The surveillance industry is vast, it existed since security, supervision and monitoring activities have always been needed. The term of surveillance, derived from the French verb surveiller, connotes the observation of activities and behaviours with the intention to handle or protect from them. The management of this information, obtained previously from observation is the core purpose of this industry. The surveillance retail market has experienced a boom since the perception of security has become more fragile, thus the increasing need to overwhelm that feeling. According to an article published by The Wall Street Journal (Valentino-Devries, J., Angwin, J., & Stecklow, S., November 2011) the retail market for surveillance tools has sprung up from “nearly zero” in 2001 to about USD $5 billion a year. That implies an intense competition within the sector to develop more sophisticated technologies and its importance for these innovations to reach the market. Commercial surveillance most common activities are based on distance observation means by the use of interconnected cameras, which create a closed- circuit television system (CCTV). CCTV is considered an important tool to monitor and record closed- transmitted content peer-to-peer. This already mature technology was first introduced in Germany in the 1940’s decade. However, new features are constantly improved and fulfil its capabilities. Nowadays CCTV cameras are controlled by computers and could even have certain degree of independence when they are programmed to identify and specific task like a vehicle or a face. The Video Content Analysis (VCA) is a system used to track and recognize particular events or patterns in a visual dimension, to say anomalies in an optic r... ... middle of paper ... ...re accurate information every time, in this logic digitalization of imagery, mobilization of unmanned vehicles and the use of other technologies will upgrade the functions of these providers. Beyond relatively simple monitoring practices businesses will shift into information management services. Even though not all this technology is available for most of the businesses in this sector, it is likely to think on its gradual but rapid popularization. As the price of this equipment decreases SMEs will be able to offer new facilities to their customers. Services offered are not well known yet. Most of the countries are still in the process to regulate the commercial use of drones; especially surveillance equipment is a sensible topic on its legislation. However, the spread of UAV’s technology and its advantages over any other substitute technology is a matter of time.
When we think about the drones we always associated them with dirty works where humans don’t have to get their hands dirty . But in reality we can also use drones at many other places .For example we can use delivery drones to deliver stuff . Drones that are used for commercial purposes are called the commercial drones. Commercial drones are same as drones but they are smaller in the size. Commercial Drones are usually controlled by the user who can set the speed and height ,when drones take off. Delivery drones can handle up to -115 to 122 degree temperature and handle up to 40 mile per hour wind. Commercial drones are used for multiple purposes . One of their major purposes is to deliver the item . Amazon Ceo has currently stated that they are working on the Drone delivery system which will deliver the item within the half an hour after the pay . Commercial Drones are also used for surveillance purposes. Surveillance applications include livestock monitoring, wildfire mapping, pipeline security, home security, road patrol, and anti-piracy. They also used in commercial and motion picture film making. So basically we can use this technology to make the service faster .
What is the historic context of surveillance, whose current form is electronic? We now know that the N.S.A. has no fewer than 46 surveillance programs (three in conjunction with the UK’s GCHQ) as described by surveillance reporter Julia Angwin (2014). For example:
Surveillance plays a major role in control and in community. Therefore, how a business uses surveillance will affect its business structure. This in turn shows that pancake structured businesses and pyramid structured businesses use surveillance for different reasons.
Richards, Neil M. "The Dangers Of Surveillance." Harvard Law Review 126.7 (2013): 1934-1965. Academic Search Elite. Web. 8 Feb. 2014.
The government is always watching to ensure safety of their country, including everything and everyone in it. Camera surveillance has become an accepted and almost expected addition to modern safety and crime prevention (“Where” para 1). Many people willingly give authorization to companies like Google and Facebook to make billions selling their personal preferences, interests, and data. Canada participates with the United States and other countries in monitoring national and even global communications (“Where” para 2). Many question the usefulness of this kind of surveillance (Hier, Let, and Walby 1).However, surveillance, used non-discriminatorily, is, arguably, the key technology to preventing terrorist plots (Eijkman 1). Government surveillance is a rising global controversy; and, although minimal coverage could possibly result in safer communities, too much surveillance will result in the violation of citizen’s privacy.
Surveillance has been embedded in our society since the beginning of modern civilization; new media has just enabled society to use surveillance for a different purpose. Surveillance is not new to our society. The concept of God, a supernatural being carefully monitoring our every action, shows the incorporation of the idea of surveillance into early society. Surveillance was essential for the production and distribution of goods - to ensure that wo...
Surveillance cameras have helped hundreds of law enforcement agencies solve thousands of crimes throughout the nation. They have become so helpful that most law enforcement agencies are planning on setting them up on street corners, buildings, publication parks, and on their own officers. There are many cities across the nation that have began to use surveillance cameras. Setting up cameras is a pivotal technique to solving and preventing crimes. Although, it is often argued that having law enforcement surveillance cameras set up throughout the nations communities is an invasion of privacy, citizens should sacrifice a little bit of privacy in return for their safety and protection of civil rights against criminals and police officers.
