prescribed. […] Vince Mehdizadeh, owner of the Herbal Nutrition Centre in Los Angeles, where one of the first machines is based, said patients could get access to prescribed drugs after hours. "They'll be greeted by a security guard right there. They'll slide the card in and they'll fingerprint in to verify that it's them,'' he said. "A camera takes a picture of them, verifying that they're actually at the machine. And they get the medicine and they move on.''

AVMs are a very cool device, though I think they might end up with an interesting reputation given their market entry strategy. In any case, I would I am not sure the necessity of a full-time security guard standing next to the AVM fits terribly well with the automation concept being pitched.

Storeowner Posts Video on YouTube to Catch Thief

The owner of a computer store outside of St. John's, Canada has uploaded surveillance video to the popular online video website YouTube in an effort to catch a thief.

A screengrab from the YouTube video shows a man leaving the Computer Depot M.D. store with a computer component.

Using video surveillance content on the world’s most popular video distribution platform to catch a thief – smart.

Top 10 Asian Telecom Predictions for 2008

IDC has revealed its top 10 telecommunications predictions for the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan (APEJ) in 2008. These include greater demand for Web 2.0 and unified communications applications such as collaboration tools within the enterprise, as well as increasing awareness in IP-surveillance products.

8. IP surveillance With IP-surveillance tools currently being deployed in Beijing, China, as part of the 2008 Olympics security plan, 2008 is set to be a "big" year for the technology. "Businesses will be receptive to IP surveillance due to increased security concerns, as well as IP surveillance's cost effectiveness," IDC said.

IP surveillance technology will become popular in the
gaming, financial services, and retail industries, the study noted, citing
physical security as a primary concern for these vertical industries. I would
add banking to this list.

No Place to Hide for Camera-shy Criminals

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20080121035546155C224410

CCTV cameras, commissioned by the Tshwane Metro Council three years ago, have helped to reduce crime and traffic violations in the inner city. And now the council is hoping to get public support to extend their range into neighboring areas.

“We have 68 cameras and we are negotiating with business and CIDs (city improvement districts) to expand the coverage,” said Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson William Baloyi.

In contrast to many stories where video surveillance has not been effective, Tshwane, South Africa is having nothing but success. The township’s city council credits video cameras for capturing 640 incidents that led to 45 arrests, 129 tickets for driving offences, and the capture of 2 car thieves and three robbery suspects—all from just 68 cameras.

Australian Government Revs up LPR

CrimTrac, the Australian government's criminal information and intelligence agency, is taking the first steps toward developing a nationwide automatic number plate recognition system to capture the vehicle details of suspects and citizens alike.

"We looked at the U.K. experience as part of the study; it's probably the most advanced integration of ANPR technology anywhere in the world, and we'll draw on those experiences, but primarily it will have to suit the Australian context," said Darren Booy, ANPR Project Manager for CrimTrac.

Australia is studying its Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to determine the feasibility of implementing a national network. If approved the rollout should take one to four years. With regards to civil liberties, the study will also include a comprehensive privacy impact assessment after widespread use of the technology overseas raised the concerns of privacy
advocates.

Facebook: The New Look of Surveillance

http://www.alternet.org/story/72556/

Facebook sparked an immediate national uproar when it was launched in 2002. Today, the activism has waned, and the surveillance continues largely unabated.

People know their actions are tracked online, says a Facebook spokesperson, just
as they're tracked on streets filled with surveillance cameras, whether
privately controlled through an ATM or publicly controlled [for] legitimate
anticrime or anti-terrorism purposes. In an era of massive top-down
surveillance, posting information on a website may feel downright redundant.

Facebook's growing dominance reflects a society that is increasingly complacent with spying. And while social networking is a free and convenient service, abdicating control of personal information, photos, writing, videos, and memories seems like a high price to pay

Smokers, Cell Phone Users, Foot Drivers Beware!

Traffic cameras in the UK are now being used to fine drivers who are caught engaging in prohibited or dangerous behavior…you know things like driving with your feet.

Popular Mechanic’s Panopticon

This month’s Popular Mechanics features a video camera on its cover and asks the question as to whether our “surveillance society” has gone too far.

