| Who can forget the many tragic events in our | | | | cameras. Devices such as digital video |
| history? Assassinations of presidents such as | | | | recorder (DVR) severs are priceless when it |
| John F. Kennedy, the dreadful events of Pearl | | | | comes to airport security. |
| Harbor, or the unexpected and disappointing | | | | |
| disasters of space crafts. These are all | | | | DVR servers can be programmed to several |
| events that will be etched in our memory for | | | | modes, such as air mode, ground mode, and |
| life. And let's not forget about the recently | | | | parking mode, all of which makes it more |
| occurring events of September 11. This | | | | efficient and manageable for airports to |
| terrible act was done by terrorists who flew | | | | obtain large amounts of information. On the |
| two commercial planes directly into the twin | | | | other hand, a set of specific software can be |
| towers of the World Trade Center. The chaos | | | | used along side with airport security systems |
| did not stop there! The pentagon was also | | | | to monitor activity and objects in the |
| attacked via a third hijacked plane. Lastly, | | | | terminals of the airport. The security is |
| a fourth hijacked plane went down in | | | | notified as soon as abnormal behavior is |
| Pennsylvania. This unimaginable national | | | | recognized. At last, security cameras can be |
| disaster caused the US government to | | | | transformed into infrared cameras via extreme |
| immediately ground all types of planes | | | | security cameras. This technique enables the |
| throughout the US. Although years have passed | | | | capturing of images at any time of the day, |
| since then, the security level for airports | | | | regardless of the weather. |
| and planes has reached an unprecedented | | | | |
| level. Naturally, the role of security | | | | A Popular Topic |
| devices such as cameras can not be downplayed | | | | |
| in wining our war with terror. | | | | Are airports utilizing their security |
| | | | equipment to their fullest potential? Various |
| The vanguard of Defense | | | | experts in the field of technology strongly |
| | | | belief that the terrorists who conducted 9-11 |
| Spending on airport security has been | | | | could have been caught in many airports prior |
| increased drastically over the past couple of | | | | to their implementation of the devastating |
| years since September 11. This is all aimed | | | | plot. This belief could have been a reality |
| towards maximizing the safety of the | | | | had there been more advanced security cameras |
| passengers from the moment they enter the | | | | installed. They also point out that up to 3 |
| airport until they reach their desired | | | | of the 19 alleged hijackers who were involved |
| destination. Specifically speaking, the | | | | in the World Trade Center and Pentagon were |
| airports' security camera systems have been | | | | already included in the "watch lists" of the |
| significantly transformed and updated to meet | | | | U.S. government. Biometrics, or face |
| the demands of our insecure world. Not only | | | | recognition technology, is gaining wide |
| do the security cameras monitor the interior | | | | support among many security experts. |
| of the airport, in addition to that, they | | | | |
| monitor the airport's surrounding perimeters | | | | Even though the majority of the American |
| and effectively every aircraft in the entire | | | | people support the increase in airport |
| airport. The safety of the aircraft is | | | | security for the sake of lowering incidents |
| insured through the utilization of disguised | | | | of terrorism, some are worried about this may |
| and un-disguised security cameras monitored | | | | lead to invading their privacy and limiting |
| closely by the keen eyes of the crew members. | | | | their legal rights. Their worst nightmare is |
| The utilization of security cameras varies | | | | the rebirth of the 1984 Big Brother |
| greatly from country to country. The U.S. | | | | government in which the actions and ideas of |
| capital, Washington D.C., accommodates many | | | | the citizens are being carefully monitored by |
| video monitoring devices which observe a vast | | | | the government. Many advocacy groups are |
| network, containing hundreds of governmental | | | | distressed by the thought that many |
| video cameras in addition to those located at | | | | information banks of supposed terrorists |
| the national airports, are installed in a | | | | might also contain ordinary law abiding |
| police command center. On the other hand, | | | | citizens, or any innocent individual with a |
| Singapore is taking action to place an | | | | driving certificate. |
| extensive amount of surveillance cameras all | | | | |
| over the International Airport of Changi. | | | | Nobody can undermine the necessity of |
| Monitoring suspicious parcels and actively | | | | utilizing advanced security cameras to |
| observing the passenger's actions constitutes | | | | monitor and reduce prospective attacks in a |
| the primary function of these cameras. | | | | post 9-11 world. Never the less, the |
| | | | arguments over the location and extensiveness |
| Utilities of the Profession | | | | of security cameras' usage will proceed on. |
| | | | Ultimately, issues concerned with security |
| A variety of new supplemental technologies | | | | should not be taken lightly. |
| have enhanced the job of airport security | | | | |