Introduction

A camera or camera system can allow you to let someone into your home when you’re not there, note when packages land on your porch, check in with your child or children when you have a nanny or babysitter watching them (or uncover unauthorized parties when they’re older), avoid personal contact during epidemics or other personal health events, or check in on a rental property.

And you can, of course, provide details to an insurance company when theft or accidental damage occurs, or call the police or hand over video if a burglar or other criminal is caught in the act. Sometimes the mere presence of cameras deters people from breaking in.

In this book, I’ll help you figure out what your intent is for installing video monitoring, determine what it might cost in outright expense and ongoing fees, and plan a deployment. The end of the book features several chapters each devoted to a specific company’s line (or sometimes, multiple lines) of products that are designed to work either solo or together.

But I’ll also help bring up the ethical and political challenges for each of the scenarios I suggested. Whom do you tell about having camera pointing outwards from your house or inside it (or a rental property)? What access do you offer police routinely or when crimes are believed to have occurred?

Technology is always a two-edged sword, and I hope to help you wield it safely and to your advantage.