Surveillance Mirrors
By: Olivia Gilbert
who and when was the convex mirror invented
Convex mirrors appear in painted representations throughout history, notably in the Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, which features a convex mirror that reflects what may be a self-portrait of the artist. The size of the mirror is larger than would have been possible at the time, which reflects van Eyck’s departure from realism in the work.The convex mirror also played an important role in the running of the household. Convex mirrors were often placed above the dining room sideboard, which allowed the butler to discretely keep an eye on dinner guests while keeping his back turned.
Convex mirrors are often framed in wooden frames and surmounted by eagles and surrounded by small spheres. A more modern version of the convex mirror is known as the sunburst mirror, which retains the use of a convex mirror within a more contemporary frame.
How a surveillance mirror works
A Surveillance mirror is a curved mirror in which the reflective surface bulges toward the light source, it reflects light outwards and therefore it is not used to focus light.
What is a convex mirror
A convex mirror also know as a fish eye mirror or diverging mirror which can be used for surveillance in convenience stores. It's used so that the person working in a store can stand in one spot and see what's going on around them. They are also traffic safety mirrors for road safety, portable inspection mirrors which are used in mostly security firms and in the military and cab front rear-view mirror which help reduce blinds spots.
Advantages of a surveillance mirror
The advantages are adaptable to variation in operator positioning and a 180 degree view, being able to around the store or in spots that aren't visible with just your eye, so it can help you in situations like someone stealing from the store or spotting something someone,
disadvantages
A disadvantage is a reduced size of a image in the mirror, which can make a distorted impression if an object is further the object is different looking.
Convex Mirror
APA references
Convex Mirror. (n.d.). Retrieved 12 March 2015, from http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/topics/light/convex_mirror.htm
http://www.mallettantiques.com/en/encyclopedia/convex-mirrors
(n.d.). Retrieved 12 March 2015, from http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.aspx?doctype=3