Cell phone camera as crime deterent

LOL. Sorry, but in my head I have an image of me, walking along the bordwalk at 2 am alone. Here comes these two big, mean looking guys. At what point do I decide that they are up to no good? Or do I wait until after they pull a gun? "excuse me, can you stop for a moment while I get out my cell phone and take you picture?"

Sounds like even if the technology is possible, the logistics would be a problem.

In addition to dashboard cameras some police stations are now using "button" cams on police officer uniforms. I'd love to get a button cam to wear with live streaming video. If this technology gets affordable I'd do it!

You may have to re-read George Orwells novel "1984" - this 60 year old book blueprints your idea.

I'm more curious why you are not allowed to have a camera on your cell phone.

Me too.

If he's like me, he has enough trouble using the phone to actually call people!! lol.

If you work around classified information or intellectual property there are often restrictions on cameras in cell phones and laptops.

It`s NOT a bad idea, just needs to be tweaked.
Why not have a bluetooth (or similar) device that can activate the record function if the phone was say worn in a holster/holder that at all times allows the lens a field of view ahead of you?
If a omnidirectional mike were to be activated at the same time, that could be useful as well.

I`m sure others can come up with a better idea, point is, IMO ENGRMP`s suggestion has merit.

Won't be long till they put one in our foreheads along with the sign of the beast; barcode... Not to mention a built-in gps...

Novanut, there is a town in Northern Virginia where everyone has a chip in them that they scan when they buy gas, groceries, ect. All the shops and places of business are set up to scan the chips. Like a barcode. No one uses credit cards, checks or cash. Your account is deducted for the amount of your purchase. Scary huh.

Yup DUN,

I think the key new feature that enables this is the ability to stream live video to some external storage site. I might be wrong, but I don't think cell phones have had this feature. So, from a crime prevention aspect, it provides the strong possibility of capturing evidence, and safely protecting that evidence. That's what provides the deterrence. Seems like there could be many options for the actual implementation... based on the particular circumstances. But, to me, the deterrence would come from the common knowledge that cell phone cameras can easily capture and protect evidence. It's not perfect, but personally, I'd prefer this approach over carrying a gun for protection.

I don't use Twitter (at all), but as I imagine Twitter, this could also play a role. Twitter provides instant communications (to cell phones?) to many people at once. So, imagine two masked guys have just committed a crime and taken off. Someone got the video, but of course you can't identify the guys. So, you Twitter the video to a "crime watch" group, and now everyone is on the look out and grabbing video (and sharing) as they see anything.

I think a gun disguised to look like a cell phone would be a better deal. That way when you shoot, you can see the results right away.:D

There are privacy laws in place that say individuals can't videotape anyone without consent. What if you were videotaping someone, sending the video directly to the web, and realized that person wasn't doing what you thought? That person would then have the right to sue you for invading privacy.

thanks stephyjh,

I'm not a lawyer, but I did a quick search and found:

"As a general principal you can be filmed without your consent anywhere that you have no "reasonable expectation of privacy". So if you're walking in the street, you can legally be filmed. If you're sitting in your living room with the curtains open and you can be seen from the street, you can legally be filmed. If you're sitting in your bedroom with the curtains open but can only be seen from your own backyard, you can't."

I'm no lawyer either, but I think there is an exception for any commercial use. That's why we see so many blurred faces on the reality shows. I think it applies to published material, but not news photos.

Probably like most laws it would take a herd of lawyers to give a definitive answer.

You are being Video taped, at Air Ports, Casinos, Department Stores, Fast Food Stores, Office Buildings, Parking Lots, Public streets, pubic buildings, anywhere that is open to the public. Unless it is going to be used in a commercial enterprise to make money and even that would be a challenge to enforce.

OK, Sprint has already thought of the crime deterrent feature of a cell phone!!! Ummmm.... they've thought about it a little differently than I have, but interesting.... see what you think.

http://vodpod.com/watch/1399396-sprint-mobile-crime-prevention-phone

"San Jose police will soon be armed with HD video cameras on the job.

Officers will wear the cameras as part of their uniforms, making the San Jose Police Department the first in the nation to equip officers with cameras that can track both audio and video.

The TASER AXON camera will fit over an officer's ear and is about the size of a Bluetooth device. It will record incidents from an officer's point of view..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33552465

Sprint can't even keep their customers phone numbers from being stolen. If you have Sprint, keep a watch on your account and bill. Thieves are cloning cell phones and racking up thousands of dollars on customers bills. Apparently, it is a big problem in the Caribbean.

It happened to me a couple of weeks ago. How they do it, I have no idea.

"San Jose police will soon be armed with HD video cameras on the job.

Officers will wear the cameras as part of their uniforms, making the San Jose Police Department the first in the nation to equip officers with cameras that can track both audio and video.

The TASER AXON camera will fit over an officer's ear and is about the size of a Bluetooth device. It will record incidents from an officer's point of view..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33552465

Kinda sounds like what I had in mind...maybe i should get into inventing!

Someone beat you to it. 🙂 I've also seen cameras that look like shirt buttons.

I just know that in NC a few years ago, there was a huge controversy over whether or not the stoplight cameras were legal. Can't remember how it was resolved, but I would think that would have some of the same implications.

I just realized that a commercial on TV for a lost dog shows the concept of a social network (like Twitter) kicking in to view the crime (missing dog photo in the commercial) and help solve the crime (return the dog in the commercial). Have you seen the commercial:
- little black girl loses dog
- girl posts picture of dog on telephone pole
- tech savvy guy sees picture, scans it (or cell phone photo of ad?) and posts it online (Twitter, etc)
- many folks see online notice of missing dog
- other girls playing with new dog they found... see add for missing dog... realize they have the dog
- girl gets dog back

So, I'm guessing (hoping) that Crime Watch groups are using something like Twitter and video cell phones. And I could imagine Crime Watch groups growing to not only include the neighborhood homes, but also people that are out and about.

I think the key to this piece of the puzzle is: how willing are people to being connected this closely? It seems that the younger generation is already there... they seem to want to know when their friends sneeze. It's the Borg.