Video-alarms:how to intercept intrusionsHome > Video Surveillance > Video Alarms
Video-alarms are sensors connected to a control unit, which operates a signal that initiates the required action. Different types exist that perform their function in specific ways. Point detector Video-alarms interpret a local disturbance as an intrusion that warrants the alarm going off. It may be an interruption in the path of an infrared (invisible) ray between an emitter and a sensor. Or a contact being made or broken to signal the opening of a door or of a window. Or the detection of vibration or of other physical change. One popular Video-alarm used in connection with home surveillance is the Passive Infra Red (PIR) detector, designed to react to a slight temperature change (from human presence) in the controlled area. Software programs, called motion detector Video-alarms or Image Processors, monitor certain areas of an image produced by a surveillance camera and trigger an alarm upon detecting a change, interpreted as a movement, in the scene observed. In a home surveillance system any of the above or similar Video-alarm sensors can be generally programmed to start a surveillance camera or to initiate video recording, including the time of happening of the event for further investigation. It may also send Video-alarm images and messages by e-mail on the Internet if instructed to do so. It could also trigger a noise alarm (siren) or flashing lights near the place of occurrence if a benefit can be anticipated from such an action. The best and most effective action could be taken in real time if a Video-alarm could alert a task force or a guardian immediately by phone or by other means to come in and act. Otherwise a police center could be alerted, but, depending on the situation, it is doubtful if they can intervene in time.
In some cases other security sensor Video-alarms could be integrated in the same system to take care of the risks of fire, flooding, gas accumulation and additional occurrences. One of the hindrances that Video-alarms may be prone to, that has to be taken into account, is that of "false positives" or of triggering of an alarm when in fact there should be no reason to do so. An example known to all is that of the story of Peter and the wolf, where a sequence of false alarms causes the dismissal of the alarm when it finally becomes real. But in the normal home security setting, when the action is only the operation of a recorder, there should be no serious damage from false positives. More serious could be if the alarm system overlooked real and dangerous events. Therefore some sort of redundancy should be designed into the system, as is usually the case for higher end applications. As already described, home surveillance recorders of the usual types display an input terminal for Video-alarm signals. More complex installations may use more sophisticated control units capable of controlling inputs from many Video-alarm sensors and of outputting one or more of a series of actions depending upon the circumstances. The more elaborate the control unit, the more costly it risks being, especially if it has to be designed individually. It all depends on the importance and the value of the object subject to surveillance that may justify the expenses involved in implementing an integrated multi function system capable of alerting about different threats or risks. We should also add that specialized companies offer home surveillance service in exchange for a long time contract, where they absorb all the cost of Video-alarm equipment and installation, while charging only for a recurring service fee. We would like to suggest exploring the following Video-alarm sensors for your home security.
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