Camera use in the public domain: Towards a ”Big Sister” approach

Abstract

The use of cameras is growing: not only personal computers and laptops are standard equipped with a camera, but also the public domain is increasingly equipped with cameras. Today's camera is not merely a pair of eyes. A surveillance camera can see much more than a single person can do. The rapid proliferation of camera technologies makes today's cameras beyond human vision. Although these cameras have a primarily goal to enforce public safety, the dark side of camera surveillance is often discussed. One could argue that such camera appearance affects human behavior. The current article reports how cameras influence people's behavior. Our findings are based on a set of exploratory studies. In line with other studies, we find that cameras do influence the behavior of people, and more surprisingly, they evoke emotions. On the basis of our findings, we discuss the potentials and pitfalls of the use of cameras in the public domain and propose a ‘Big Sister’ design approach to enhance public safety that brings value to the citizens and enlightens the dark side of camera surveillance.