As most Americans know, life changed after the attack of 9/11. After that horrific day, Homeland Security was developed to keep a watchful eye on the public. For the most part, every effort on all fronts has been effective in warding off another such event. Yes, there have been some smaller attacks that have left many Americans hurt or killed, but many have been averted by the alert attention of not only the officials in charge of keeping us safe but also by other citizens who understood how important it was to act and act quickly.
Homeland Security is stepping up its efforts again as they increase surveillance with newer more efficient video surveillance. Traditional security cameras have been limited in their scope, yet have been effective where they have been used. These cameras can survey a crowd as those monitoring them watch for criminal activity, and help to capture a terrorist as they mingle with a crowd.
Yes, the traditional surveillance cameras have done their job well, but they do have their limitations. For instance, when they zoom in the rest of the area is lost from sight. Today's new Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) will be changing all that in a positive way.
ISIS blends video imaging and image-stitching technology to create a whole new set of eyes for law enforcement. Once bolted to the ceiling in a specific area, or mounted to a truck on a telescoping mast, this new video surveillance watches over the premises with what some call bug-eyed accuracy. ISIS video imaging utilizes multiple video cameras that make a wide sweep of the area separately. All of these images are then knitted together for a full view of what is taking place. For the agencies that do not use ISIS, they will use sophisticated Geovision dvr cards.
This imaging technology does not sacrifice clarity as it captures video from one edge of the parameter to the other. ISIS is equipped with a resolution capability of 100 mega pixels. Talk about high definition TV. Even zooms do not lose their clarity.
The technology used to create ISIS is not as cutting edge as it may seem. In fact it has been used by photographers for years to create low-cost beautiful high resolution images. Remember the breathtaking image of the National Mall during Inauguration Day of 2009? That was done with this technology. It is just that it has been combined to make the ISIS happen.
Already a new and improved next generation of ISIS is in the works that will bring together even higher resolution, cameras with longer range, custom video boards, and sensors, extra efficiency in video formation, and a sleeker design that will be even more discreet in its chandelier like frame. Look for it to be about the size of a basket ball. Infrared cameras are also part of future plans for ISIS.
