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How many of these in-store systems are susceptible to high-powered infrared LED hats that could interfere with the cameras. There are infrared filters for that

by mycall 5y ago

How many of these in-store systems are susceptible to high-powered infrared LED hats that could interfere with the cameras. There are infrared filters for that, but how commonly are they used?

FractalParadigm 5y ago
That's actually a really interesting question, because if I'm not mistaken, a lot of in-store security cameras will use IR for night vision. Assuming they use the same cameras for both facial-recognition and security, it would be reasonable to assume there's no IR filter, otherwise there would be no night-vision (and would make for a pretty poor security system).
- dawnerd 5y ago
  All of the night vision capable security cameras I've worked with had an IR filter that would engage when not in night mode. It would be really silly for a store to spend the money on a system like this and use cameras that don't have a filter.
  - kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
    Heck, even the $10-15 cheap Chinese cameras I've purchased lately have this feature (you can hear them "chunk" as the filter is pulled aside when the light level is too low). So it's not even expensive to implement anymore.
bsenftner 5y ago
The infrared filters do not help if a plain old, non-infrared bright LED that blinks is used. The IR filters are engaged physically, it takes a bit under a second, but not a lot under a second. With a bright blinking LED, many security cameras are rendered useless because the physical mechanisms compensating for the bright, or lack of, is always too late.
- nine_k 5y ago
  Bright blinking LED of visible wavelength would draw attention to you pretty quickly, I suppose. It would be noticeable from afar. If I were to build a security camera, it would engage an IR filter as soon as it detects enough ambient visible light, that is, basically all the time a store is open.
  - bsenftner 5y ago
    Just add sequins and something loud and gaudy like that ugly as sin Ed Hardy fashion from a few years ago. You'll be noticed, and immediately ignored as a fashion victim.
    - kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
      This is actually an area where the current trend of allowing anyone to identify as/wear anything and it not being acceptable to ask questions comes in handy. If anyone questions your fashion sense while pulling this off, just scream a bit about your pronouns and/or racism.
  - bsenftner 5y ago
    Working with IP cameras for a decade now, I've not encountered one that exposes access to control the IR filter short of embedded non-IP cameras aimed at robotics.

by mycall 5y ago

How many of these in-store systems are susceptible to high-powered infrared LED hats that could interfere with the cameras. There are infrared filters for that, but how commonly are they used?

FractalParadigm 5y ago

That's actually a really interesting question, because if I'm not mistaken, a lot of in-store security cameras will use IR for night vision. Assuming they use the same cameras for both facial-recognition and security, it would be reasonable to assume there's no IR filter, otherwise there would be no night-vision (and would make for a pretty poor security system).

dawnerd 5y ago
All of the night vision capable security cameras I've worked with had an IR filter that would engage when not in night mode. It would be really silly for a store to spend the money on a system like this and use cameras that don't have a filter.
- kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
  Heck, even the $10-15 cheap Chinese cameras I've purchased lately have this feature (you can hear them "chunk" as the filter is pulled aside when the light level is too low). So it's not even expensive to implement anymore.

bsenftner 5y ago

The infrared filters do not help if a plain old, non-infrared bright LED that blinks is used. The IR filters are engaged physically, it takes a bit under a second, but not a lot under a second. With a bright blinking LED, many security cameras are rendered useless because the physical mechanisms compensating for the bright, or lack of, is always too late.

nine_k 5y ago
Bright blinking LED of visible wavelength would draw attention to you pretty quickly, I suppose. It would be noticeable from afar. If I were to build a security camera, it would engage an IR filter as soon as it detects enough ambient visible light, that is, basically all the time a store is open.
- bsenftner 5y ago
  Just add sequins and something loud and gaudy like that ugly as sin Ed Hardy fashion from a few years ago. You'll be noticed, and immediately ignored as a fashion victim.
  - kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
    This is actually an area where the current trend of allowing anyone to identify as/wear anything and it not being acceptable to ask questions comes in handy. If anyone questions your fashion sense while pulling this off, just scream a bit about your pronouns and/or racism.
- bsenftner 5y ago
  Working with IP cameras for a decade now, I've not encountered one that exposes access to control the IR filter short of embedded non-IP cameras aimed at robotics.