New monitoring technology

There is a huge debate going on in the US concerning the monitoring of public places using video cameras. I am personally in favor of monitoring some public areas within a limited context, but I also feel the cautious warning of civil libertarians against abuse. Privacy is also an issue with cameras constantly monitoring. This post is about an interesting monitoring technology that can locate gunfire within a given area. The makers (ShotSpotter of Mountain View, CA) claims the technology can pin point the discharge of a firearm according to when the shot occurred and the physical location.

ShotSpotter monitors only one thing: gunshots. Its microphones can detect a gunshot from a mile or more away. The system determines the exact location of each shot using triangulation and wirelessly transmits a recording of the sound to police dispatchers.

This technology solves the conflict between public security and personal privacy. If used in a proper context, cities and crowded locations guns have no place being fired, this would help prevent crimes infiltrated with guns. Since it is illegal to fire a gun in the city, all events recorded are crimes. Initial trials seem promising.

The system was installed in San Francisco late last year as part of a crime-fighting initiative. Since the beginning of the year, the city's homicide rate has dropped 50%.

The secondary use of a system would be as evidence in the proof of self-defense.

In an argument against the ShotSpotter system, it does not help law enforcement in crimes where no firearm was discharged. The system dose not help with a significant portion of crimes committed.