Comparisons to Minority Report are used too frequently in the tech world. Yet Fulham FC's control room is at least partially reminiscent of the film, with an omniscient team of police watching over citizens via HD screens.
IT made the set-up as simple as possible for the security team and Metropolitan Police manning the systems. With a classic joystick device, the policemen and women can perform the same operations as on the iPad, only on bigger, clearer monitors.
To further entrench the reality of the Minority Report analogy, and make it simpler for police to operate the cameras, Pendlebury revealed he will be installing touch screens for police to monitor fans. They can now fulfill their dreams/nightmares of being just like Tom Cruise.
Another nifty feature involves privacy. Where certain features need to be blocked out, such as names or anything which might land the club in legal trouble, the cameras can black sections of footage out. It even works when zooming in or changing camera angle.
Security now and in the future
There's already been success using the new system. In a recent game involving Liverpool, in which Fulham were positively hammered, 30 fans were arrested after smartly deciding to rip up a section of seats in the away end. The IP CCTV enabled the identification of those involved, proving Pendlebury's efforts were worth the investment in both time and money.
In the future, Fulham is looking at acquiring even more sophisticated, granular technology to help keep the peace. Facial recognition could soon be in use between football grounds, so individuals banned from attending games can be spotted by machines rather than the security guys having to keep their eyes peeled.
Another piece of software Pendlebury is interested in can notify security teams when an individual enters a room with a bag, only to leave without it. When bomb scares are a genuine issue, tech like this could prove the difference between life and death.
Fulham's cameras can also be fitted with microphones, so security teams could hypothetically give people a stern telling off without moving from their seats in the control room. How such a communist mechanism might go down with pumped-up football fans is another question altogether.
-
RSAC Conference 2025: The front line of cyber innovationITPro Podcast Ransomware, quantum computing, and an unsurprising focus on AI were highlights of this year's event
-
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei thinks we're burying our heads in the sand on AI job lossesNews With AI set to hit entry-level jobs especially, some industry execs say clear warning signs are being ignored
-
How to build a Raspberry Pi security cameraTutorials Build your own cut-price surveillance equipment
-
EnGenius EL-EWS1025CAM reviewReviews A clever hybrid IP camera that combines video surveillance with a wireless AP and support for EnGenius’ Neutron WLAN meshing
-
Hikvision Darkfighter DS-2CD4B26FWD-IZS reviewReviews Top image quality, an IP67 rating and colour at very low light levels makes this a great choice for external surveillance
-
EnGenius EDS6255 reviewReviews Night vision isn’t great, but this little camera packs in a lot of surveillance features for a tempting price
-
Axis M1065-LW reviewReviews It’s pricey, but this little 1080p camera simply won’t be beaten for video quality and surveillance features
-
D-Link Vigilance DCS-4602EV reviewReviews A very affordable outdoor IP camera that’s built like a tank, though image quality is merely adequate
-
Campaign group calls for clampdown on surveillance tech exportsNews Privacy International gives Government until 6 August to respond to concerns or face legal proceedings.
-
How many CCTV cameras are out there?News There is split opinion on the use of CCTV across the UK, but it seems those in charge have no idea exactly how many cameras are actually in use.