James Vlahos, writes:

We have arrived at a unique moment in the history of surveillance. The price of both megapixels and gigabytes has plummeted, making it possible to collect a previously unimaginable quantity and quality of data. Advances in processing power and software, meanwhile, are beginning to allow computers to surmount the greatest limitation of traditional surveillance—the ability of eyeballs to effectively observe the activity on dozens of video screens simultaneously. Computers can't do all the work by themselves, but they can expand the capabilities of humans exponentially.

I think Vlahos does a pretty interesting job exploring both the benefits and pitfalls of some of our nation’s security initiatives and new technologies…and I am not just saying that because of his mention of my company, 3VR Security.

Here is what he had to say about us though:

Used by banks, hotels and retail stores, 3VR’s “searchable surveillance” systems automatically create a template of every face that passes in front of security cameras (it caught our author here at a Chicago hotel check-in counter). The system creates a mathematical model based on the geometry of each person’s face that can be compared to a central list of known suspects for instant alerts. The technology can also automatically log events based on an automated object recognition analysis of an entire scene—for example, Frank Jones met with Doris Meeker at 12:45 pm; Meeker arrived in a blue sedan. Because all events are cataloged, several months’ worth of data can be analyzed in minutes.

One point Vlahos doesn’t make in his article, however, relates to the dual-benefit of many of these new surveillance technologies. While traditional security approaches are not particularly effective or conducive to privacy, new more effective technologies don’t necessary bring with them even greater privacy issues. For instance, the use of search engines and video analysis greatly increases the chance of catching bad guys before they strike. But, these same technologies can be used to help audit surveillance monitoring efforts and generally limit their abuse, as well.

Hollywood’s New Look

It seems that video surveillance has become so prevalent that even movie producers are depicting life from the eye of the camera. Whether this is a hit or a flop doesn't really matter--the film itself is a statement of how pervasive cameras have become.

Movie director Adam Rifkin poses in New York, Monday Oct. 29 , 2007. His new film "Look," was created entirely from the perspective of surveillance cameras. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Look!

The new trailer is out:

Cameras, Cameras Everywhere: Uganda Edition

Police in Entebbe and Kampala had to defend themselves recently against accusations that the municipal CCTV system crashed just before a visit from the Queen. Quite the scandal, the purported failure drew the attention of civic leaders and the press.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712060082.html

Journalists were also shown footage captured during the Queen's arrival in Kampala. The system has 50 surveillance cameras installed by Ssekanyolya Systems in Kampala and Entebbe. The control centre has three giant monitors, which are partitioned to show footage from the cameras. There are also 11 computer units that officials use to analyze the footage.

After proving the systems operational status during the Queens visit, police officials shared some thoughts on the future of CCTV in their country.

Flanked by acting commissioner for communications, Paul Nasimolo, Kasingye said the cameras were meant to boost the other methods of deterring crime. "We are in an era where technology can be used to investigate and deter crime. Gone are the days when you had to deploy hundreds of Police officers in an area."

Welcome the new Uganda.

Planes, Trains, and Robotic Surveillance

An Israeli company Planum Vision, has developed an unmanned "overhead train" capable of providing surveillance of large fixed perimeter installations, or even national borders:



Interesting approach...and evironmentally friendly too!

More Security in Soft Focus

Police in Ocala, Florida recently released surveillance photos of this man. He is the suspect in a recent assult and robbery at an area Kwik King.

Have you seen him?
Would you know if you had?

Not very likely.

Sex on the Beach

In addition to sand flies and the occasional tsunami, devotees of beach-front-fornication in Palm Beach have something else to worry about… talking surveillance cameras.

The Era of Searchable Surveillance

From my article in Security World Magazine:

At present, security systems are inefficient, lack integration and are not
scalable to meet the needs of large or geographically dispersed
organizations. The challenge is heightened by the rapid convergence of
physical and IT security systems. Existing reactive alarm systems and raw
video review are insufficient for overcoming the wide and diverse range of
threats facing companies and government organizations, leaving them vulnerable
to security breaches.

