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Closed-circuit television camera

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A modern security camera used for monitoring and safety.

A closed-circuit television camera (CCTV camera) is a special type of surveillance camera. It sends video signals to certain devices for recording, instead of showing the video on public television. This means only people who are allowed can see the video from these cameras.

Vandal dome-style camera.

The name "closed-circuit television" tells us that the video can only be watched by a small group of people or devices with permission. These cameras can use either analog or digital technology to work.

The inventor of the CCTV camera was Walter Bruch. These cameras are used in many places to help keep people safe and to record important events.

Video cameras

Video cameras come in three main types: Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ), Vandal Dome, and Bullet. These cameras can be either analogue or digital, meaning they send signals either as analogue or digital to a storage device like a video tape recorder, desktop computer, or laptop computer.

Analogue cameras record directly to a video tape recorder. These signals can also be changed into digital signals to store on a computer using a video capture card. Another option is a digital video recorder (DVR), which works like a computer but is easier to set up for many cameras.

Different types of CCTV cameras.

Digital cameras use digital signals and save directly to a computer. They can capture clear images, especially with higher resolutions like several megapixels, which helps in seeing details such as number plates.

Network cameras, also known as IP cameras, are digital cameras with an embedded video server and an IP address. They can stream video and sometimes audio. These cameras can have higher resolutions than analogue cameras, making them useful for various surveillance needs.

Gallery of security cameras in use at landmarks

Here are some pictures of security cameras at famous places around the world:

  • PTZ camera, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
  • Vandal dome style camera, MN State Capitol, St. Paul, Minnesota
  • PTZ camera, Gabut lighthouse, Charente Maritime, France
  • Bullet style camera, la Sainte Trinité, France
  • Bullet style camera, Al-Khazneh, Petra, Jordan
  • Bullet style camera, Bank of Spain, Madrid, Spain

Images

A security camera mounted on the wall of the Minnesota State Capitol building in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
A security camera installed on the Minnesota State Capitol building in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
A network video recorder connected to IP cameras, used for security monitoring.
A ventilation shaft at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
A red and white lighthouse near the Tour Saint-Nicolas in La Rochelle, France.
A view of the Pont d'Austerlitz featuring a depiction of the Holy Trinity.
A security camera overlooking the ancient Al-Khazneh building, also known as The Treasury, in the historical city of Petra.
An artistic medallion on the façade of the Bank of Spain in Madrid, showcasing detailed craftsmanship from the early 20th century.

Related articles

Surveillance
Closed-circuit television
Walter Bruch
France
Personal computer
Laptop computer

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Closed-circuit television camera, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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