DVRs for Cop Cars

AEton writes "News.com is reporting that IBM is developing digital video recorders for cop cars. The systems involve a digital video camera and reusable hard drives which police officers will take with them on their shifts; centralized servers with up to 3.5 TB of storage will hold recordings. The cameras continuously record and cache old video in a "Tivo-like" fashion; tapes will start from three to five minutes before the cop turned on the recorder. Unbiased, high-quality recording could have a compelling social effect; and at the very least, we're headed for HDTV Cops."

Comments

Einstein would be impressed.

[coupland]

"The cameras continuously record and cache old video in a Tivo-like fashion; tapes will start from three to five minutes before the cop turned on the recorder."

Not sure I understand, this means that after you press "record", the DVR travels three to five minutes backward in time and catches you in the loo a few minutes prior? Surely the video would spool to disk 3 to 5 minutes after it was recorded. Maybe I can use one of these after I get pulled over for speeding to travel back in time and brake in advance...

Sweet.

[grub]

There'll be a black market for geeks to hack these things so the cops can switch them off and not be caught hitting on hookers for "favours".

Re:Sweet.

[Soko]

There'll be a black market for geeks to hack these things so the cops can switch them off and not be caught hitting on hookers for "favours".

What? Some smart person would make them leave it on, so the boys in blue get a new revenue source. Internet pr0n generates lots of cash...

Come to think of it, there's lots of way they could reduce the tax burden that way.

- www.Rate-A-Ho.com
- www.Catch-your-hubby-in-the-act.org
- www.How-does-my-college-age-daughter-get-her-$BLIN G$.biz
- www.Hugh-Grant-up-close-and-personal.net

Soko

30-second skip?

[Wesley Felter]

Yes, but will there be a secret code that you can type into the remote to enable the all-important 30-second skip feature?

Awesome!

[TopShelf]

Just gotta remember my EMP when driving about.

Re:Awesome!

[Pharmboy]

If they are using MS, it will probably crash anyway. BSD would be better if it wasn't dead.

In Soviet Russia, YOU record COPS. (huh?)

1. Film prostitutes
2. ?????
3. Profit!

Did I leave any out?</troll>

I can see it now.

[American AC in Paris]

"...well yeah, Bill, I really like the new TivoCop Recorders they issued us, but I swear mine thinks I'm racist or somthing--you should see what it puts in my "Favorite Citations" list..."

excellent!

[simpl3x]

"cops" will now be in high definition. will they record the busts in surround sound too?

Re:excellent!

[Pharmboy]

"cops" will now be in high definition. will they record the busts in surround sound too?

The cool part is with 5 channel audio, when they bust a skull with a night stick, it will sound JUST like they are in your living room!

Gives "Reality TV" new meaning.

Re:excellent!

[LittleGuy]

The cool part is with 5 channel audio, when they bust a skull with a night stick, it will sound JUST like they are in your living room!

Wait! They are in my living room!

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! stupid homeland security Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

Re:excellent!

[Pharmboy]

If you are watching COPS, and you notice the house on the TV looks JUST LIKE your house....no amount of Karma is gonna help you.

What if a Cop Goes to a Drive-In?

[Anonymous Coward]

Would the film industry come after him for recording the film?

EMP Weaponry

[Anonymous Coward]

It's about time you geeks started developing EMP weaponry against the cops.

Re:I knew I should have patented that!

[Washizu]

"I've been coming up with an in-car multi-angled record to HDD system to"
"I was planing to use Freevo or simular, a notebook some webcams and wireless lan"
" I was also trying to figure out how to get a finger print scanner hidden in an unsuspecting place, like the gear shift."

Batman, you should really start posting anonymously.

Tonight on "COPS:DE (digitally edited)"

[Sunkist]

You...doing shit you didn't.

Storage Advances

[codethug]

The systems involve a digital video camera and reusable hard drives which police officers will take with them on their shifts

Where can I get one of these new-fangled reusable hard drives? Image a Beowulf...

HDTV Cops

[Phredd]

You can always tell who is going to get arrested while watching COPS. Its simple. It is the guy who is NOT wearing a shirt.

Re:IBM drives?

[Openadvocate]

Strangly enough, a break every hour at Dunkin' Donuts will be required. That will ensure that the disk gets a chance to spin down and stay within operational specifications.
Rumor has it that the IBM solution was choosen for just this reason.

Re:Tivo Like?

[cayenne8]

Hmm..so, if this thing is like a Tivo, does that me he can schedule his next traffic stop or felon arrest beating days ahead of time? And, would it pick up which flavors of doughnuts and coffee strength the cop likes, and make suggestions to him?

Wow...Tivo for cops, sounds like fun. Wonder if it comes with a monthly fee or if you can buy the service for a one time fee?