The evolution of video surveillance systems: from the first cameras to smart solutions

Video surveillance has long ceased to be just monitoring of the premises. Today it is a complex system that combines artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, smart devices, and advanced analysis. By 2025, this area has undergone significant development that has changed the approach to ensuring security and creating video surveillance in general. Let’s review how video surveillance has changed over the years and what awaits us in the future.

First cameras for video surveillance

The history of video surveillance systems begins in the 1940s, when, during World War II, the German company Siemens created a technology for monitoring V-2 rocket tests. In 1942, this system was implemented at a test site to monitor rocket launches. In 1956 in Hamburg (Germany), they began using CCTV to manage traffic. Then in 1961 a stationary camera was installed at a London train station for security purposes.

Video surveillance became widespread in the 1970s due to the invention of video recorders, which made it possible to record and store video information. In the 1980s, CCTV systems began to be widely used in retail spaces and other public areas. The 1990s started the transition to digital and network video recorders, which significantly improved recording quality and expanded video storage options. The late 1990s laid the foundation for the first IP cameras and CCTV systems development, which used the Internet Protocol to transmit data (more on this below).

The digitalization era

The transition from analog systems to digital technologies has become a revolution in video surveillance. This process began at the end of the 20th century and continues to this day, which has led to the development of modern intelligent security systems. In the 1990s, the rise of DVRs and network cameras marked a significant shift in video recording and surveillance. Unlike analog systems, digital technologies have not only improved image quality but also significantly expanded the capabilities of storing and transmitting data. The CCTV systems have become more reliable, flexible, and easy to operate. Towards the end of the decade, IP cameras were introduced, allowing video to be transmitted over the Internet. This opened up new horizons: the systems became more scalable, and the distance between the cameras and the central site was no longer a limitation – the ability to remotely access video recordings has become a reality.

Artificial Intelligence and smart home

Currently, digitalization in video surveillance has reached the highest level. Modern video surveillance systems are equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI), which allows automatic recognition of objects, faces, events, sounds, and even emotions. Contemporary AI-powered video surveillance software provides instant video processing, automatic reporting, and integration with other security systems. The era of digitalization has completely changed the concept of video surveillance – we have gone from simple surveillance cameras to complex intelligent systems that can provide security at a completely new level.

The development of Artificial Intelligence has drastically changed video surveillance systems. In 2025, AI is no longer limited to basic face or motion recognition. Modern algorithms allow you to:

• Analyze behavior patterns to warn about potential threats, such as unauthorized access or suspicious activity.
• Recognize emotions and actions, such as identifying signs of aggression or panic, which is especially important in public places.
• Automate responses by sending instant notifications or activating an alarm when an emergency is detected.
• Recognize objects in the frame, distinguishing between humans and animals, thereby reducing the number of false positives.

Such a video surveillance program is Xeoma – a system with analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Xeoma supports 99% of camera brands and has more than 100 video analytics capabilities. With the Xeoma video surveillance program, you can:

– recognize faces and license plates,
– recognize emotions,
– recognize sounds,
– recognize colors,
– recognize various objects (cars, motorcycles, drones, trains, etc.)
– detect smoke and fire,
– recognize people’s gender and age,
– recognize free or occupied parking spots,
– recognize text on the screen,
– recognize helmets and robes at a construction site,
– measure vehicle speed,
– count visitors,
– track the ball or players during a sports event,
– and respond in a timely manner by triggering the necessary reactions (send alerts, call an ambulance or the police, turn on an alarm or fire extinguishing system, etc.).

Smart home integration

Beyond driving business development and automation, new technologies are also becoming integral to smart home systems. Modern video surveillance systems are able to turn on the light, notify about dangerous situations on the territory, open gates when the license plate recognizer detects a vehicle from the “white list”, and much more. As you can see, video surveillance powered by Artificial Intelligence goes beyond ordinary motion detection to offer a full range of automation capabilities both inside and outside the house.

Xeoma video surveillance software integrates with a variety of equipment, enabling not only enhanced security but also increased comfort. For example, it can turn on lights when motion is detected, play pleasant music on a schedule, open doors upon recognizing authorized faces, draw curtains in the morning, and even start a kettle — the possibilities are nearly endless.