Our Age of Information is producing technological advancementsby the harddrive-full. Each time a product is released that makes an everyday action simpler, you can be sure another will follow closely behind it that is even cheaper and easier. That is what we are experiencing in the world of surveillance- namely, nanny cams. The ability to watch our children at all times was phenomenal; hiding the cameras in everday objects was even better. Having a cassette recording of every event occurring in our homes was great; recording it digitally was amazing. Now, we can do away with the cables and cords that electronics used to automatically include and replace them with wireless systems.

The idea to place Nanny cams in typical household objects was right on the line, but a teddy bear with a cord coming from its tail might be a tad conspicuous. That led developers to implement the use of capabilities to creat wireless Nanny cams. Cameras can now have only a USB connector rather than a full cord. The USB transmits its information (the workings of your household) directly to the USB receiver that you can plug into a Digital Video Recorder or home computer. The images can then be viewed remotely from any computer location (locked with a password), or at any time on your DVR.

Concerns have arisen with wireless Nanny cams, as all new technology has “bugs” to be worked out. It is a possibility that the transmission from camera to receiver can be intercepted by outsiders with the right technology. The images can be used to spy on your household and potentially used to harm your family. Unfortunately, there are not yet laws on the transmission of video, only audio. Discussing this possibility with your family and sales person before purchase may be a good idea. Another concern may be the issue of cost, but that is also a disadvantage you will need to weigh with the benefits.

Families who are able to check on their children at any time and who have stoppe negative behavior before it went too far will say that wireless Nanny cams were well worth the investment. After discussing it with your family, you may find it is right for you as well.

• Critics TV Picks: Flipping Out St. Louis PostDispatch

  SPOTLIGHT Flipping Out 9 p.m. on Bravo So far this season, obsessivecompulsive property investor Jeff Lewis has battled the real estate downturn, returned with mixed results to renovation, and thanks to his “nanny cam” helped to break up assistant Jenni Pulos marriage.

• Raising Tax On Dirty Cars Wont Cut CO2 Times Online

  Plans to raise vehicle excise duty for the most polluting cars will not cut carbon dioxide emissions as much as hoped, a crossparty committee of MPs will say today.

• Spying Eyes Keep Guard Financial Times

  As a child I was fascinated by the eye in the back of her head my mother claimed to have. I never found it, but then she did have long hair. The technological equivalent of that eye is a video surveillance camera, or network videocam.