Big Brother Is Watching And Speaking To You Condescendingly

from the eyes-and-mouth dept

The security camera has become a ubiquitous symbol of modern society. And along with the cameras becoming more common, more is being done to add to their functionality. Jay Walker proposed the idea of having people monitor security cameras in sensitive locations as a way of preventing terrorism. If the volunteer saw anything suspicious, like a person lurking where they shouldn't be, they could click a button indicating as such. Of course, the ambitious plan never really took off. Now a town in England is trialing a new system whereby operators monitoring security cameras can yell at any miscreants and scofflaws they might see. So if a person, say, drops some litter, the operator can shout at them to pick it up and put it in the trash. Will it work? Cynically, some might say that since British police officers don't care much weaponry, shouting at criminals is about as effective as anything else. Now, if they could just combine this idea with computers that use algorithms to detect suspicious behavior, they could get rid of the human operators and have insults hurled automatically.
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  • identicon
    James, 18 Sep 2006 @ 1:32pm

    Oh dear...

    ... this is troubling, why not just take it to the next logical step and point out people for poor personal behaviors or fashion.

    Hey YOU!!! FATTY!! Smacking gum on your cellphone, in the plaid, circus tent... go home and exercise before you make the rest of suffer in your prescence.

    Ugh... this whole camera bs is rediculous. In sensitive areas i am a bit more lenient, but we have cameras to monitor almost everything including whether you ran a redlight... how f'n quaint. I applauded the guy who took an axe to one last week... good for him (too bad he wasn't smart enough to make sure he wasn't photographed doing it though).

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Sep 2006 @ 1:33pm

    "you... in the red shirt... this is god speaking... lift up your skirt... ...just a little?"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MissingFrame, 18 Sep 2006 @ 1:46pm

    Flying Cameras!

    Eventually it will be easier for everyone just to have their own personal monitoring camera uplinked to satellite!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Ed 209, 18 Sep 2006 @ 2:12pm

    You have 15 seconds to comply

    'nuff said.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Chris, 18 Sep 2006 @ 2:36pm

    What next

    Hey you... Yeah, you. Put you hands on your head and spin around 5 times. Great, now pull out your wallet and stuff a $20 in the slot bellow the camera. Perfect, now go around screaming "I'm an idiot".....heheh, sucker

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jimmyc, 18 Sep 2006 @ 3:08pm

    Could be funny, but still

    "here comes the chopper to chop off your head".

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Podiss, 18 Sep 2006 @ 3:48pm

    Another Brick in the Wall

    "You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Emanuel Goldstein, 18 Sep 2006 @ 4:05pm

    Orwell?

    Is it just me, or are the-powers-that-be using Orwell's "1984" as a blueprint?

    I'm not sure if I'm more concerned with the obvious or the complete lack of creativity in the implementation of a real Oceania.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Cameras for now..., 18 Sep 2006 @ 4:27pm

    Don't say shit.

    Everybody does what they wish whether you have cameras or not. Most are afraid to suffer any consequences from their actions and so seeing a device recording them usually is effective at preventing mischief. But than there are the die hard criminals who could care less if they go back to prison (because that is where there homo sex partners are). If people were not up to no good all the time, no body would have to watch you just in case your deranged enough to fuck up. If cameras have you scared (which makes me suspect that you want to have a free for all in life, orgy of your head), wait until the new line robot warriors are tested on the battlefield against Radical Islamists. Terrorists won't be facing humans but rather Terminators. After testing, the robots will become RoboCops that prowl our streets. With the power to defend itself (as a normal police officer does), you may be killed by machine for looking like someone else or appearing shady.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      crazy and delusional, 18 Sep 2006 @ 4:53pm

      Re: Don't say shit.

      What about the homo robot prison guards? I think you forgot about them...

      Idiot.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Sanguinarius, 18 Sep 2006 @ 7:33pm

      Re: Don't say shit.

      Ooooooo, looks like somebody has some serious personal "issues"! Go get your bolts tightened, Franky boy. Not everybody is going to be up to something. And those of use who aren't still want our privacy and the presumption of our innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.

      I hate Big Brother. Now, where'd that darned speck of whitish dust go...?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    What Next?, 18 Sep 2006 @ 4:47pm

    Orwell Comparison

    Thank you for mentioning the striking similarity. Someone actually proposed (I never heard if they did it or not) putting cameras on the interstate that not only monitor traffic conditions but issue speeding tickets to unsuspecting motorists just trying to get to work on time. (How Rude!)

    Any way I do definitely see it coming. I just can't wait till our next president instates a few ministries to "consolidate" all of the "disjointed" branches, committees etc. for greater "efficiency". It will also be interesting to see if it works with so many out here already wise to what's going on. Educate the world.

    OBTW... "Eventually it will be easier for everyone just to have their own personal monitoring camera uplinked to satellite!" GPS to satellite.. They can already see you wherever you take your cellphone, car, pda, etc. They just find your signal then get a dedicated military satellite, then get you to go outside, then get the satellite over the top of your head, then they beam down a holographic message telling you to pick up that trash you just dropped. (See that was easy. No more litter.)
    ;}

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    crazy and delusional, 18 Sep 2006 @ 5:31pm

    Re: I dodn't forget...

    The homo prison guards are to busy turning you on.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Sep 2006 @ 6:32pm

    phew

    my goodness what is that smeeeellllll....o its all the rotten braincells on this site.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Sep 2006 @ 6:43pm

    the thought police are everywhere

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Sep 2006 @ 7:58pm

    Re: Re: Don't say shit.

    you shouldn't do cocaine. cocaine is bad. don't kill the call-girls. call-girls are good. o.O

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Sep 2006 @ 8:08pm

    So how long before some one suggests that we have cameras installed in every private home, "For your protection." Soon after I'm sure we will relish waking to the dulcet tones of the Oceania MiniLuv Athletic Director as she encourages our morning calisthenics by barking "Smith, #0927643, Winston! You must try harder! Don't forget our boys on the Malabar Front."

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Sep 2006 @ 10:19pm

    Cameras in Homes

    It's bene sujested by some police guy in Texas I think.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mark, 19 Sep 2006 @ 2:36am

    Hey! What the heck is that smell! I coulda been at a barbecue!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Vampiro. Moon Glorious., 19 Sep 2006 @ 8:34am

    http://www.sanguinarius.org/

    What is a "sanguinarius"? Off subject, totally, but curious to know since I ain't heard of it before. On subject, a camera with a speaker and microphone is not enough. They need to build a mechanical arm that can reach out and bitch slap offenders. Or, if in New York, push the person in front of the subway train for a quick trial and execution! For the one Anonymous Coward that says cocaine is bad and call girls are good, I believe both serve there purposes well. One (Cocaine) makes you feel good but makes you look like shit. The other (Whore) looks like shit but makes you feel good! A win-win situation if you ask me.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Vampiro. Moon Glorious., 19 Sep 2006 @ 8:40am

    Two hideous looking coke heads walk into a motel. One hour later, the police are dragging them out in handcuffs...

    (There are secret survellience cameras in motel/hotel rooms because the owner has the legal right to do so- no law says he cannot)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    lil'bit, 22 Sep 2006 @ 11:37am

    Thank the NRA

    Let's remember to thank the National Rifle Association for their hard work at keeping guns legal, so we can protect ourselves from the government that people like the NRA helped elect.

    Can't you just imagine rumsfeld and cheney et al, sitting around discussing secret wiretapping and warrantless searches, when one of them pipes up with a comment like "too bad we opposed gun registration; sure would like to know who has what guns now! All in the name of fighting terrorism of course"

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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