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Stabilized Cameras for Long-Distance Surveillance

Posted by michael on from the eye-in-the-sky dept.

DrBlake writes "New York Times has an article about new systems used to stabilize cameras hung from aircraft. Apparently they make it possible to see many details at 500 meters or higher. The systems are interesting in themselves and the article raises interesting concerns about what implications the systems have on privacy."

8 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. hmpth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    My head in an aircraft counts as a stabilised camera which can see beyond 500 metres. That is, unless I'm in economy class.

  2. Which satellite will this be on? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Glad to hear the US/NATO are investing is some new kit to improve the quality of airborne surveillance pictures broadcasts to the whole of Europe.

  3. Re:Oh puhleese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Speak for yourself. I'm so damn ugly I have to post this message anonymously.

  4. More comments by ch-chuck · · Score: 3, Funny

    1st Office: Nothing happening on the hillside, sir.

    Sgt Sheer: OK, well lets head back over to that nudist colony with the hot chicks.

    ---------------

    So when are they going to develope a countertechnology: the cloak of invisibility! We have airplanes with low radar profiles, (stealth) so what will it take for low visible / infrared / UV profiles? A kind of flexible mirror suit that reflects the surrounding environment?

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    1. Re:More comments by BoBaBrain · · Score: 3, Funny

      So when are they going to develope a countertechnology


      You mean like an umbrella, or large hat?

      --
      I am a Karma Library.
  5. x10.com by Brightest+Light · · Score: 3, Funny


    i swear to god, if i see any new pop-ups for the "BESTSELLING Wireless Color Stabilized Video Camera!"; somebody is going to die...

  6. I'm not paranoid by MrFredBloggs · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah,right.

    Just in case, you might want to get one of these:

    http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html

  7. Encryption Ensures Privacy by ebuck · · Score: 2, Funny

    Anyone who is watched with this camera is just asking for it. Privacy concious users of the atmosphere are aware that their photons are not encrypted in transmission. Heck, even little Kodak kiddies can capture and analize them using widely available tools like the One-Shot(tm) obtained from their local grocery store.

    That's why it is imperative that security concious users embrace encryption. With a sufficent application of trees, smoke, camoflauge, and other photon encrypting material it is virtually impossible to seperate the subject from the background noise.

    Oops... my mistake, it's already patented.