Video surveillance technology: history, evolution, prospects

Nowadays, we use high-tech devices, and they seem common to us, although a few decades ago they were considered science fiction. Including video surveillance technology. And today it is already difficult to name a sphere of life where video cameras are not used. They have become silent and objective helpers in private companies, government offices, and homes of ordinary people. However, few people think about how the history of video surveillance began and what its prospects are. This is what our article is about.

First mentions of video surveillance

Not everyone knows when surveillance cameras appeared. The first mention of the process of filming, for the purpose of ensuring safety, was at the beginning of the 20th century (1913). It was long distance photographing of prisoners in the Holloway prison for juvenile delinquents and women in London.

And the next historical mention of surveillance cameras already refers to the times of the Great Patriotic War (1942). Specifically, the creation of a video monitoring system for the German company called Siemens. It was used to track missile launch faults at the range.

Germany has also become the ancestor of street video surveillance. In the second half of the 50s, a street surveillance system appeared in Hamburg.

Interestingly, the United States became the founder of video surveillance with recording, when in the period of 1970-1980 the massive implementation of analog systems with recording on videotapes began. In the 90s, technologies appeared that made it possible to record what was happening from several surveillance cameras on one medium (cassette).

But the century when video surveillance, as we know it now, appeared, is the XXI century. That was when a new stage in the formation of video technologies began. Then came IP systems, network surveillance, digital recorders and Wi-Fi, which made it possible to conduct wireless video monitoring.

Cloud video surveillance of the XXI century

In the 21st century, more and more people are choosing cloud video surveillance. Analog methods are leaving the market because they are becoming inconvenient in operation and require large financial investments for installation.

Cloud video surveillance is a real-time monitoring method in which recordings are stored on a separate server that is connected remotely. This suggests that to use digital video surveillance technology, you only need the Internet, a mobile application and the equipment itself. And the monthly fee will consist of the network payment and selected tariff.

International Faceter cloud storage service suggests using a regular phone or professional camera as a recording device, depending on the application. For example, an IP camera is suitable for business, and a smartphone for home. And your TV, PC, tablet or phone can be a monitor.

For the system to work, you need to do only 3 steps:

1. Install the Faceter mobile app on your phone. For Android – here, and for iOS – here.
2. Place the surveillance device (phone or camera) in the desired place and start the camera mode in the application.
3. Configure the video analytics system with the required parameters. Even a teenager can cope with this task.

Read more in our article: “Online video surveillance: everything you need to know.”

Video analytics as one of the trends in the IT market

Back in 2018, Mordor Intelligence, American analytical company, put forward a theory that most of the developments in the field of video surveillance will relate to video analytics. And the predictions came true. Today, the main driver of the IT market’s growth has become intelligent video analytics, which is based on neural networks and computer vision.

The Faceter system is intelligent and will notify the owner in case of violation of the rules. For example, a visit by an unauthorized person to your property according to the black list or violations of the norms of service by hired personnel. You can learn more about video analytics in this article: “Video analytics for business in 2020: opportunities and solutions.”

Prospects and constraints of the video surveillance market

According to analysts at Allied Market Research, the global video surveillance market will increase to $87-88 million by 2025. It is assumed that the annual growth will remain at 14%. The identified promising directions and constraints help this statistics.

Market prospects:

• increased need for control over high-risk areas. It is assumed that the government, financial, medical and municipal structures will increase the level of security and monitoring. As a result, video surveillance will spread to public places, transport, corporate enterprises;
• transitions to IP technologies. Gradually, IT companies conduct educational programs for the population in the field of technology. Cloud video surveillance offers significant benefits and people are beginning to recognize that video surveillance is inexpensive and easy. In this regard, the population begins to increasingly introduce monitoring technologies into their lives, influencing the growth of the market;
• new trends in the development of smart cities. There is a tendency towards urbanization in the world. Cities are starting to build entire video surveillance networks, which provide lucrative opportunities for market growth.

Constraining factors:

Analysts at Allied Market Research believe that the market is constrained only by the high costs of organizing video archive storage and lack of the required professional and practical experience in working with IP devices.

Conclusion

Video surveillance began its development a long time ago, but technology has not yet reached its peak. The best solution for video monitoring in 2020 is cloud systems.

If you need video surveillance for home or business, then we recommend taking a closer look at the Faceter application. With it, you install the system yourself and solve home and commercial tasks to increase security and control what is happening.