- Home security surveillance cameras let you see who is trying to get into your home from anywhere around the perimeter.

- You can set the surveillance cameras for any area of your home. So, let’s say you have a multi-level home and sleep upstairs. You easily set the camera to survey only the lower level and set off the alarm if it detects any attempted break-in.

- The security cameras can be set up in multiple locations. Do you have a detached garage, workshop, or other type of outbuilding? You can mount cameras on the outside of these buildings to monitor any activity. If there is an intruder, the system will alert you or the authorities.

- The home security cameras easily tie into your home computer system. This makes things so much more convenient for you, the homeowner. With advances in technology, there is no wiring to have to do or a big master control board, etc. Today you can have multiple cameras all tied into your computer that allow you to view everything.

- Home security surveillance camera systems are not as expensive as you might think. Yes, 5-10 years ago they were, but new technology and increase competition have dramatically lowered prices.

If you are looking for added security around your home you should take a closer look at these security cameras. It is easy to see why they have become so popular.

You may find a wired security camera useful, if there is one specific area of your property that needs constant monitoring.   Many feel uneasy about relying solely on the protection of the law what with the crime rates of the increase everyday. For sch people a home surveillance system is a perfect way to provide extra protection for their families, home or business. A home safety system typically includes fire detection, as well as protection against break-ins.

Normally burglars avoid houses equipped with a solid home surveillance system. Home surveillance systems are normally linked to a local monitoring station which can pick up the triggered sensors and the necessary contacts can be called about the potential risk to the property. In cases there is no response to the calls made to the home owners, then the monitoring station personnel alert the police. Sometimes, Home surveillance systems have a combination or password and in case a wrong combination is given the sensor will get triggered.

So we can in a way rely on technology in the form of home surveillance systems to provide us a modern and more reliable way of protecting our homes. Surveillance systems are devices which can detect the presence of burglars in properties, monitor changes in the indoor or outdoor environment. With home surveillance systems, we get a feel of protection as if a a guard is looking over our houses and families 24/7 for 365 days a year. We feel protected during the daytime, while we sleep at night and when we have gone for a vacation. The home surveillance system is very modern and inexpensive piece of technology which help to protect our family as well as our property.

Fast food restaurants provide good food for a good price in a short amount of time, the perfect meal for the busy people of today to get something to eat on the go. Unfortunately, they are also highly susceptible to crimes such as theft and vandalism. Long hours with high numbers of customers moving in and out in a short period of time and high employee turnover can all lead to a potentially inviting environment for criminals. A network camera video surveillance system can greatly improve security for a fast food restaurant.

The Benefits of a Video Surveillance System

Many fast food restaurants these days employ video surveillance systems and with good reason. Keeping track of both customers and employees gives the restaurant an excellent overview of everything happening in the restaurant at any given time. The knowledge that customers are surveyed will also give criminals food for thought when considering committing a crime. In instances where a criminal act does take place video surveillance footage can be used by investigators in tracking down and catching the perpetrators.

Video surveillance has other benefits as well. It can be used to monitor employees to ensure they are maintaining proper business practices. It can also reduce on the job theft, which unfortunately is often prevalent in the fast food industry.

Network Camera Video Surveillance

The use of network cameras in developing a video surveillance system can be very beneficial. They are small and unobtrusive, so as not to ruin the patrons’ experience while dining in. Such a video surveillance system is also easy to install, reducing the initial labor involved in implementation.

Thanks to network cameras’ built-in web server, video footage can be simply and immediately transferred over a network: either local or the Internet. This ability greatly enhances remote monitoring capabilities with little effort on your part. Any computer with network access can view the images, meaning you can be checking up on your surveillance system whether you are at the restaurant, at home or even on the road.

Use of enhanced event management software can also be a boon. A network camera video surveillance system can be designed to turn on or off based on video motion detection. It can be programmed to turn lights, appliances, etc. on or off based on the occurrence of specific events. Advanced video analytic software such as object recognition can make surveillance software aware of even minor changes in the environment which might otherwise go unnoticed, and alert you or the proper authorities.

Installing a Network Camera Video Surveillance System

The first part in installing a video surveillance system is the choosing of cameras. Even within the world of network cameras there are many options to consider, based upon your restaurants specific needs. Fast food restaurants are generally fairly small, so normally you will not need too much flexibility in your camera, single static images will generally suffice.

Placement of cameras is incredibly important for any video surveillance system. The most important place for a fast food restaurant to have a video camera setup would be at the register. This is where all the transactions take place, thus the most likely spot for any potential criminal activity to occur. A video camera placed at the entrance will also allow you to view everyone who enters and leaves the restaurant.

Two other places to put cameras are in the dining area and the kitchen area. A camera in the dining area allows you to monitor activity there, just in case something untoward should occur. A kitchen camera keeps staff under surveillance while on the job, to ensure that they are acting properly and in accord with your requirements.

Helps deter employee theft and shoplifting theft, Helps monitor & document performance in manufacturing or other facilities resulting in potential reduction in maintenance cost and/or employee productivity improvement, May help reduce insurance cost and fraudulent liability claims, and Can continuously document events so your entire business has greater protection.

