NCJ Number
192160
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 25 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 30-32
Date Published
October 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
From an increase in security due to site monitoring to enhanced communications between schools and police during emergencies, "streaming" video technology may offer a powerful tool for responding officers.
Abstract
True "streaming" video captures an event as if it has been filmed on a high-definition video camera. This contrasts with "frame-grabbing technology" common in bank cameras, which can miss major details of the action. The ability to transmit "streaming" video images to an officer working a beat car is close to happening. Bandwidth is the stumbling block to true "real-time" video being seen on police car MDT's and computer screens. Until bandwidth increases, the closest to real-time for responding units is the use of DSL or cable to tune into connected sites. This allows dispatchers to tune into the images of video cameras at a site through a centralized website and "hot links" to the site. Responding units can view real-time action in "streaming" video at the connected site. Such systems are described in this article for schools, as well as for officer lapel cameras during a drug raid or other types of police activities. This article concludes with a statement by a representative of a systems engineering company regarding current and future options in the provision of "streaming" video for police use.