Many large companies before 911 chose not to install security cameras in many parts of their facilities. This decision was based mainly on the negative attitudes from employees and labor unions who feared the cameras would be used as an unfair way to micro manage employees. The fact of the matter is 99% of companies that install security cameras are not interested in spying on employees but rather want to protect their assets and limit any possible legal liability. This was true before and after 911. So what changed? Why are there so many video surveillance system in use now?
The use of security cameras since 911 has dramatically increased in every commercial industry. From gas stations, to county court houses, to day care centers, the installation and use of video security systems has shot up. Why? Are they better now? Are they less expensive? Are they easier to install? Is the perceived value of having a video record of an incident increasing? The answer to all these questions is..Yes. With the increase in computer processing speed the performance of video security systems has increase substantially, while at the same time the overall cost of the equipment has dropped. Before 911 most security camera systems were professionally installed. Shortly after 911 a new market emerged. The systems had become so easy and friendly to install there was a notable shift towards ¡°do it yourself¡± kits. These prepackaged video surveillance kits became a favorite choice for many companies, business owners, schools and even home owners. The kits provide the same performance as a system installed by a security dealer but at a faction of the cost.
The drop in cost, ease of installation and increase in performance is ultimately what caused the huge increase in security camera use. So what about our attitude? We don't hear much talk about Big Brother any more. No longer are we worried about someone knowing our lunch break went ten minutes to long. Perhaps now we understand there are bigger more important issues at hand and that these invasive spying systems are not what we though they were. I think of it this way, video security systems are much like auto insurance, we don't like paying for it but if something happens were sure glad we've go it.