Reasons for Large LCD Monitor Adoption: Within these surveillance systems packages, large LCDs monitors (>42”) are becoming the industry norm. The reasons being:

Size: Large screens allow for continuous and simultaneous monitoring of multiple camera video feeds on one screen with clarity. Smaller screens require that the images from the video feeds to rotate creating holes in the monitoring data. 24×7 Operations: Professional LCD monitors are meant for 24×7 “round the clock” operations with long life. CRT televisions or Plasma television each have their issues with round the clock operations such as static or flicker for CRT televisions. Also, the life of a CRT or Plasma TV is much shorter when operated in 24×7 operation mode as compared to an LCD monitor. CRT and Plasma televisions are built to be on for a few hours per day. Picture Quality: Most large LCDs are high definition. High definition LCDs provide better picture resolution, better contrast ratio, high brightness, high colour reproduction and fast response time resulting in better picture clarity which is especially helpful when the camera is being zoomed in or multiple images are viewed simultaneously. High Definition LCD TV allows you to view minute details like number plates of a speeding car, face of a person etc. Further, the non glare feature of LCDs allows for easy viewing in ambient light or where there is background light being reflected on the screen. It is harder to reduce glare in CRT or plasma televisions. Most new LCDs have 176° viewing angle, making it easy for viewing. Check the viewing specifications to make sure meets your quality requirements. Robustness: LCDs generate less heat than a CRT or Plasma television. The fan-less design for most large LCD monitors results in a closed box display with less noise. The fan-less design and the closed box display also results in less dust entering the system and provides for a more robust architecture. Space: LCD monitors are flat panel displays requiring less space than normal CRT TVs. They can be wall mounted. The LCD monitor can be encapsulated in a fire retardant frame to protect the display Better Video and Data Merger: Increasingly programs are being utilized to identify theft or issues in real time and data is being merged onto the video stream in real time. LCDs provide for better merging and viewing of data with video. Remote Monitoring and Operation of Large LCD Screens: Alarms can be set if an LCD screen is switched off. Power and other controls can be monitored remotely. For example, an energy saving feature can be activated so that when there is no signal, a power save mode is activated to reduce the brightness of the LCD backlight. Value-add Features: Value-add features such as touch screen zoom-in /zoom-out and image swap or other functions such as internet access can be easily found or added onto LCD monitors.

Purchase Consideration When Buying a Large LCD Monitor: Besides price there are a few items to consider when purchasing an LCD monitor.

Match LCD Monitor to Camera Capabilities: If you buy a monitor with lower resolution than the cameras installed then the camera capabilities will not come through. Ideally the monitor should be equal or better resolution than the camera. Also, if the cameras are black and white, then a black and white monitor can be used. Input /Output Connectors on the Monitor: With the increasing use of PC and digital video devices, it is important to have both analog VGA and digital DVI input terminals to the monitor. Also, be sure that the monitor has BNC connectors for direct connection from a video feed to the display. BNC connectors support video looping, which provides output (loops back) to a centralized recording facility (DVR) or to other displays in a daisy-chain pattern. When scrolling through different images, this allows for seamless integration between pictures . Picture Quality Features: Consider the resolution, contrast ratio, brightness, colour reproduction and response time to meet your surveillance need. Value-add Features: Consider the value-adds that address your need. Such as, do you need remote monitoring, touch screen capability, or internet access?

Make the knowledgeable decision and your surveillance system can address your needs for many years.

For more information on LCD monitors, check out Sharp’s official LCD monitor site! http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com/

You can avail of Digital Video Recording systems which offers great features like remote monitoring – which allows you to see what’s happening around the business without even leaving your office desk. But, don’t expect all of your employees to approve this step. Instead, expect that this may raise some eyebrows. Some of your employees may just get offended by the idea that you’ll be watching them and what they’re doing. This could be true especially to those employees who’d been in your payroll for years and are not used to the idea of being watched. You know, they’ve been working for you for a long time and they are thinking that you trust them now.

The issue is that most people know about their rights for privacy. And they may just question the motive behind the action – you installing surveillance systems. They will think that you are plainly spying on them.

So how will you resolve this? Meet with all of your employees before proceeding with the installation. Talk to them and tell them that you need protection for your business. This is also a way to really establish their credibility in the company. Talking and explaining to them nicely will make things easier.

Today most DVR Capture Cards and IP Software offer some type of remote monitoring software.  Many of these Surveillance Systems offer mobile monitoring from a mobile/cell phone.  They come with motion detection, allow you to mask off areas, send email notifications, and have alarm input/output functions.  Surveillance Systems today and in the future will have increased analytics allowing us to monitor objects, count people, look for license plate numbers, and human faces.  

Surveillance systems are also changing themselves, they are no longer just used for surveillance.  Many owners of these systems use them as a communication device, to visually communicate with someone around the world.  They use them to study habits and trends so companies can take advantage of improving their product.  I recently heard an interview on National Public Radio that described how a specialized doctor was using a surveillance system to monitor patients with special needs, so when something was happening he could dial in and consult, wherever he might be.

Video Surveillance will always be about protecting against and prosecuting criminals, but I think people have seen all of the additional benefits that it offers and others that yet have not been discovered.