3VR on Fox News

Tim Ross, EVP and Co-founder of 3VR, was interviewed today on Fox News:

The Road to Southend Pier

In his new book, subtitled “One Man’s Struggle Against a Surveillance Society,” Ross Clark chronicles an attempt to walk from his East Anglia home to a Pier in Southend…all the while avoiding surveillance cameras and the other various instruments of Britian’s so-called police state. In London, sometimes called the most surveilled city in the world, it is said an average pedestrian might find him or herself photographed more than 300 times per day. Along his way, Clark thoughtfully discusses some of the inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and absurdities of his country’s security policies.

Mick Hume of the London Times makes the point that Clark’s funny and insightful critique is hardly that of an extremist, however.

His book is less a militant's pamphlet than a protest on behalf of respectable Brits about the absurdities of the surveillance society. He is appalled that while millions are herded on to a DNA register, police cannot take samples from terrorist suspects on control orders. “It is bizarre to think,” he writes, “that the Government is planning to let credit agencies advertise the contents of our bank accounts — yet will not allow police forces to name convicted criminals.” Clark is most dismissive of the bureaucratic pointlessness of the “virtual” police state, with cameras that nobody watches taking pictures that nobody can use. He observes that the “peculiar effect of surveillance, both on us and our leaders” is that “it gives the impression that everything is under control, when in fact it isn't”.

So, if not a “virtual” police state, does Clark seek a “real” one… none at all…or none-of-the-above. His views, like those of most, are decidedly more interesting and complex. And of course it's true, when it comes to our security and privacy, we can do better…and should.

Cell Phone Surveillance

Researchers in Switzerland have announced software to take your cell phone in an entirely new direction. In addition to texting, playing music, watching videos, and surfing the Web, you will now also be able to create your own ad-hoc wireless mesh intelligent video surveillance network...all with the same device you use to call your mother. Their software package is called Facet.

When a Facet-enabled phone detects an object entering or leaving its field of view it communicates the information to adjacent phones via Bluetooth. In this way, the message can be passed to the whole network. The system can collectively analyze data. Each phone determines how far it is away from its nearest neighbor, based on how long it takes a person to walk between phones.

I think I’ll wait for the iPhone edition.

San Francisco Rail Agency Doubles Down on Surveillance

My hometown is looking to make another $5.4 million investment in cameras and surveillance infrastructure at the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, better known as BART.

BART will spend $5.4 million to upgrade and expand its security camera system to help protect Bay Area transit riders from terrorist attacks and everyday crimes, officials said Monday. The regional rail agency will deploy the cameras in stations, on the trains, along tracks, in the Transbay Tube, in parking lots and at other facilities. The new system will make use of sophisticated software that allows the cameras to detect such suspicious activity as an unattended backpack on a boarding platform or trespassers in areas off limits to the public.

Previous investments in cameras and recording equipment at BART are credited with a 98% drop in graffiti, and the prosecution of a variety of criminals, among other benefits.

Cameras have also helped solve crimes on transit systems. In August, for example, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority used video footage to help find two suspects who assaulted a passenger. And earlier this month, cameras picked up people breaking into cars in BART's parking lot at the Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station. Police then apprehended the suspected culprits at the scene, Johnson said.

Despite privacy concerns, the investment will likely meet the approval of most Bay Area travelers who appreciate the benefits of genuine technology. And the new system is certainly far superior to BART’s other controversial anti-crime strategy…the slowing down transit thieves through the exclusive use of Susan B. Anthony and Sacajawea dollar coins in all transit ticketing and change machines.

Another Robbery in Soft Focus

These surveillance photos of a Wilmington robbery suspect just don’t do him justice.

Thief Targets Surveillance Company

A Charleston surveillance technology company was robbed yesterday morning despite cameras and bustling office activity.

"It's very brazen. He came in like 9:38 in the morning with people all over the place," said co-owner Grady Crunk. Crunk says the thief came in through the front door, sat on a couch, apparently plotting his next move. He then got up, went into a nearby room, grabbed a computer monitor and went outside. The burglar hid the monitor under some outside steps, then went back inside to look for more stuff to steal.

I guess not everyone is deterred by video cameras…that, of course, is why we elected to deploy armed robot sentries at 3VR.

McDonalds Using Surveillance to Control Shrinkage

If only their customers could do the same thing.