What Is a DVR Surveillance System?

A digital video recorder, or DVR, is a machine that records motion picture programming. It can be stored to a hard disc. While most people are familiar with DVR use in recording television programs, they may not realize that a DVR surveillance system can be used to record security footage.

Several different sized DVR surveillance system devices are available. Small sizes can be used for homes and small businesses, while commercial and industrial sizes are available for larger properties. Portable and desktop digital video recorders make this type of security accessible for people who wish to monitor their place of work or home business information while traveling.

DVR surveillance systems are comprised of several components. In addition to the DVR recorder many people have in their homes, a DVR surveillance system will usually be connected via a PC, which in turn is routed to one or more cameras. Some users of this technology may opt to purchase a single DVR card for a PC, while others could use a stand-alone system set up on their property. Usually no assembly is required; DVR systems are ready to be used upon purchase and operate via an electrical plug.


DVR surveillance systems can be useful for a variety of purposes. They may be used to record surveillance footage in restaurants, stores, offices, and warehouses. Businesses can use DVR security systems to monitor their properties and ensure their safety and security. Police departments, private detectives, and other similar operations sometimes use this type of security as well.

These systems also make it available for business owners to monitor their companies remotely, never having to actually be in the office. Some managers or owners may choose to use a DVR surveillance system to monitor their employees while they are at work. The devices are usually able to be checked from anywhere worldwide via computer access. Supervisors wishing for discreet monitoring can purchase hidden DVR surveillance systems, such as wireless book cameras, which appear to be everyday objects.

When this type of technology is used in a DVR surveillance system, it is able to be easily extracted from the device for playback. The software in the system does this by saving files to the hard disk drive. DVR surveillance systems provide clearer digital imaging than typical magnetic videotape. Companies who use these security systems often cite a clearer picture as one reason why they choose to do so, which can aide in identifying intruders.

Many digital surveillance systems have the ability to record large amounts of information. Some can record up to three months of footage or longer. Instead of sifting through multiple stored videotapes for footage, business owners or investigators may retrieve data in a DVR surveillance system instantly. For this reason, it can also help save space in an office.

What Is a DVR Spy Camera?

A DVR spy camera is a small, usually easily concealed, video camera that has an internal memory for storage of video, often called a digital video recorder (DVR). While other cameras often have to connect to an external source to save recorded video or images, the DVR built into the camera allows it to save recorded images on itself. These cameras can then be connected to a computer or similar device, often through a universal serial bus (USB) connector or cable connector, to access the images on the camera. A DVR spy camera can be used for a number of reasons and can be found in many different forms.

What typically sets a DVR spy camera apart from other cameras, even other spy cameras, is the DVR built into the camera. This allows this type of camera to record video, or pictures, onto itself without having to save or transmit data to an external device. Many spy cameras or surveillance cameras will be connected to an external receiver or recorder for storage of images captured by the camera. By using a DVR spy camera, however, the entire process is simplified and someone does not need to worry about other devices for recording.


Playback is not typically possible on a DVR spy camera, however, as such devices are usually made quite small and do not have displays or playback capabilities. These devices can instead connect to a computer or similar device through a USB connector or a cable, allowing saved images to be uploaded to the computer for viewing. The images or videos captured by such cameras can be stored in different sizes and file types and then saved onto the computer. While this means that someone using a DVR spy camera often cannot view what is being recorded until after it is recorded, this allows such cameras to be much smaller than many other cameras.

The smaller size of a DVR spy camera is advantageous for several reasons. While it allows these cameras to be more easily concealed, often making them difficult to detect in a cluttered room or in the hand of a person, it also means such cameras can be part of other devices. A DVR spy camera can potentially be built into any sort of object, from garments of clothing, jewelry, and eyeglasses, to pens, key chains, and alarm clocks. Use of this type of spy camera can be potentially illegal, however, and someone using such a camera should be careful not to violate someone else’s privacy.

How Do I Choose the Best Security Camera Software?

Protecting your home or business with a surveillance system is a good idea. However, choosing the right security camera software can be somewhat confusing. Ideally, software should contain all the components necessary to capture both images and voice. In addition, security camera software should be easy to operate.

Software that does not contain audio captioning will not be able to pick up any voices. While this feature may not be important to you, an intruder's voice is often the one thing that assists legal authorities with an investigation. Remote access is another feature that you may want to consider. If you leave town for any length of time, a remote access option will allow you to view your home or business via Internet.

