Getting past big brother-transforming CCTV into MIS

摘要

The paper discusses the transforming nature of CCTV from a security device to a management information system (MIS) and the consequential perceptual change from the public and commercial investors. In particular, the paper focuses on the SensUs system which utilises standard CCTV to count people and map their position on a floor map. Thereby, the same security device is used to map population demographics and thus has applications in retail, shopping malls, emergency evacuation, building management, etc. The SensUs system converts the camera into a multi purpose tool giving it both commercial sense and focusing on the key asset of the 1990's-people. It is for this reason that the SensUs system was awarded the International Fire and Security 1994 Award and the European IT Award 1995. Moreover, it demonstrates the acceptance that CCTV and other security products are primarily IT products with a generic value to society as opposed to a niche market surveillance system. Having demonstrated that the SensUs system is only part of the continuing revolution in the security and IT industries merging together, the paper explores the threat to the security industry from IT predators who hitherto have neglected to focus on security as a prime market.