The following appeared in Valley Scene Magazine in Feb or March 2003:
Internet surveillance Techniques
A column from 2/14/03
When the national security alert status went from yellow (elevated) to orange (high), it got me to thinking about security. I realize that the security alert is for the military and law enforcement, but I began to wonder what private citizens could do to make our communities, our own homes a bit more secure. Was it possible that someone like myself could take matters into their own hands, to keep their families safe?
At first I thought an alarm system would be enough, but I realized that I wanted more. At least something more tangible. Surveillance seemed to be a ready answer, but dealing with stacks of video tapes and having to constantly change them and sort them and track them really left me wanting something better. So I investigated alternatives and found some cutting edge technology that really appealed to me.
One of the standout security systems that I discovered was provided by Eagle Eye USA, located in Encino. Eagle Eye provides a home surveillance system that seemed geared just for me.
Essentially it is a computer-based security system that allows you to place video cameras in your home and record what they see, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Better still, their system lets me view the video recordings from anywhere in the world, via the Internet.
I called up Eagle Eye USA and spoke to the head of the shop, whose name was Manny Sherbiny, and talked to him about my concerns. He understood my worry and explained that a lot of his customers shared similar feelings, especially after Sept. 11th. He said, ""Security has increased tremendously. There are different kinds of security, physical security, like people and businesses. Then there's data security, like computers. We've seen an increased need in both since September 11th. People have been looking for a different, more powerful security method."
He then walked me through the basic setup for home surveillance. Apparently it is not that complicated. First they come in with a computer prepped with a decent sized hard drive, maybe 200 gigabytes or so. Then they wire it up to a number of video cameras placed strategically throughout my house. Once the cameras are in place, the technician launches the server, which begins to record what the cameras see.
Once the cameras begin to record, you have the ability to login to the server (via the web) and playback the recorded files. Manny assured me that it was very easy to check on the 'Net, that it was just like browsing any other website. The client runs on Windows 95 and up, and they'll either provide a pc or configure one that you provide. According to Manny, the interface is very user friendly, and only takes a few minutes to learn.
I was curious about the number of cameras. I asked how many I should get. Manny replied, "Some houses use four cameras, some use sixteen. There are homes in Beverly Hills that use sixteen or more cameras." Wow, sixteen. I wondered aloud if it would take all day to get a system like that installed. Manny reassured me that it would only take a few hours to install the entire system, faster if the cameras are wireless.
Wireless, I liked that. It definitely increases the range of the monitored area. Maybe I could even get a few cameras positioned outside, especially in the backyard, where lurkers might lurk. Even inside the house you might have lurkers, so some of the cameras could be hidden, to keep an eye on the babysitter, for instance.
As for the web interface, it is pretty simple. All in one window I get 4 or more camera shots, along with a controller to adjust the angle of each camera. A budding Spielberg would have a field day with this setup.
I asked Manny if this surveillance approach was successful. He told me, "For most of my customers, the step of installing a video monitor is the last security step they take." I have to admit, the concept is pretty appealing. I am definitely going to consider setting it up at my house. The thought of being able to keep an eye on my kids and the front porch and the back deck all at the same time seems pretty satisfying.
Well, I don't know if this is doing a whole lot for national security, but having a surveillance system in my house definitely would ease concerns on the homefront.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment