dear all,
the following is an excerpt from "The Land of the Changing Sun", a
science-fiction underwater novel by William N. Harben, written in 1894.
It's an early example of a fictional visual surveillance technology used
by the police, including the ability to zoom, automatic recognition of
deviance and even automatic apprehension of offenders. (i.e., it's
clearly more than simply "direct visual surveillance", which of course
is centuries old)
Is anyone aware of earlier examples in literature? Any suggestions are
welcome.
With best regards,
Dietmar
... [The king] waved his hand and dismissed a number of courtiers who
were waiting to be called, and rose from the throne and led the two
captives into a large apartment adjoining the throne-room. Here they
found six men in blue uniforms looking into a large circular mirror on a
table. They all bowed and moved aside as the king approached.
"These men are the municipal police," explained the king, resting his
hand on the gold frame of the glass; "they are watching the city." And
when the strangers drew nearer they were surprised to see reflected, in
the deeply concave glass, the entire city in miniature; its streets,
parks, public buildings, and moving populace. And what seemed to be the
most remarkable feature of the invention was, that the instant the eye
rested on any particular portion of the whole that part was at once
magnified so that every detail of it was clearly observable.
"This is an improvement on your police system," continued the king. "No
sooner does anything go wrong than a red signal is given on the spot of
the trouble and the attention of these officers is immediately called to
it. A flying machine is sent out and the offender is brought to the
police station; but trouble of any nature rarely occurs, and the duties
of our police are merely nominal; my people live in thorough harmony.
Now, come with me and I will give you an idea of the surrounding country."
--
[Dietmar Kammerer]
[Weserstrasse 47]
[10247 Berlin]
[tel 030.29003536]
[mob 0179.5306683]
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