Although they can be easily tracked, people overlook the invasion of privacy possibility because of the convenience they bring to every day life. Systems like OnStar installed in cars have made the tracking of stolen cars practically effortless. Similar tools are being used by law enforcement, Penenberg stated “cell phones have become the digital equivalent of Hansel and Gretel’s bread crumbs” (472). He then goes on to discuss how in Britain in 1996, authorities installed 300 cameras in East London. Although this didn’t affect the terrorism, it did affect the crime rate which fell 30 percent after the cameras were put into place. Penenberg closes his essay by mentioning that the surveillance is not only used to watch the citizens but also for citizens to keep an eye on the government. Through his organization, relevant information, and professional tone, Penenberg creates an effective
Moving away from Foucault and Bentham, David Lyon has made a quest for other surveillance theories. He writes, “It seems clear that some constructive contributions to surveillance theory are needed. Surveillance theory cannot ignore the panopticon but it can surely move beyond it” (12). The direction as to where to turn is still an ongoing debate. Some have not strayed far and have turned to Foucault’s governmentality, others have turned to an Orwellian model, Deleuze, Baudrillard, Zizek, Arendt and Kant to name a few. This paper will turn to Henri Lefebvre and his book Production of Space as Lefebvre has become in vogue in surveillance theory and later in this paper will be useful in discussing helicopters and how occupy Mike Davis’s idea of Los Angeles creation of a ‘defensible space’.
There are an estimated 30 million surveillance cameras in the United States, proving to be a normal feature in American lives (Vlahos). This is no surprise because in the past several years, events such as the 9/11 attack and the availability of cheaper cameras have accelerated this trend. But conflicts have come with this and have ignited, concerning the safety of the people versus the violation of privacy that surveillance has. Although camera surveillance systems are intended to provide safety to the public, the violation of privacy outweighs this, especially in a democratic country like America.
Drones are the Future One of the latest and most controversial topics that has risen over the past five to ten years is whether or not drones should be used as a means of war, surveillance, and delivery systems. Common misconceptions usually lead to people’s opposition to the use of drones which is the reason it is important for people to know the facts about how and why they are used. Wartime capabilities will provide for fewer casualties and more effective strikes. New delivery and surveillance systems in Africa, the United Air Emirates and the United States will cut costs and increase efficiency across the board. Rules and regulations on drones may be difficult to enforce, but will not be impossible to achieve.
Another name for drones are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS). These are “aircraft either controlled by ‘pilots’ from the ground or increasingly, autonomously following a pre-programmed mission” (Cole 4). Even though there are many unique types of drones, but they usually fall under two main categories: ones that are armed and equipped with missiles and bombs and others that are used for surveillance. In the past couple of years the use of drones has increased dramatically. The reason being because “unlike manned aircraft they can stay aloft for many hours and are flown remotely so there is no danger to the flight crew” (Cole 13). There are drones that can actually fly over more than fifty hours. In countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, the Predator and U.S Reaper are physically there. Cause of the power of technology th...
But it is also a fact that this century is also trying to use this UAV technology in a different perspective, away from war or destruction and is hoping to create a new series of real achievements by deploying it. Especially, it goes true for Business sector which can add quality service badge on its shoulder by using it in a way more productive, economic and fruitful for mutual benefits.
In the modern day era, we find in society a ubiquitous usage of technology that seems to be never ending and forever growing. Included with this notion, the broad subject of surveillance is of course included. Contemporary surveillance, or more specifically technological surveillance, has been described as ambiguous; meaning that it is often misunderstood or open to different interpretations. The representation of surveillance within popular culture has played an impacting role on how we as a society perceive it and this raises certain questions that may reflect back on to society. The 1998 film Enemy Of The State directed by Tony Scott, Starring Will Smith, Gene Hackman and Jon Voight is considered to be a ‘spy-thriller’ blockbuster. Its central themes explore a range of surveillance techniques and equipment and also provides some insights, no matter how realistic or unrealistic they may be, into the real life security organisation; The National Security Agency (NSA). Using this film as an example and analysing how these themes are represented will hopefully allow us to key these ideas back to modern surveillance theories and practices.
In The New York Times newspaper, the author Kareem Fahim wrote an article called “Surveillance Will Expand To Midtown, Mayor Says,” back in 2009 the mayor of New York City Michael Bloom Berg reported that Homeland Security contributed $24 million to expand surveillance camera from Lower Manhattan to Midtown Manhattan. The new advanced technology cameras have capability to detect weapons through cameras. Therefore, the securities will be able to protect significant place located on that particular area such as Grand Central Terminal, Empire State Building and the United Nations. The police department can observe the public through a huge 40 foot screen videos maps. Moreover, the passage “surveillance cameras and the Times Square bombing” by William Saletan shows that surveillance cameras can’t eliminate crimes, but It able to reduce crimes. In May 1, 2010, a Pakistani/American citizen named Faisal Shahzad who set off car bomb in Times Square.