Concept in Definition ABC

A monitor it is a screen on which it is possible to see images of something that is happening in real time. These types of screens are connected to one or more cameras that transmit live images. Consequently, the act of observing a monitor for some purpose is known as monitoring.

Safety as the main function

The main app of the majority of monitored actions is the surveillance of a place in order to maintain the safety and control. There are many spaces in which this technology is used, such as airports, casinos or in some streets to guarantee public safety. If there were any incident In this type of space (for example, a robbery), the monitoring system makes it possible to recover the images and in this way it is possible to clarify what exactly happened.

In the field of medicine

Today's medicine uses monitoring in several ways:

1) to monitor the condition of critically ill patients in intensive surveillance units,

2) to perform certain medical tests,

3) to transmit data from one place to another or

4) to perform surgical interventions to distance.

In medical terminology, one speaks of respiratory, cardiac, neurological monitoring or in relation to childbirth, among others. With these devices it is possible to view information through a network system.

Other apps

Monitoring has applications in all kinds of contexts. It is very useful in prevention of fires, in the control of the crops, in the monitoring of the traffic, in the control of the airspace or in relation to the work activity.

While monitoring is a tool very useful, in certain cases it is considered as an instrument oriented to the surveillance of individuals and for this reason some understand that the use of this technology is contrary to the right to privacy.

Social observatories have the purpose of monitoring a reality

Certain social realities are permanently studied and evaluated. This is what happens with gender violence, social inequalities or educational issues. These realities require an operation in which what is happening is effectively controlled and for this the term monitoring is used.

It is not about installing surveillance monitors, but about using a series of techniques to monitor what is intended know (data analysis or surveys are some of the most common tools used by observatories social).

Photos: Fotolia - Andrey Popov / Africa Studio

Topics in Monitoring