Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)
is the use of
video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, limited set
of monitors. It differs from
broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted,
though it may employ point to point wireless links. CCTV is often used
for
surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as
banks,
casinos,
airports,
military installations and convenience stores.
The increasing use of
CCTV in public places has caused a debate over public
surveillance versus
privacy.
People can also buy consumer CCTV Systems for personal, private or
commercial use. A more advanced form of CCTV, utilizing
Digital Video Recorders (DVR), provides recording for possibly many
years, with a variety of quality and performance options and extra
features (such as motion-detection and email alerts). In industrial
plants, CCTV equipment may be used to observe parts of a process from a
central control room; when, for example, the environment is not
comfortable for humans. CCTV systems may operate continuously or only as
required to monitor a particular event.
