There are many areas in which familiarity with the environment has an influence on activities and system behavior. In this paper, Wijn, van den Berg, and Lousberg discuss the effectiveness of operators of a surveillance camera monitoring system with respect to familiarity with the environment being monitored. They start with the assumption that, within monitoring and security systems, there are other factors besides technology that can increase the effectiveness of camera operators. Further, they focus on the detection of deviant behavior based on the operator’s expertise, intuition, and experience. This notion is predicated on the idea that familiarity with the environment can strongly influence the overall activities of camera operators when watching for deviant behaviors and possible criminal intent. Familiarity with the location under surveillance is a crucial supplement to operator skill and knowledge for successful monitoring and security. In this situation, intuitive knowledge regarding deviant behavior helps operators distinguish deviant from regular behavior in a surveillance environment.

The authors also note that knowledge of normal behavior appropriate for each specific location enhances the camera operator’s effectiveness and recognition of deviant behaviors. The detection process and the response of expert operators familiar with the monitoring location are compared with those of novice operators unfamiliar with the location. Findings show that experts have greater knowledge about deviant behavior, while novices have the advantage of faster reactions when working in an unfamiliar location.

The paper would be valuable reading not only for those coping with surveillance system effectiveness, but also for those interested in systems where familiarity with the environment is of crucial importance. This paper is, in fact, recommended reading for everyone in the area of ubiquitous and pervasive computing systems.