Any discussion of advances in security video technologies has to start with resolution. It also has to end with resolution. When you think about it, each new wave of higher-capacity hard drives, video compression algorithms and other technologies are introduced specifically to deal with the challenges presented by HD and megapixel video.

As the industry continues to shift from standard definition to HD and megapixel video, “digital zoom” has become a major selling point. With a high-definition camera, you can continue to record an entire scene while zooming in digitally to examine a specific object or area more closely. With that in mind, there may be some in the industry who are wondering whether there’s still a place for pan tilt zoom (PTZ) cameras in security installations. Based on research and conversations with several dealers and integrators, that seems to be true, and there are a lot of reasons for that beyond digital zoom.

In the world of video recording, products and technologies march forward at an ever-dizzying pace. Many of these changes are being driven by a move to high-definition and megapixel cameras, which in turn is being driven by consumers’ expectation of high-quality video.

As in the consumer market, prices for flat-screen monitors for security applications continue to fall dramatically. If CRT monitors haven’t disappeared completely, then that day will come soon. Propose using CRT monitors in an application and see how long it takes your customer to burst out laughing. People just expect flat screens. That CRTs also take up more space and are less energy-efficient only serve to underscore their coming demise. In the world of flat-screen monitors, LCD monitors appear to have taken the lead over other technologies. Advances in the technology have resulted in monitors that offer improved image quality, truer color reproduction, increased clarity and better contrast — all factors that are crucial in security applications where life-or-death isn’t just a saying.