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3VR Security announced on Monday the 3VR SmartCam, a new line of megapixel surveillance cameras, and a new 3VR SmartSearch Network Video Recorder. The two work together to create a complete network surveillance solution.

Because it sends only critical information, such as motion and faces, to the 3VR system for analysis, the 3VR SmartCam uses less storage, network, and computer requirements than comparable megapixel cameras, the company says. This helps minimize CPU requirements by as much as 90 percent.

The SmartCam also comes with digital pan-tilt-zoom capabilities. Operators can quickly view specific regions and see important details of scenes, or pick a smaller area of the screen to record.

The SmartSearch Network Video Recorder, on the other hand, is specifically tuned for megapixel Internet-connected cameras. With improved speed and storage, 3VR says it is ideal for monitoring, recording, analyzing, and searching video across the enterprise. It supports facial and license plate recognition, designed for integration with point-of-sale and access control systems. And although it can certainly coordinate with the SmartCam products, it also works with third-party megapixel cameras.

(Credit: Swann Communications)

From the folks who brought you the creepy and simultaneously cool (depending on who's using it) DVR flashlight, comes another 007-inspired piece of high-tech security gear. On Wednesday, Swann Communications introduced the IP-3G ConnectCam 1000.

The ConnectCam is a 802.11G wireless network camera that lets users view their own surveillance video on their 3G phone (setup of the camera's options requires a PC) from anywhere in the world, according to Swann. I really need to get my superiors to send me to New Zealand to test out this whole "anywhere in the world" thing.

The camera also features the following:

• 4x digital zoom
• Six infrared LEDs for night vision
• Omni-directional microphone
• MPEG4 and MJPEG compression formats supported

The camera can be configured to take a snapshot whenever it detects motion, and you can then have that pic e-mailed to an address of your choosing. The two-way unidirectional microphone allows remote communication between whoever is in earshot of the camera and the person monitoring it, whether from their 3G phone or PC.

(Credit: Swann)

This has some interesting potential applications.

If someone was to break in to your house or business while you're half a world away in Barcelona, for example, you could actually get on the speaker and pretend you're god and tell them you can see everything they're doing and that they will be punished for this. Or tell them that you have friends in high places and that you've just sent every cop in the city to your house.

I would almost wish for something like this to happen, just to potentially drive some would-be criminals insane.

The IP-3G ConnectCam 1000 is "coming soon" to Swann's retail and online resellers for $299.99.

(Credit: USCG)

You can't really say you have a private beach until you've installed a SM 2000 Underwater Surveillance System by Kongsberg to keep out the riffraff.

The system is designed to protect commercial piers, government and military vessels, cruise ships, terminals, and other high-value assets, but it'll work just as well for your hideaway surf break. You know it's good if the oil sheiks buy it. Kongsberg installed an integrated system at a "High-Value Seaside resort" in the United Arab Emirates; the exact location is classified.

The U.S. Coast Guard just picked up $2 million of Kongsberg gear to enhance its Integrated Anti-swimmer Systems (IAS) program at the nation's ports. The purchase follows the initial IAS contract worth $3 million.

Using software and sonar the system can detect and differentiate between "malicious swimmers and divers" and other targets, such as marine life and debris, at up to 1000 meters, according to the British Columbia-based company. A processor "captures a wide acoustic swath" to positively identify and localize the threat, then notifies security (PDF).

You'll be relieved to know that the Coast Guard and the EPA have concluded that the system will not "adversely affect threatened or endangered species or critical habitat." Whether a diver could do enough damage to justify the multimillion-dollar investment is open to debate.

Someone poaching in your favorite abalone patch? A frogman can be warned that he is in a restricted area and should surface immediately by "underwater loudhailer." If that doesn't work, deploy the "nonlethal interdiction acoustic impulse," an underwater shockwave emitter--which, despite its name, can be set on stun or kill.

The Aeryon Scout

(Credit: Inventor Spot)

The RC UFO

(Credit: Hammacher)

We saw this item a couple of days ago but passed on it because we were certain we'd seen it before--here. But despite the similarities in appearance, there's one big difference: The "Aeryon Scout" is a flying camera, not just a remote-controlled toy.

The Scout is made of four foam rings connected by a rotor in the center, according to Inventor Spot. The camera is attached to the bottom so it can take aerial shots like a miniature satellite--or at least with better range and control than a mini-chopper or rocket cam.

