George Orwell Was Right — Security Cameras Get an Upgrade

Jamie stopped to mention that Bloomberg is reporting on a recent addition of speakers to public security cameras in Middlesbrough, England. From the article: "`People are shocked when they hear the cameras talk, but when they see everyone else looking at them, they feel a twinge of conscience and comply,' said Mike Clark, a spokesman for Middlesbrough Council who recounted the incident. The city has placed speakers in its cameras, allowing operators to chastise miscreants who drop coffee cups, ride bicycles too fast or fight outside bars."

next up

[WindowsIsForArseWipe]

Lasers added to cameras with speakers to deal with those who don't obey

Re:next up

[ShaneThePain]

"ATTENTION CITIZEN, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WALK AWAY!"
"aw, fuck off ya pig"
*pew pew*

ARGH!!!!

too many caps too many caps too many caps

Re:I, For One

[Anonymous Coward]

Tags: telescreen

Advertising consent.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think there is a great oppertunity for advertising here.
If I can put billboard advertisments in areas where these cameras are pointed, I get a load of people constantly watching 24 hours a day.
The space will be really cheap too, as I could put the ad's in places where pedestrians would not see them, but the camera operators will.

Perhaps special placards could be attatched to the cameras, where I could affix full colour adverts for tasers, video recording systems and handcuffs.

There is always an oppertunity for someone to make money, and I am that man!!!

Nothing to see here

[edwardpickman]

"Sir please close the raincoat and move along, you're scaring the pidgeons."

Re:Moon 'em and flip 'em the bird.

[Anonymous Coward]

"Hey you! Pick up that Coke can, or you'll be in big trouble. Hey! Look at me when I'm speaking! Stop pulling your pants down. Don't bend over. Right! That's it! You've had it now, mister! You are in so much trouble. Hey come back here! I haven't finished with you yet! I said come back!"

Re:next up

[cooley]

Come on folks! That's funny, even if just for the "pew pew"....

Re:Moon 'em and flip 'em the bird.

[TapeCutter]

My bet is the guys on the monitors run an asshole of the month competition, I mean even without speakers it must already be a common occurence.

Re:V says...

[Yvanhoe]

And maybe that's why the video cameras will be going down !

Re:I, For One

[Bloke down the pub]

The problem isn't so much the use you describe, but the potential misuses of the system.

Easily solved - just have cameras watching the camera operators.

Re:And in this corner...

[Dunbal]

By the way: Go watch 1984. Not only is it a good movie

      Better yet, read the book!

Re:that's not all there is

[Hal_Porter]

I dunno though, I thought liberty would only die to the sound of thunderous applause.

Re:I, For One

[Bloke down the pub]

Do I have to do all the thinking round here? You also put cameras on the people watching the camera operators.

Re:V says...

[4D6963]

If you live in a democratic state, I'd say they are.

I smell a cliché clueless american.

Re:that's not all there is

[Surt]

(Both working and shopping in retail stores, I see plenty of people just drop items anywhere they feel like it, instead of returning it to its rightful shelf-space. This causes plenty of inventory and cleaning problems, but hey, it's not my problem, right?)

That helps create jobs. Acting in that manner is so morally right, you're pretty much required to do it if you're a decent person.