CCTV

CCTV, standing for closed circuit television, is a system comprised of a movable or static video camera connected to a television screen. The video captured from the camera can be viewed on the screen. The most common application of the CCTV is video surveillance where a particular area is being monitored with the camera usually placed in a hidden location. This system is ideal in departmental stores to prevent theft and also in public places like railway stations and airports to prevent acts of vandalism.

Some homes, too, have CCTV’s with the camera being placed outside the front door, enabling residents to view whoever is standing outside the door. The CCTV design is relatively simple, with the signals from the camera being sent to the screen which can be located just about anywhere and at any distance from the camera. Sometimes, the signal could be transmitted to more than one screen.

A video magnification system in most CCTV’s enables the camera lens to zoom in on a particular point or digitally enlarge the image on the screen. This facility has been a godsend when analysing crime scenes. The face of the perpetrator captured on film could be recognized only through magnification. The CCTV operator also has the ability to turn the camera to focus on any desired spot as well as pan across the entire viewable area.