A camera that talks, watches and scolds too
"Stop. This is a restricted area. It is illegal to dump trash or spray graffiti here. We have just taken your photograph. We will use this photograph to prosecute you. Leave the area now." This is not some policeman speaking, it is a camera that speaks and scolds as well besides keeping a watch on you.
California-based Q-Star Technology has developed surveillance cameras which will keep an eye on the miscreants will also be giving a pep talk to them. There are about 150 cities that use these cameras to control graffiti, loitering and illegal dumping, which are mostly installed in residential areas and city parks.
Baltimore's Board of Estimates has approved five talking cameras - armed with motion detectors, a bright flash and a recorded warning, as part of an effort to curb quality-of-life crimes, especially illegal dumping.
The idea here is to surprise the litter bugs with a booming voice. The camera will also click a photograph of the miscreant and save it to a storage card, which police can use to identify a suspect.
These specially designed cameras cost around $5,000.
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