The Impact of 9/11 on Video Surveillance
The tragic events of September 11th 2001 changed the world in many ways. Not least, spreading fear and concern about personal safety. 9/11 brought a genuine worry that security could be compromised anywhere and nowhere seemed safe.
Walking with loved ones to the departure gate at airports became unthinkable. Corporate and government buildings became more closed off. More gates, more fences, more barriers – all in the attempt to regain the feeling of freedom.
Panic is a great motivator. The average citizen felt the climate of fear spread and the wake of the attacks saw millions investing in security systems. This post will look at security pre-9/11 and how that fateful event changed video surveillance across the world.
Video security before 9/11
Up until that day in 2001, security cameras had been more commonplace for businesses – protecting ATMs, convenience stores and corporate assets. The average person didn’t feel that they were the target market for security cameras. Money was better spent elsewhere and not on a product that was deemed a luxury.
At the time of the September 11th attacks, the world was right in the thick of the DVR era. Digital Video Recorders (DVR) emerged as a new video security innovation in the late 1990s. Allowing you to record footage from CCTV cameras and watch back when needed, they became very popular with small businesses and huge organisations alike. The proof was available if a crime was recorded and footage was needed as evidence.
The impact of the attacks on video surveillance
After that terrible day in September 2001, public safety was a constant fear. Video surveillance camera sales boomed across the US and beyond. Watching how easy it was for terrorists to destroy American infrastructure, home and business owners were on the alert. Determined to protect their families and properties, everyone rushed to install advanced security measures.
Two decades later and the US has roughly 70 million security cameras. Depending on your outlook, this could be positive….
- Increased security throughout the country
- Improved awareness of emerging technology
- More business for video surveillance sellers
Or negative…
- Bought due to a rash decision made out of fear
- Technology not mature enough for purpose
- Money wasted as inadequate systems were bought
- Concerns raised about the amount of government surveillance
Advancing technology
Video surveillance has improved massively since 2001 with DVRs becoming outdated and IP (internet protocol) taking over. The main difference here is that IP cameras are connected to the internet, allowing remote monitoring. However, this also enables cloud access, eliminating the need for a physical DVR box to store footage.
Needless to say, picture quality has also been transformed over the past two decades. Ultra-high resolution, long range lenses and low-light capabilities now come as standard. But because of the boom in the early noughties, many people still have outdated DVR systems that aren’t suited to their needs.
State-of-the-art video surveillance equipment with Selectron
The need for tighter security and improved surveillance was brought into dramatic focus in 2001. But it’s now been over 20 years since the events, and many homes are still yet to update their surveillance system.
Sound familiar? Selectron can help. We supply and install the latest CCTV cameras for homes throughout Bermuda – with something for every budget. To find out more, call us today on +1 441 236 4181 or email at info@selectron.bm.
Selectron Ltd
At Selectron our solutions help you meet the increased challenges of today’s security and surveillance, enabling you to improve safety by reducing and preventing security breaches and accidents. Find out more about us >>
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