There are a huge number of different cameras in the world today. The human race is obsessed with watching itself, capturing moments and developing technology to broaden the applications for cameras. We can now place tiny cameras inside people to diagnose illness and capture images of distant stars. Maybe because our time here on earth is so fleeting, we have a great desire to see and capture as many moments from our lives as possible. Here we take a look at just some of the vast array of cameras we might come across in our daily lives.

Camcorder – these cameras are popular for recording events such as family celebrations and weddings or holidays. It is a portable, self-contained device with a primary function for capturing and recording. We’ve probably all seen one of these at some point.

Digital Camera – also known as a digicam. It produces digital images that can be stored on a computer, displayed first on a screen and then printed. Most cameras these are digital and have been incorporated into mobile phones and PDAs.

High-speed camera – it’s unlikely many of us will have one of these but it’s a camera capable of image exposures in excess of 250 frames per second. They are used for capturing extremely fast moving objects and the images, after being stored on a computer, can be played back in slow motion. Such devices are essential in things like vehicle impact testing, scientific study and ballistics for example.

Body Worn Cameras – this is a video recording device that is most often employed by law enforcement to capture interactions with the public or gather evidence at crime scenes. For more information, visit http://www.pinnacleresponse.com/body-cameras-and-the-law/.

Movie Cameras – traditionally they used film but these days almost all movies are shot using digital movie cameras. Whilst there are lower cost consumer versions, most movies use a professional camera designed for high-end digital cinematography. They would have large sensors, selectable frame rates and high quality optics.

Image credit

Point and Shoot Cameras – also called a compact camera and was designed for simple use by anyone. They are quick to operate with most using focus free lenses or an autofocus feature. They include automatic systems for setting the exposure and have a built-in flash.

Remote Camera – this is a type of camera that might be placed by a photographer to get shots that they wouldn’t normally be able to get. Areas with tight access, small spaces, where access is forbidden or just to get an unusual or unique angle on something. Sports and nature photography frequently make use of remote cameras.

Thermal Imaging Camera – this device is used in firefighting. The camera renders infrared radiation as visible so firefighters can see heat through smoke and darkness. They are often handheld devices but could also be helmet-mounted and are constructed to be heat and water resistant.

Traffic Enforcement Camera – we’ve all seen these and know that they are mounted beside, over a road or inside an enforcement vehicle to detect traffic violations such as speeding, ignoring a red light, driving in bus lanes and driving without paying a congestion charge in the capital.

Have you ever stayed in a high rise hotel or worked in a skyscraper and wondered how on earth they clean the windows up that high? Washing windows is a tiring and time consuming task at normal level but imagine how challenging it must be to clean them twenty storeys up? Surely this must be one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Part window cleaner, part mountaineer!

They have to have a bit more equipment than your run of the mill window cleaning gear. They will carry a rope protector, a safety rope, a rope-grabbing tool, a descent mechanism, lanyard and suction cups. Not only does this equipment ensure their maximum safety but also enables them to clean all that glass with speed and efficiency. Whilst working, the cleaner will be attached to an anchor which is situated on the roof. This means that the windows can be cleaned as the worker descends onto lower floors. They will almost appear as if they are dropping one floor at a time and cleaning as they go.

Image credit

Initially, cleaners would only have the ledge to stand on and grip the frame with their free hand. Thankfully this practice came to an end when I guess there were just too many accidents! Leather belts were then introduced which would be attached to an anchor. Scaffolds were the next piece of safety equipment to be introduced and these were not only safer but also more convenient. The most common tools used today include a boom, carriage, portable davit and Bosun’s chair. For more information on all forms of cleaning, visit  Commercial cleaning Belfast.

A boom is the oldest equipment used historically and consists of a scaffold carrying multiple cleaners. It is a fixed piece of equipment up on a roof, to be used whenever it is required. A carriage was a better alternative as it’s mounted on top of a rail on the roof which can allow it to move both left and right. It holds multiple workers and is much more flexible than a boom. A portable davit is a cheaper mechanism and is more effective as it enables access to many areas while carrying multiple workers. A Bosun’s chair is a device used to suspend a person from a rope to perform work in the air. Often used on ships, it originally featured a plank or layer of heavy canvas. These days they incorporate safety devices similar to those found in rock climbing harnesses.

This is definitely not a job for anyone with a fear of heights. Wind flows at a much higher speed when you’re hundred floors up  and so cleaners must have appropriate equipment to guard against such harsh conditions. Insects are another pest at such altitudes. Therefore, it’s not an easy job and considered one of the toughest in the world. It is crucial to keep a cool head at all times in order to make those skyscrapers look fantastic and gleaming.