Some security camera software comes with an alert option. If an intruder enters your property, authorities will be alerted immediately. This feature will not only prevent theft, it will also keep your family safe if an intruder breaks into your home. If your home or business is large, then you may also want to think about a multiple camera option. When security camera software can control multiple cameras at one time, every angle of your property is covered.


Another interesting security camera software feature is stealth mode. Stealth mode will make it impossible for anyone, other than yourself, to view your camera software. When software is running in stealth mode, your main computer does not show any image or information. The only way to access this information is to enter a series of unique keystrokes.

Before you begin to shop for any security camera software, take a look around your home or business. Think about the options that you would like to have, and try to think of those features that you really don't need. Security camera software can be extremely expensive if you opt for all the latest features. However, this type of software can also be cost-effective if you only need basic surveillance. Those people who have larger properties may want to think about specialized software, while people who have smaller properties may not need highly technical software.

Lastly, never purchase any kind of surveillance software from a non-reputable company. Find out how long a company has been in business, what kind of clientele a company deals with, and whether or not a company will provide you with a free estimate. Since you are protecting your private property, you don't want to make the mistake of doing business with a company that has a poor reputation.

What Is a Portable Document Camera?

A portable document camera is a transportable presentation tool that allows the user to project real-time images onto a screen, interactive whiteboard, other large-scale display device. These cameras make it possible for many people to simultaneously view an image or object in detail, and are thus useful to teachers as well as those making presentations to large audiences. Compared to standard document cameras, a portable document camera is generally compact in size and can therefore be set up in small spaces and easily stored. Many models have special features, such as image capture capability, microscope connectivity, and lighting adaptation, which make them more functional than older forms of presentation technology.

In most cases, a portable document camera has three main components: a downward-pointing webcam, a movable neck on which the camera is mounted, and a base to which the neck is anchored. Usually, the device’s output port is built into its base. Some portable document camera models can be connected to a computer via USB cable. These models are often powered through this connection, eliminating the need for a separate power cable. Models without computer connectivity generally require their own power source, which is fed to the camera through a port in its base.


To use a portable document camera, the presenter simply places it on a flat surface such as a table or desktop, connects it to his desired display device, and powers up both components. He can then place an item on the work surface in range of the camera’s lens, and a live image of the item will be projected onto the display screen. The items he can display may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. A literature teacher might use the camera to make a page of lecture notes easily readable, for instance, or a biology instructor may use it to display a large-scale image of a flower. The device’s movable neck allows the user to manipulate the camera position to show three-dimensional objects from multiple angles.

One of the primary benefits of the portable document camera as compared to standard document cameras is its compactness. This allows the user to carry the camera easily and to set it up even in locations with minimal workspace. Many models can even be folded up, providing for easy storage between uses.

Frequently, portable document cameras have special features that make them more effective presentation tools than older devices such as overhead presenters. Some models have an internal image capture feature that allows the user to photograph an image and then return to it later in the presentation. Others allow for microscope connectivity, a valuable feature for science instructors and presenters who wish to share a microscopic image with multiple people at once. Finally, some models have a built-in lighting adaptation device, allowing for a clear, sharp image even when venue lighting is poor.

What Is DVR Surveillance?

Digital video recorder (DVR) surveillance is the use of cameras, often hidden or concealed, that use DVR technology to record video for playback or immediate viewing. As technological innovations have made improvements in the security and surveillance industry, DVR surveillance has become more prominent and allows for easier and more versatile security systems in homes and businesses. A DVR surveillance security system can be designed for indoor use or outdoor use and can often involve hidden security cameras, concealed “nanny cams” for home security, and even personal recording devices hidden on a person.

The term “DVR” is often used in conjunction with home entertainment systems, and refers to the use of digital methods to record video signals for later playback. This technology is often used in home devices to allow television broadcasts to be recorded or to allow pausing, rewind, and other features during live broadcast viewing. In security systems, DVR surveillance uses similar technology to allow a camera to record video footage, store the signal on a small digital device, and not require bulky analog video equipment. This allows for smaller, more easily hidden devices, and the ability to save dozens or hundreds of hours of footage without the need for space to store videotapes.


Outdoor DVR surveillance equipment can include hidden cameras and visible security cameras, typically intended both as a deterrent and to capture evidence if a crime or security breach is committed. For many businesses and public places, these types of cameras may often have to be visible, as some areas have privacy laws that forbid the use of hidden cameras in public places. Hidden or concealed cameras can often be used for private residences, and these devices may be hidden in plain sight through the use of disguised cameras. Such a camera may be hidden in an innocuous object, such as a lamp post, door frame, or even a television satellite dish.