But at an estimated $30,000 to $50,000 price range, it's probably slightly more than your average stalker can afford. Unless, of course, paparazzi and celebrity babies are involved.

(Credit: ThinkGeek)

These spy sunglasses may look more Maxwell Smart than James Bond, but the built-in 1.3-megapixel camera might be worth the fashion sacrifice for extended stakeouts.

ThinkGeek's spy-cam shades come with an RF remote control, so any aspiring secret agent can snap a few shots of his subject without ever having to take his hands out of his pockets. And while waiting, he can also listen to this favorite tracks through the built-in earbuds.

Back at HQ, the images can be downloaded through a USB 2.0 port and the lithium-ion battery recharged for another 9 hours of shooting. One potential drawback is that there's only 1GB of internal memory with no expansion card slots, so you might have to take more trips back to the computer--which could prove inconvenient on an extended shoot. But they do have UV400 polarized lenses, perfect for extended tanning.

(Source: Crave Asia)

(Credit: Hong Kong WinWin)

If it weren't for the obvious lens, this would be an item we'd expect to have seen from a spy gadgets purveyor: A Webcam that watches you watching it, kind of like an Escher drawing come to life.

We can't help but think that this is one of those inventions that, years from now, will be laughable when everyone has a two-way video watch phone. In the meantime, this combo digital photo frame and Webcam is at least taking a step in that direction because Red Ferret says it's portable and small enough to stow in your pocket.

If you get replace your grandmother's Ceiva frame with one of these, however, be sure to warn her before calling to say you can see what she's looking at. Otherwise you might give her a coronary.

(Credit: iiRobotics)

We won't venture to guess why spy bots are so popular on the consumer market, but there's just one question that continues to nag us: Is anybody really fooled by their appearance? It's one thing if they're pawned off as some sort of RC robot or toy, but the design of this latest entry pretty much broadcasts its intent.

The "Spy Snooper Robot Vehicle" from iiRobotics has what looks like a mini-satellite dish and antenna mounted atop a six-wheeled tank, ready to capture every word from the subject under surveillance. It does have a working range of 150 feet from its target, according to Geek Alerts, but the porcelain-white finish doesn't exactly lend itself to camouflage. Apparently $80 doesn't buy NSA-quality equipment (we're relieved to say).

Then again, it's probably just as well. The last thing we need is an affordable piece of espionage gear that even our kids can use, presumably on us.

Here's something for you privacy advocates: a security camera that determines your age, gender and, possibly one day, your social class.

It's called FieldAnalyst and it's from NEC. The system homes in on faces of people who pass by the video camera. It then rapidly compares the image against samples in a database. It then spits out what it believes is your approximate age is and your gender.

Are you being typecast? The FieldAnalyst camera has pegged the age of the guy in the square at 30 to 39.

(Credit: Michael Kanellos/CNET News.com)

NEC scientists may next try to add clothing as a characteristic and classify people by whether they wear a suit or a T-shirt.

FieldAnalyst isn't looking for criminals or Osama Bin Laden lookalikes. Instead, the data is intended to help mall owners better understand their visitors. How come no one is going to a certain store? What time of day do most of the 40- to 50-year-old women visit the place? Did the recent promotion reach the desired demographic?

NEC started selling it in Japan a few weeks ago and already a few malls have installed it.

It's not pinpoint accurate, but it is fast. It said I was 50, for instance, twice. (In reality, it's 46 3/4.) But it came up with that answer in a few seconds. It works better with Japanese people as the vast majority of the samples in the database are Japanese.

It also hones down your age only to within 10 years. However, NEC wants to narrow the range, possibly even getting to the point where it can determine age within a year or two.

NEC points out that the FieldAnalyst, which costs $19,000 (2 million yen), does not store data or record the images, so your privacy is preserved. And yet the store is still sizing you up. In some parts of America, customers would be tempted to burn down a mall that had installed it.

Surveillance cameras are everywhere. Every ATM snaps your mug, and each time you get into a taxi your photo is recorded as well. According to the BBC, our images are captured an average of 300 times each day. While we've grown used to these security cameras in our malls and at stoplights, the influx of surveillance cameras in our public spaces should be of great concern to everyone.

As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago has 560 crime cameras that are actively monitored for criminal activity. In London there are more than 10,000 cameras. These so-called "crime cameras" have multiple roles: they are intended to provide evidence of crimes when they occur, they are meant to deter criminals, and they are a reminder that Big Brother is watching.

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