A hidden camera is a still or
video camera used to film people without their knowledge. The camera
is "hidden" because it is either not visible to the subject being
filmed, or is disguised as another object. Hidden cameras have become
popular for household
surveillance, and can be built into common household objects such as
smoke detectors,
clock radios,
motion detectors,
ball caps,
plants,
and
cellphones. Hidden cameras may also be used commercially or
industrially as
security cameras.
A hidden
camera can be
wired or
wireless. The former will be connected to a
TV,
VCR, or
DVR, whereas a wireless hidden camera can be used to transmit a
video signal to a receiver within a small radius (up to a few hundred
feet).
Some hidden camera shows have led to
lawsuits
or being denied to air by the people who were trapped in set-ups that
they found unpleasant.
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.