Indoor DVR surveillance devices are often hidden to allow a homeowner to ensure that nothing inappropriate is occurring in his or her home. These devices are often called “nanny cams” and are used frequently to ensure that employees working within a home, such as cleaning services or nannies, are not stealing or abusing children. The small size of such devices allows them to be hidden in everything from clocks, radios, and electric shavers to flower arrangements and stuffed animals.

DVR surveillance can also be used on a very small scale for personal devices. These cameras can be hidden in specially made glasses, jewelry, and even a button on a shirt. The video image can be transmitted to a remote receiver or saved in a storage device for access by a computer or through the Internet.

What Is a Split Screen?

The term "split screen" refers to the division of a computer screen into two or more parts so that different applications can be viewed on-screen at the same time. This can be useful when one needs to use the information provided by two programs simultaneously or when one wants to focus on two significantly different applications, such as a spreadsheet and a video, at the same time. Normally, the term "split screen" refers to the splitting of a single computer monitor, but it can also refer to a multiple-monitor computer setup in which one computer is connected to two or more screens. Such a setup can be useful for work that requires a great deal of screen space and can also be used to enhance some computer games.

A computer's monitor should, ideally, be relatively large in order to support a split screen setup. Small screens, such as those on smartphones, netbooks, and other small, portable electronic devices tend not to have the screen space necessary to support a split screen setup. Furthermore, screen splitting requires that the computer be able to run two or more applications simultaneously. Small or low-performance devices may lack the technical specifications necessary to operate such screen setups. This is particularly true of split screen setups using two or more separate monitors, particularly when they are used for computer games, as maintaining such screen configurations requires substantial graphical processing power.


There are a few different ways to configure a split screen computer setup based on one's particular needs and on the type of computer being used. In some cases, simply re-sizing the applications' windows can be sufficient for setting up such a configuration. Some third-party applications beyond the systems included in the operating system can also be used to configure multiple screens on one monitor. The same applies to multiple-monitor setup. Proper physical setup of the monitors themselves, the computer, and all cables involved is another important and, often, problematic aspect of multiple-monitor setup.

Some individual computer applications, most notably various types of computer games, have built-in split screen functionality. In computer games, this split screen function allows two or more people to play the game at the same time, assuming that they have the proper control devices. Other programs that need to display a variety of different forms of information or that show both information and editing tools may also have their own in-program screen-splitting functionality.

What Is a DVR Camera?

A DVR camera is a security system which links one or more cameras to a digital video recorder. It's main advantage is that it can record for much longer periods without the need to change tapes. The technology also means it is possible to review footage immediately while continuing to record.

If you've ever seen a device such as a TiVo®, you'll be able to get a good idea how a DVR camera works. The input video is recorded to a hard drive rather than a video tape. Instead of connecting a cable or satellite box to the DVR, the user simply hooks up one or more cameras and records the feed.

Using a DVR camera overcomes one of the biggest limitations of a cassette-based recording system. Usually even the largest video tape recording at the slowest speed will be limited to eight hours recording time. This means that it's impossible to use the system for extended periods without somebody being on hand to change the tapes.

It's much easier to run a multi-camera system with a DVR camera. With video tapes, you either need a separate recorder for each screen, or must use a split-screen system which means the picture recorded from each camera is smaller and thus less detailed. A DVR can process full-screen feeds from multiple cameras simultaneously.


Because a DVR camera records digitally, it's much easier to archive recordings in case you need to refer back to them later on, for example when providing evidence in a criminal investigation. The size and relatively low capacity of video cassettes means a week's worth of recordings can easily fill an entire shelf. Many users are thus forced to reuse tapes and only keep a limited amount of footage. Footage from a DVR camera can be stored on DVDs, meaning an easily portable 240-disc carry case could contain archives from two full years of recordings. The discs are much more portable than cassettes, meaning they can be moved off-site for extra security.

Another major advantage of a DVR camera system is that you can play and record at the same time. With a cassette system you could not watch recent footage, such as checking on a report of an attempted break-in, without either waiting until the tape was full, or switching tapes. A DVR camera allow you to rewind and watch footage from any point from a second ago to as far back as the hard drive recording covers.

There are also some security advantages in the way a DVR camera is powered by a computer. You can set password protection so that anyone stealing the hard drive would be unable to view the footage. Some models can even be connected to the internet and set up so that if an alarm is triggered, the footage recorded just before the alert is automatically e-mailed to another computer such as your home PC or even to the police.