My opinion of CCTVs in Singapore (Denzel Low [10])

The world of technology is so advanced these days, it even helps in the security of places in Singapore. One of these helpful pieces of technology is the Closed-circuit Television, or more commonly know as the CCTV. This gadget is simply a camera that can relay back to a certain screen live videos of what is going on in that current time. It is used in buildings all over the world to make sure that suspicious characters can be seen by the police. Now, even normal households are adopting the use of a CCTV to make sure that break-ins do not happen. However, the resident of that particular household may not be at home all day just to see if any suspicious activity is going on, thus, CCTVs are also capable of recording the videos that they take. Thus, the residents can later review the videos at a later time to see what has been happening. With the current economic crisis upon us and people needing money, crime rates are sure to go up and a something to monitor the household will come in handy.

However, a CCTV does come with its disadvantages. One reason is that it costs a lot just to install 1 CCTV, let alone multiple ones in a single house. The second reason is that privacy is intruded. The CCTVs installed in people's homes are usually installed outside to see the corridor outside the person's house. Neighbours might find it uncomfortable to have a camera that may be positioned in such a way that parts of their house can also be seen. Thus, it is not only a financial problem, but a social one. CCTVs do come with their pros and cons, so should people get one?

With the alarming rate of crime rates going up, I think that having at least some sort of alarm in one's house is definitely a good idea, but something sophisticated like a CCTV might not be worth spending on. With an alarm, anything that happens you will be notified immediately. However, a CCTV cannot tell you if burglary is taking place, rather you have to review the video yourself. An alarm is so much easier to set up, just press a few buttons and you are good to go. With a CCTV, not only do you have to mount it up on your wall, you still have to make sure it is recording your videos and that they are playable, which is a lot more hassle.

In conclusion, I think that CCTVs are not necessary for home use as they are expensive, hard to set up, and most important of all, invade people's privacy.