Cell Phones are quickly becoming part of the personality of nearly everybody, children included. Indeed it is increasingly important for parents to reach their children by phone at any time, and for children to call back home for permission, instructions or help.
But what about Camera Cell Phones? At first one would not even remark any difference from regular phones except that, by looking carefully, one can see the tiny objective of a miniature camera.
These devices permit snapping shots visible on the small screen, and then transmitting them to anybody connected to the sending cell phone.
Most of the snapshots are taken for fun and for social exchange. Occasionally however they can have quite an important role for security, similar to that of surveillance cameras installed in public or private places.
Sensitive areas and certain public institutions that ban the presence and the introduction of cameras, ban camera cell phones as well, because they perform much the same functions.
Moreover holders of camera cell phones should remember that taking pictures is not permitted wherever privacy is expected: it could be a criminal offence indulging in photographing for fun, where forbidden.
It appears that a single device has little chance, by itself, of saving a victim from aggression unless in rare cases of exceptional luck. On the contrary, it may look as a covetable object, tempting to snatch away.
Unfortunately Camera cell phones cannot prevent aggression except if the aggressor, seeing the camera, fears of being put on record and runs away.
This would be a welcome relief, recommending an increasing use of camera cell phones for security.
In the hands of swift observers of a dangerous scene from the side, still shots or short video clips can help identifying the offender and proving crimes better than any witness, however precise.
The usefulness of such documentation depends of course on the definition and clarity of the pictures. There is a continuous progress in the available quality, while the prices decrease despite further miniaturization of devices.
Some crimes happen in full view of many people who fear to intervene lest the aggressors will assault them also. But as these camera cell phones become more and more diffused, it is increasingly probable that at least a few of their holders will summon the courage to film the scene, with good probability of not being caught by the criminals and of securing essential information.
Their documentation has then the chance of being of capital importance for apprehending and prosecuting the rascals, and finally for improving the security conditions of the local society.